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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Okay - I guess my first mistake was not posting an hourly rate in my ad. I thought that was something I should save for a phone call or interview. But I guess I eliminated good applicants with that.
We need someone approximately 35 hrs/wk for two kids, age 3 and 6 months. Legal, can drive, and has lots of energy. I don't want a housekeeper or a cook - I want a nanny that will love my kids and keep them busy and happy while I'm away. I'd rather have a messy house and happy kids vs. a picked up house and dinner ready with my kids in front of the TV. 
We're prepared to pay 22/hr, 2 weeks paid vaca, 3 sick days. I've posted on dcum, neighborhood listservs, and care.com. Have not tried sitter city yet. Maybe I'd have better luck with an agency? One that I checked with wanted a $7000 finders fee, which seemed ridiculous. I'd rather spend that money on the nanny directly. 
Thanks again for your help and advice. 
[/quote]

I wish I was looking for a job, OP. Your offer sounds wonderful!

Your pay is excellent and very competitive. Unlike PP I don't think dropping your rate and raising your hours will make a difference - I'd much prefer to earn that pay only working 35hr/wk - so, as you can see, preferences will vary! If that's something you're open to, offering more hours, you can state that in your ad (but don't mention the change in hourly rate, just negotiate that in person if it comes down to it) by saying 35-40hr/wk depending on the nanny's preference (or something like that). Are the hours you need fairly standard? No crazy early mornings or very late nights, no flexible schedule or shift work coverage? Those all change the dynamic a little bit but aren't insurmountable. I might also advertise the position as $18-22/hr DOE to give yourself some wiggle room during negotiations.

Make sure you state in your ad that you want someone who is 100% childcare focused, and that while you expect the nanny to take care of their laundry, meals, dishes, etc. you absolutely don't want a housekeeper or a cook and are cognizant of the difference. Recognizing that alone makes you an exceptional potential employer. You can also, however, say that you consider yourselves laid back and are looking to hire someone you can trust to take care of things using their best judgement.

Agencies typically charge a portion of the nanny's annual salary, and at your advertised rate your nanny would earn about 40K gross - $7,000 seems a tad high to me, but not out of this world. I believe agencies usually charge between 10-15% finder's fee. Your pay is high enough that an agency would likely be able to find you an excellent nanny, but that is certainly not the only place to find one. If you've posted your ad on CL/Care/SC and are not getting enough quality replies, you might want to start reaching out to nannies you see on the site who look like good potential candidates. You might also share your ad here or with a friend's trusted nanny and get some feedback - it could be as simple as one misinterpreted statement in your ad that's scaring away experienced candidates.

Do you state in your ad what your minimum requirements are? Do you want a college graduate (you could get one at that rate) or are you not concerned about it? This is another thing that I think helps because it lets the nanny know before she even meets you that you see her as a capable professional and are likely to treat her as such. (My own personal quirk is a reluctance to apply to jobs that only list HS as a minimum education requirement, which isn't entirely fair but like I said, it's just a thing I have. I will apply to jobs that say "some college" but am most enthusiastic toward those advertising for a college graduate.)

Other than those things, I can't really say why you aren't finding great candidates! Are you looking for someone to start soon? Posting too far in advance cuts down on applicants significantly, as most nannies aren't planning more than one, maybe two months out (which isn't to say you shouldn't post early, but just to anticipate more applicants when the start date is closer.) One other technique I have seen moms employ is befriending great nannies they see at story hour, the park, the children's museum, etc. and asking them if they know anyone who's looking for work. It certainly isn't fool-proof, but it's one way to network among a specific kind of nanny (meaning only that an English-speaking, college educated, legally paid nanny probably knows others of the same).

Good luck, OP! [/quote]

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