Would You Hire Someone Who Was Slow To Respond?

[Anonymous]

We made an offer to a nanny candidate. When we first contacted her to set up the interview, etc., she was quick to respond. Then she was slow to respond when we tried to reach her to convey the offer. She has been even slower to respond to the agreement we sent for her to review. It almost seems like she is waiting for something better to come in.

Would you revoke the offer and move on to another cnadidate who seems to want the job more?

[Anonymous]

Inform her of a deadline to respond if she's still interested. You may have some competition.

[Anonymous]

Just inform her you'd like her to accept and start by x date so a final decision would be appreciated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just inform her you'd like her to accept and start by x date so a final decision would be appreciated.

You need to give her an "accept by" date. Expecting an sudden instant decision is unreasonable.

Is assumes OP has given her a detailed offer with all written responsibilities and benefits included.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just inform her you'd like her to accept and start by x date so a final decision would be appreciated.

You need to give her an "accept by" date. Expecting an sudden instant decision is unreasonable.

Is assumes OP has given her a detailed offer with all written responsibilities and benefits included.

This, not "is".

[Anonymous]

She's had the offer for five days. I don't view that as instant. Yes, it is a detailed written agreement, on top of the detailed write up of the position and benefits I provided to every candidate before we set up an interview with them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She's had the offer for five days. I don't view that as instant. Yes, it is a detailed written agreement, on top of the detailed write up of the position and benefits I provided to every candidate before we set up an interview with them.

Then give her 24 hours to let you know.

[Anonymous]

Agree - email her once more and say "If we don't hear from you by tomorrow, we'll assume you're not interested and move on to our next candidate." She's obviously not all that interested anyway, so maybe you don't want her after all.

[Anonymous]

This would be a red flag for me, based on prior similar experience. To not even acknowledge the situation is unprofessional, i.e. she should let you know she needs some time to review the agreement, or that she already had some other interviews line up, or whatever.

Our worst nanny experience was with someone who behaved like this when we made the offer, and I was just about to let her know that we had decided to consider some other applicants when she finally responded. She turned out to be immature and irresponsible.

Our best nanny experiences have been with people we have clicked with quickly, who have been equally eager to work with us as we have been to hire them, and with whom an agreement has been finalised in a timely fashion.

I would give her a deadline but also give yourself an "out", e.g. "This is a very important decision for us and we are somewhat concerned that we have not heard back from you yet. It gives us the sense that you are perhaps not very interested in this position and if that is the case please let us know so that we can continue to consider other candidates." Ultimately, go with your gut.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She's had the offer for five days. I don't view that as instant. Yes, it is a detailed written agreement, on top of the detailed write up of the position and benefits I provided to every candidate before we set up an interview with them.

Wow! 5 days? She's being very nonchalant. I can tell you as a nanny that she's meeting with other parents and considering her options. I've never had a family wait 5 days, but 2 days so I know what she's doing. If there hasn't been any communication in 5 days, she's not even interested and if you hire her.. She will (probably) not work for you all for long because she's waiting to hear from another family.. She's just trying to make it appear like she's busy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She's had the offer for five days. I don't view that as instant. Yes, it is a detailed written agreement, on top of the detailed write up of the position and benefits I provided to every candidate before we set up an interview with them.

Wow! 5 days? She's being very nonchalant. I can tell you as a nanny that she's meeting with other parents and considering her options. I've never had a family wait 5 days, but 2 days so I know what she's doing. If there hasn't been any communication in 5 days, she's not even interested and if you hire her.. She will (probably) not work for you all for long because she's waiting to hear from another family.. She's just trying to make it appear like she's busy.

I agree with this and the previous poster. Barring some huge emergency that she's been struggling with for the past five days, I would pass on her.

[Anonymous]

OP, how much do you like your other options?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, how much do you like your other options?

There are some others we like. Honestly, though, if it came down to it I would rather keep looking than to hire someone who doesn't really want the job.

[Anonymous]

It's clear she has another job on the line that she is hoping to get an offer for.

However, that doesn't mean she wouldn't also love your job! The other one may be offering more money, more vacation, or a shorter commute (all things you'd weigh if you were job hunting), but that doesn't mean there is anything about your job she doesn't like.

Let her know if you haven't heard from her in 24 hours you'll move on.

[Anonymous]

Move on. After five days, she doesn't want your job. You're her safety job.