Posting positions/availability

[Anonymous]

READ THE STICKYS!!!!

Listing positions:
1. If it’s an occasional date night, on call or similar, post in babysitting. City, hourly rate, frequency, number and age of kids should all be addressed in the main post.
2. If it’s a regular schedule (every week, even if days change), it doesn’t matter if you call her a nanny or sitter, post in nanny search. Post in ONLY your region! I don’t want to count how many times I report positions that are posted in 3+ areas.
3. If you are looking for solely housekeeping or a housekeeper who will occasionally make sure your kid doesn’t kill himself while you run to the store, you’re not looking for a nanny. So! Instead of posting in the nanny position area, post in the housekeeper position area.
4. Do NOT advertise in General, Employer or Off Topic! If you need advice before you draft/proof your listing, fine, either General or Employer.
5. If you posted your position and don’t have decent candidates after three days, look at what you’re offering and whether it’s worth it for what you’re asking. Don’t post the same ad three times expecting different results.
6. If you forget your contact info, either post it in a response clearly labeled as OP’s contact or start a new thread and report the other one for deletion.
7. Make up a throwaway email, just for the nanny search. That way, you never have to check your op in the position search forum again. Less work, right?
8. If you have special needs, require 50+ hours weekly, require lots of cooking or housework, you need to put that in your list. If you require a degree or language fluency, list it. And list a rate, darn it all! That means figuring out your budget INCLUDING taxes, petty cash, agency fees, and anything else BEFORE you list the position. I’m so tired of contacting people so that I can point friends towards seemingly decent positions, only to find out a few emails in that they’re offering $8-12/hour, because they forgot to run their total budget FIRST.
8. Find or write a contract/agreement. Be prepared to negotiate. Questions during an interview mean someone is listening and interested, not that they’re acting “above their station.” It’s just as much about finding a fit for us as for you.

Nannies
1. You should have ONE posting. Not 2, not 4, 1. It should be in the nanny POSITION search section. You aren’t advertising for an opening, you’re advertising as available for a POSITION.
2. Don’t spam every single position listed in your area or for positions with too long of a commute. It makes you look desperate, and they’re looking for the right fit, not desperate.
3. If English isn’t your first language, have someone else help you write your listing. Parents will give you more opportunity if you show that you put in more effort.
4. Don’t advertise as capable of doing something if you can’t. Sure, most of us CAN clean, but can we keep a house spotless, educate and entertain a child or three, and not burn out? No, most can’t. Most nannies also can’t handle moderate to severe special needs, and the parents that want cleaning with special needs care?! It’s better if the nannies can self-select out.
5. Find or write a contract. Be prepared to negotiate, nobody else is going to do it for you, and you’ll either be stuck with whatever is in writing or left with only leaving as an option. If they won’t negotiate at all, well, at least you have forewarning about how they’d be as an employer.
6. If you just want to clean, there are tons of people looking for that, please, list in housekeeping. Otherwise, be clear about how much cleaning you will do and that kids take priority.