Anonymous wrote:How is urbansitter different than care and sittercity?

As a nanny, I think it is great because urban sitter requests the Nanny's feedback after each completed booked job! this is not allowed on any other site including care and Sittercity. AND the company responds. I worked for a fam who had a 10 month old who walked, house was not kid friendly at all.. I told urban sitter when they asked about my time there and they responded so I am sure they reached out to the mom.

How is urbansitter different than care and sittercity?

Honestly, Craigslist is full of people who doesn't have credentials. I just don't like care.com. SITTERCITY is soooo much better ! I meet all of my families there and have long lasting relationships with families I've met there versus a free site like craigslist where the people are cheap and sitter just want quick $.urbansitter is great as well

Um...can I get an interview?! Job sounds awesome. Seriously.

Anyway. sorry op. Just seems like freakish bad luck.

I don't understand myself since you are offering such a good rate.

As a nanny, I usually skip out on people who offer such low rates. When I feel like I am being nickle and dimed, I choose to not associate w/certain families...However I always call or respond via e-mail and let them know I am not interested.

I think it is just bad luck.
Keep doing what you are doing, but skip craigslist for now. I have had the worst luck on that damn website.

I agree w/the poster who recommended sittercity.

I wouldn't necessarily say it is better than Care.com, but it will most definitely give you more options.

I hope you find someone soon!

I would also try sittercity.com, not because I think the site is special, but based on my experience. I have had to conduct two nanny searches in the last five months (the second search was because the first person we hired developed a health problem and could not continue in the position). The first time, the best candidates came from care.com. The second time, the better candidates were on sittercity. So I think you need to sign up for both, see what you get, and also look through the ads on DCUM where people are trying to place their nannies in new positions. Also don't forget your neighborhood listserv.

Good luck!

Now is a competitive time to be looking for a nanny. There is an abundance of nannies, but also an abundance of jobs. At any given time during a job search I'm dealing with up to 10 families, and I'll be honest, sometimes I lose track of a family and forget to respond to an email/phone call. That being said, its exceptionally rude to schedule an interview and simply not show up, but consider it a favor! The majority of nannies are not norotiously professional, nor do they have much experience in professional settings. Sorry OP!

Anonymous wrote:Or are there very very few half-decent nannies out there?

This is the truth.

In our search for a nanny we have so far encountered the following:

Of four people we wanted to interview in person:
1 did not show up at all and never responded to a voicemail after the fact
1 was 45 minutes late, never called to let us know in advance, and did not seem to consider this a problem
1 was enthusiastic, agreed to a day on which we'd meet, and then never responded to emails about setting up a time
1 kept insisting on meeting on a day when we said we were unavailable, and told me I needed to call her only reference on X day

All of these nannies are mid 20s to early 30s, have at least one previous nanny job, and we conducted a phone interview before agreeing to meet in person.

Then there are those we've talked to on the phone--insisting on making $25/hour gross; complaining about every family they've worked for in the past; saying they'd love to talk then never responding when I try to set up a time or call them, etc. etc.

I am not looking for Mary Poppins here--just a nice, competent person who is enthusiastic about caring for our toddler. We are paying $18/hour gross and not asking much beyond child care.

Is there something I'm doing wrong as I screen applicants? Or are there very very few half-decent nannies out there? We have been looking on Care.com and Craigslist.