nanny-share interview advice
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Anonymous
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I've been a nanny for about five years now, and most of the families I have worked for have been on a single family basis. I am currently looking for a new position, and have been going on interviews for nanny-share positions. This seems to becoming a more popular child-care option, and I am open to this as an option, although I don't have much experience in a nanny-share setting. I have already had one nanny-share interview that went exceptionally well, and it seemed like I was going to get the position. At one point one of the parents contacted me after our interview telling me how great I was, and how they would love to work with me, even then asking to contact me later that night as they were making a decision that evening. Ultimately, I received an e-mail the following day saying that they had decided on another candidate.
In that experience, I truly feel that one of the families was ready to work with me, and the other maybe not so sold on having me for whatever reason. I'm trying to get advice from other parents as to what it is I can do/say that will set me apart from other candidates. I am on the younger side of the average "career nanny" (24), but I am educated, have great letters of recommendation from previous families, CPR/First Aid certified, and have a detailed resume with my experience working with children of all backgrounds. Of course I believe I am a great nanny, and I'm not saying I should be offered every job I interview for but I feel as though I need feedback as to what I could be doing better? I don't want to say something to parents just to make myself sound better, and to get a position. That's not who I am, but for new moms or even moms who have older children who have experience hiring a nanny with another family for a nanny-share, what was it about that nanny that made him/her different from other candidates? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated! |
Anonymous
| What worked for me as far as getting my first share position was showing off all of my qualifications (experienced, CPR certified, bilingual, excellent references, etc.) but acknowledging that I had no share experience and pricing myself lower than an average share rate. I ended up with multiple offers, negotiated great benefits for the lower rate, gained some experience and moved on to higher paying shares. Good luck! |
Anonymous
| OP, some families want a person they feel they can take advantage of. Count your blessings that you didn't get tangled with them. |
Anonymous
| What price point were you asking for, OP? Maybe that was it? Do you have experience with multiples or siblings? |
Anonymous
| Normally my price point for two children is 15/hr, and this nanny-share was for two babies and that's what I asked for, they seemed to be more than fine with this number. I do have experience with multiples (infant twins), and families with three children. |
Anonymous
15?! For a share? You're selling yourself short. Where are you located OP? |
Anonymous
| Rate is not necessarily bad depending on location and number of hours. Honestly OP I likely would not have hired you due to age. Also you say you are both educated and have a wide variety of experience with kids and multiple families. If you mean you have a degree that would make you 22 when you graduated most likely so I would wonder at how you had worked so many places unless they were only PT or you job hopped a lot. |
Anonymous
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You sound great! I would say keep doing what you are doing. Be yourself.
In hiring a nanny, while I do look at how she looks on paper, what usually sells me in the end is our chemistry. Either we have it or we don't. I am a laid~back + casual parent. I do not view a nanny as simply our "hired help." While I also do not view her as a family member, I do not want her to be treated like an employee or guest. I look at her as a friend to my child...a very special friend to her. I like to think my nanny will love + care for my child in her own unique way and would like to think she will play an important part in my child's life for years to come. During the interview, I like it when a nanny is outgoing. I like when a nanny is real...by real I mean she is not trying to "win me over" by any means. What I see is what I will get. I like it when the nanny asks me the right questions that she should ask and also seems comfortable in my home and in my presence. Most of all, it depends on how she interacts w/my child. I want to see her talk to my child in an age~appropriate manner and engage my child in play. Hope this helps. 
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Anonymous
I appreciate your input, and I do believe that in any given interview my age could definitely be a factor. However, in my defense when I said I have a "wide variety" of experience with kids to be more specific. I was a YMCA camp counselor in my junior and senior years in high school, where I worked solely with special needs children, I have also traveled outside the country and volunteered at orphanages. My freshman year in college was my first "real experience" as a nanny and I was with that family for two years. I have only been with four families, and while that may seem like a lot for me being only 24 there were definitely circumstances that led to the position ended, and I am still very much in communication with my previous families. |
Anonymous
| Have you ever been a full time or at least 30 hour a week nanny before? I do not count babysitting or camp jobs in the same way as a real long term and many hour nanny stint |
Anonymous
| Op how old were the children? If they are babies it could have just boiled down to experience. I'm in a nanny share now started when the babes were 3 months. The families knew I could handle it based on my experience working with multiples and working the infant room of a daycare (7 babies, 2 teachers-yikes!). I'm not trying to scare you but working with multiple babies can be VERY stressful and the families probably felt like you may not be ready for it. Imagine spending 20 minutes trying to get a baby to sleep, with of course another baby by your side. The baby is down and you go to another room (hopefully they aren't sharing a room) to put the second baby down but they start crying which wakes up the first baby that you just got to sleep. Scenarios like this happen a lot working with 2 babies which can make you want to pull your hair out and I've been called the baby whisperer. I'd say work with babies individually and gain the experience first before you start juggling 2 down the road. Trust me, it will save you so much stress! |
Anonymous
Just let you known NANNY SHARE IS ILLEGAL if you don't have a license! I hope you have one othe wise you can end in a big trouble with the law ! Call this number for more information! Montgomery County Child care resources 2407771457 |
Anonymous
Nanny shares aren't illegal. 
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Anonymous
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I concur.
Nanny shares are not illegal. They are a cost-effective way for children to get the individual attention they need while being affordable for the parents. They are a win-win situation since while the parents save money, the nanny actually makes more money. |
Anonymous
For Montgomery County residents, there's your number. |