Nanny candidate thinks prior job determines current pay

[Anonymous]

OP here. Candidate sent me a long description detailing what she expects she would do, describing herself as a "home wife" or SAHM role. She expects to do much more than I've asked of any nanny.

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry, I'd be immediately turned off with her description of "home wife," even though I have fulfilled that role.

What did you tell her?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Candidate sent me a long description detailing what she expects she would do, describing herself as a "home wife" or SAHM role. She expects to do much more than I've asked of any nanny.

It sounds like she offers a lot more than you realize, expected, or need. Perhaps you were a bit quick to judge how she values her services?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Candidate sent me a long description detailing what she expects she would do, describing herself as a "home wife" or SAHM role. She expects to do much more than I've asked of any nanny.

It sounds like she offers a lot more than you realize, expected, or need. Perhaps you were a bit quick to judge how she values her services?

No, I think I'm still spot on in that she thinks her prior job responsibilities - not the current job description - define her work and her wage expectations, in addition to her tenure with that family. She includes "decorating the home for holidays" among anticipated duties. I would neither expect nor want that.

It would be similar to me suggesting that if in my prior role, I had management responsibility over several individuals and was expected to bring in new clients, but in my new role did not have management duties or client sourcing duties, that I would expect the same wage because I COULD offer the services.

[Anonymous]

OP, it's pretty clear that you two are not a match. You don't need all that she offers. I also think that you won't be able to convince her that she should take your job for less than she wants, it would be a recipe for disaster. Just move on, there's tons of nannies out there who are happy to leave the holiday decorations to you.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I finally had a chance to talk to her by phone today. She is basic her minimum acceptable rate on her budget, not the position, and would prefer to make the higher rate she first requested, again to meet her budget needs. Understood, but not consistent with this position or what we will be paying, so we politely discontinued the conversation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I finally had a chance to talk to her by phone today. She is basic her minimum acceptable rate on her budget, not the position, and would prefer to make the higher rate she first requested, again to meet her budget needs. Understood, but not consistent with this position or what we will be paying, so we politely discontinued the conversation.

"Basic" should have been "basing". Typing on tiny phone with tired fingers...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, it's pretty clear that you two are not a match. You don't need all that she offers. I also think that you won't be able to convince her that she should take your job for less than she wants, it would be a recipe for disaster. Just move on, there's tons of nannies out there who are happy to leave the holiday decorations to you.

OP, you can't compare how a nanny arrives at her rates to what you'd expect or someone else making more money. Most nannies make enough to get by, and some less than that. We HAVE to consider that minimum required to make our budget when we take jobs.

There are certainly jobs where it would be appropriate to pay $15/hour, but given my experience, my qualifications, and the rates I'm used to earning, I could never accept a job at that rate. If a family wanted to hire me, they'd have to accept that or move on. It is a bit offensive that you continue to act as if she's the one who is wrong in this situation. You're just not a match.

[Anonymous]

This whole scenario reminds me of much of the advice I read here on DCUM. I see some nannies advising each other to try to educate a prospective employer on what their rate should be and all that you're bringing to the table to earn that. My point in all of this - whether it's a boss who's offering too little or a nanny expecting too much - is that there's no point in trying to "educate" the other party on what you think is reasonable. We all bringing our own biases into this situation and we're not going to convince the other that we're right. People learn through the experience of spending months applying to jobs and not finding any at the rate they want; through spending weeks or months interviewing candidates and finding none of them meet even your most basic standards at the rate you want to pay. This real world experience is much more educational than hearing from a single individual trying to rewrite the job description.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This whole scenario reminds me of much of the advice I read here on DCUM. I see some nannies advising each other to try to educate a prospective employer on what their rate should be and all that you're bringing to the table to earn that. My point in all of this - whether it's a boss who's offering too little or a nanny expecting too much - is that there's no point in trying to "educate" the other party on what you think is reasonable. We all bringing our own biases into this situation and we're not going to convince the other that we're right. People learn through the experience of spending months applying to jobs and not finding any at the rate they want; through spending weeks or months interviewing candidates and finding none of them meet even your most basic standards at the rate you want to pay. This real world experience is much more educational than hearing from a single individual trying to rewrite the job description.

Maybe... but OP's willingness to continue to engage and then start this thread helped me re-anchor my expectations as a MB. Before I thought I had a strict cap on my hourly wage but I didn't really think about what else I might be able to get out of the arrangement for a higher pay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This whole scenario reminds me of much of the advice I read here on DCUM. I see some nannies advising each other to try to educate a prospective employer on what their rate should be and all that you're bringing to the table to earn that. My point in all of this - whether it's a boss who's offering too little or a nanny expecting too much - is that there's no point in trying to "educate" the other party on what you think is reasonable. We all bringing our own biases into this situation and we're not going to convince the other that we're right. People learn through the experience of spending months applying to jobs and not finding any at the rate they want; through spending weeks or months interviewing candidates and finding none of them meet even your most basic standards at the rate you want to pay. This real world experience is much more educational than hearing from a single individual trying to rewrite the job description.

Maybe... but OP's willingness to continue to engage and then start this thread helped me re-anchor my expectations as a MB. Before I thought I had a strict cap on my hourly wage but I didn't really think about what else I might be able to get out of the arrangement for a higher pay.

As one mother put it in my reference letter, she virtually never needed to wonder if her child was getting the best possible care every single minute of the five years I was there. She said because of that, I was worth every dime of my exceptionally high rates.

[Anonymous]

Just discuss salary range prior to interviews so you do t waste time interviewing nannies requiring more pay

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just discuss salary range prior to interviews so you do t waste time interviewing nannies requiring more pay

If you have a tight budget, that's probably the best thing to do.

Others however, want to learn what you can have for a more professional rate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you take a pay cut when you go to a new job? Didn't think so. Why should she?

Could do if I were unemployed and the market dictates it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you take a pay cut when you go to a new job? Didn't think so. Why should she?

Could do if I were unemployed and the market dictates it.

What verifiable market? You're ridiculous.