Hi-

I have a question...what is the going rate, competitive rate, for a nanny for 2 days a week from 8-5? Would you consider that a nanny or a sitter?? I eventually want to do full time but I am easing back into the work world. Also why not craigslist?? Someone suggested I try that to find a nanny.

OP, because many believe teen babysitting gigs or babsitting family counts as "chldcare experience", and it does ina way but it's much different then having actual nanny experience or working at a daycare/school/etc.

Just ask them to be more detailed in their experience.

Anonymous wrote:As someone else said, nannies who don't tell you your experience either don't have the experience, or they are not professional. I have always mentioned my experience whenever I have responded to someone's ad.

I hate when people bring up the money issue. That is wrong. Even when I was a nanny with less experience, I still mentioned what experience I did have, regardless of what the job was for.

We aren't saying that we respond differently depending on the money offered, we are saying that the money offered affects the kind of candidates responding. The kind of nanny with experience and the ability to communicate effectively isn't going to give you a crap application because your rate is low, she simply won't apply! That means the ones who will apply to a job with a crap rate are the desperate ones who will apply to anything. Those nannies are likely lacking experience, communication skills, or plain old common sense.

As someone else said, nannies who don't tell you your experience either don't have the experience, or they are not professional. I have always mentioned my experience whenever I have responded to someone's ad.

I hate when people bring up the money issue. That is wrong. Even when I was a nanny with less experience, I still mentioned what experience I did have, regardless of what the job was for.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, you changed the ad and less than two hours later you started getting good responses? Wow, that's great!

I'm still getting some very bare responses like, "My name is Linda. I love children. My number is 555. Call me."

Has anyone ever gotten a position with a response like that?

But I have also gotten a number of quality applicants.

That's great OP! Every ad gets those weird responses, the question is whether you get the awesome ones, and now it seems like you are happy with your choices.

Anonymous wrote:So, you changed the ad and less than two hours later you started getting good responses? Wow, that's great!

I'm still getting some very bare responses like, "My name is Linda. I love children. My number is 555. Call me."

Has anyone ever gotten a position with a response like that?

But I have also gotten a number of quality applicants.

i wish there was a helpful button b/c I think this is a very helpful thread.

Anonymous wrote:So, you changed the ad and less than two hours later you started getting good responses? Wow, that's great!

I've posted for my bosses before (evening sitters, my back up, etc) and a good ad is literally inundated with responses, from indecipherable to stellar. Without a good ad, you only get the indecipherable and the meh responses, and unfortunately parents think that's the best they can get.