People generally will say that students are a good option for PT work, since they're generally content with PT hours and are not looking for full time. I nannied throughout college, and I was just as reliable on a day to day basis as I am now in my grown up job (and so were all the friends I had who also nannied). The one drawback, as you mentioned, is that schedules change from semester to semester. I made it very clear to every family I worked for that I couldn't guarantee longer than a semester. But if a family was great, I made every effort to arrange my schedule so that I could keep working for them.

I had this setup for several years. All with the same person, no problems.

Anonymous wrote:Also it is probably easier if you are near a university since you can draw on the student pool that this would likely work best for. Not everyone is.

I'm not. Our candidate is in distance learning. But this is probably a good point, especially if there are many students without cars.

Anonymous wrote:OP, it sounds like you found a great set up! I'm guessing here, but I think you found someone more easily than others because you were specific with what you wanted in terms of a job, you're guaranteeing hours, and the plan to renegotiate every term is brilliant. I'm excited for you! Congrats!

Yay! That's so nice. Thanks!

Also it is probably easier if you are near a university since you can draw on the student pool that this would likely work best for. Not everyone is.

OP, it sounds like you found a great set up! I'm guessing here, but I think you found someone more easily than others because you were specific with what you wanted in terms of a job, you're guaranteeing hours, and the plan to renegotiate every term is brilliant. I'm excited for you! Congrats!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We will of course, but we're just interviewing. Just hesitant to lock something down and go with it because I've heard everyone say they could never find a part-time sitter. I think I've found one in two days.

The key is paying a good rate AND mutual respect, OP. I don't think most people here get that. I do know some families who do.

I'm the OP and I agree that the rate might be the issue. I looked on sittercity jobs for parents looking for something similar and most had $10/hour. Obviously it's not going to be worth anyone's time to spend every afternoon at someone's house for $30 a day. We started high and made it clear the hours were guaranteed.

Anonymous wrote:We will of course, but we're just interviewing. Just hesitant to lock something down and go with it because I've heard everyone say they could never find a part-time sitter. I think I've found one in two days.

The key is paying a good rate AND mutual respect, OP. I don't think most people here get that. I do know some families who do.

I had a similar position for over two years while in undergrad. The only reason it didn't continue was because my final quarter required evening classes most nights, which didn't work with the family. If you feel she's a good fit, I say I for it. But the renegotiating each term sounds like a wonderful idea!

We will of course, but we're just interviewing. Just hesitant to lock something down and go with it because I've heard everyone say they could never find a part-time sitter. I think I've found one in two days.

Seems good, OP. You have a written agreement?

We've already agreed that it would only be through the end of the school year, and then I told her that we would love more hours in the summer and then the same schedule in the fall, but that we'd renogiate at each term.

Sounds good. Based on what you shared, my only question is, what happens when her semester is done, and she has a new schedule?

So I've heard over and over that it's impossible to find a reliable part-time nanny to do the after-school Monday to Friday shift. I posted a job with 24 guaranteed hours a week, Monday to Friday, and was overwhelmed with responses. I weeded through and found ten solid ones, did some interviewing and have found someone that is a student in the mornings and is looking to have some income stream while she is in school. It really sounds perfect for both of us. Is there a reason I'm not seeing that this wouldn't work? Is there a high likelihood that she'll think it's too much after she tries it out and drop out? Or something I'm not seeing? Thanks.