I don't put a lot of stock in the star ratings, but I do read the reviews and draw conclusions about whether someone is worth speaking to on that basis. A late-returned phone call or a failure to respond to an initial email would not bother me, but a missed interview or last minute cancellation for a flaky reason would. I've read reviews where the poster noted that, even after the prospective employer called the would-be nanny after a missed appointment to make sure there was no misunderstanding as to time or date, the nanny did not bother to call back. To me, that kind of behavior reveals a level of irresponsibility that is unacceptable to me. Given the volume of qualified applicants out there, I would not bother with such a person.

The ratings mean NOTHING to me. Parents who pay to be members on this website have the autonomy to rate any of the nanny profiles, even ones they haven't actually had work for them yet (!)

For instance, I have read negative ratings where a parent is miffed because a nanny may not have returned a phone call or message in a timely manner. Sometimes I even wonder if there are personality conflicts involved since many of these parents who leave these negative ratings are not even members any longer!!!!!

Families you've worked for through care.com can give you a star rating on a scale of 1-5. I don't think you have to have even worked for them, as long as you've had some sort of contact (I recall somebody posting here about receiving a 1-star rating for not replying to a message in a timely manner)

What ratings? I never noticed them. I know it's possible to link to previous employers or caregivers and write reviews about them, is that what you mean?

I never pay attention to the ratings.

How important to you are the ratings? How many stars would constitute an acceptable rating?