I am the nanny who posted about all the contractual issues I am having in a share! Guess what I am giving notice even though I haven't secured another job yet...mostly prompted by the parents going on another two week long vacation and expecting me to go unpaid. In any event I wondered how other nannies explain why they've quit their previous jobs I had planned to say "I left my last position because of contractual issues" but the mom asked a series of questions about what I meant. I think it's in poor taste to bad mouth employers but don't want it to reflect poorly on me that my position ended in a "negative" way. I am 90% sure my employers will provide a great reference but the interviewing part is the most important.
Best, Finally Quitting! |
Well, if you're going from a share to a single employer you can say that there were challenges involved in both families agreeing on the same terms, and/or honoring the terms under which you were hired.
I wouldn't be very specific, or certainly not bad-mouth your employers, but you could talk about the inherent difficulties in a share over time and your evolving wishes - hence your interest in this new position etc... I'm an MB and i would respect professionalism combined w/ an appropriately worded explanation. One caveat, with almost any profession it is easier to find a job when you have one, than when you're unemployed. Just something to consider. Good luck. |
How long were you with them? |
I think the opposite is true for nannies. Reality is that few employers will hire a nanny who can't provide a reference from their most recent position. Others may not write her off the list but will give the offer to the other candidates with a current/recent reference. Same outcome for the nanny, no job offer. |
Just say you're looking for a more stable job situation since the other family needed you to take more unpaid days than you were comfortable with. |
You planned to say? Or you already said and you were questioned? It makes a huge difference. |
"I left because they were not adhering to the contract they asked me to sign. It was such a disappointment as otherwise I was very happy, and really enjoyed the kids." |
This is good. It also allows you to set the expectation of a guaranteed weekly rate with the next family you work for right off the bat. |
I've been on one interview thus far I feel like the interview shifted when I answered her series of questions about why I am quitting. And to the poster that mentioned how tough it is to find a job unemployed...in order to get a good reference I feel like I need to leave with plenty of notice. I've already turned down one job because I needed to start in a week so for me it seems like it would be easier to find a job unemployed. Thanks again for the helpful advice |
Agree that it is better to be more candid about the issue that lack of guaranteed hrs caused you. Reasonable MBs will get that. Unreasonable ones will not hire you and so you will dodge a bullet. I would not view a discussion about the guaranteed hrs issue as bad mouthing. Bad mouthing would be more like "they kept asking me to do extra work" or "MB just did not treat me with enough respect". Both may be true but are not the best to share with a prospective MB. Guaranteed hrs issue though is kind of neutral - good intentioned people can disagree on what is reasonable. |
I'm an MB. I will want to talk to your references absolutely. But if I asked you why you were quitting and you said "unfortunately, they wanted to renegotiate the guaranteed hours part of our contract and I wasn't comfortable with their proposal. It was a really difficult decision to leave because I was with them for X years and I had of course grown to really love the kids. I gave them plenty of notice and helped them to find a nanny that could work with their terms. You're welcome to chat with them if you'd like" I'd be completely ok. |
Good to get the employer prospective. I am giving notice this Friday. So it will be one week of work and one week of unpaid vacation that I'd like to consider my two weeks yeah that will not happen. I will likely stay 4 awkward weeks because I wouldn't expect them to be searching for a nanny on their vacation. End in sight though |