Thanks everyone.

Where I'm located -- the higher paying, better benefits etc job are thru agencies (mostly. But than you get those crazy families there too).

I still have about 6 months left before my charge starts preschool but I've already started joining agencies and sending my resume, hoping to join, out. One agency offers temp work like weekend, wedding or event, and so on. So I'm glad I got with them - so I can pick up extra things when needed and build a rapport with them before looking for full time.

2 agencies now. I dropped some other ones. In northern VA.

Anonymous wrote:I work with two agencies; all the high-end jobs where I am are only available through agencies.

Where is that?

I work with two agencies; all the high-end jobs where I am are only available through agencies.

Anonymous wrote:10:35 which agencies in Boston ? I'm a nanny little outside of Boston looking

The Wellington Agency is the one I like the best. April is amazing and they have really good jobs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I applied with about 3 agencies a couple years ago and ended up working with one. The other 2 were not the type you'd want to work for. I'm very happy with the one I'm with now. Based out of Boston and has offices in Boston, NYC and FL.

Are you with beacon hill nannies?

PP: nope. Wasn't too thrilled with them. I'm with The Wellington Agency

Anonymous wrote:I applied with about 3 agencies a couple years ago and ended up working with one. The other 2 were not the type you'd want to work for. I'm very happy with the one I'm with now. Based out of Boston and has offices in Boston, NYC and FL.

Are you with beacon hill nannies?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good for nannies who have no other option??? I think you are naively mistaken, I have so many options but usually, from experience, the agencies hold the higher end jobs the most. You can still find great jobs networking at the playground, library, local ads, care.com etc, so a decent nanny is never out of options, a lazy nanny maybe but one shouldn't view an agency as "for the nannies with no options". That's just single minded.

I agree with this. Families with money tend to work with agencies as they want the legwork done for them (BG/reference check, search, initial interview). You're likely going to get a higher paying job through an agency VS a job on care.com

I disagree. That may change, however, when we have an agency willing to do background checks on the potential nanny employers.

10:35 which agencies in Boston ? I'm a nanny little outside of Boston looking

I applied with about 3 agencies a couple years ago and ended up working with one. The other 2 were not the type you'd want to work for. I'm very happy with the one I'm with now. Based out of Boston and has offices in Boston, NYC and FL.

Anonymous wrote:Good for nannies who have no other option??? I think you are naively mistaken, I have so many options but usually, from experience, the agencies hold the higher end jobs the most. You can still find great jobs networking at the playground, library, local ads, care.com etc, so a decent nanny is never out of options, a lazy nanny maybe but one shouldn't view an agency as "for the nannies with no options". That's just single minded.

I agree with this. Families with money tend to work with agencies as they want the legwork done for them (BG/reference check, search, initial interview). You're likely going to get a higher paying job through an agency VS a job on care.com

Good for nannies who have no other option??? I think you are naively mistaken, I have so many options but usually, from experience, the agencies hold the higher end jobs the most. You can still find great jobs networking at the playground, library, local ads, care.com etc, so a decent nanny is never out of options, a lazy nanny maybe but one shouldn't view an agency as "for the nannies with no options". That's just single minded.

95% of nanny agencies will screw you, so why bother? But they're good for the nannies who have no other options.

Zero. Never had a need for them.

Aside from the online sites we all know about.

Actually go to the agency for an interview with the recruiter. Of course, peoples agencies will vary due to location.
I was just welcomed" to my second this week. I'm in the process of emailing my resume to a few more in my area, hoping they contact me for an interview.