Nanny 101

Lesson 2: Finding a Job

There is rarely a shortage of families looking for live-in childcare. In fact, the demand for live-in nannies has steadily increased over the last ten years. The main reason why nannies are needed now more then ever is the increasing role women have in the workforce and the need for dual income families. In any case, there is not a shortage of jobs in the area of live-in care. It is just a matter of having good experience in the field and finding a family you fit with.

Newspapers

The classified ads in major newspapers are a good place to start your search. There is usually a section specifically for childcare. In many cases the ads you will see are not for a specific family but rather for agencies looking to place nannies. You should know in advance which route you plan on taking since you will have to ignore the agency ads if you want to locate a family on your own.

Major newspapers are better if your plan is to look for a job in another area while local papers are good for locating jobs close to your home. In addition, the local college or university newspaper in your area often has childcare positions advertised. You should be able to find most publications in an online version too but usually the content is updated a day or two after the hard copy comes out. If you want to get first dibs on job postings you should get a paper and look through it and make phone calls when the ad is first placed.

If you choose to go the route of contacting classified ads, please know that you are assuming most if the risk in this situation since it is up to you to ask the right questions and make sure the situation is legitimate and reasonable.

What should you expect? You should expect to spend a considerable amount of time reading through ads and scheduling appointments with possible families. You will also need to have a list of questions to ask your potential employers. You may have to meet with many families before you find a good match. Never jump in too soon because you are eager to start your job. You should be sure and speak with many different types of people to make sure you are choosing the right match.

How does the process work? Circle the appealing ads and make pre-interview calls where you can find out the basics: number of children, hours per week, pay range, general duties, and location of family. Then decide if you are interested enough to schedule an in person meeting. The ideal situation would be if you could chat with the parents first and then meet the kids. That way you get a clear overview of the expectations apart from meeting the children you will care for.

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