When I nannied many of the jobs I got were referral based. There were times, however, when that didn’t pan out so I turned to the next best thing – the internet! My two all-time favorite sites when looking for a nanny or family to work with are care.com and sittercity.com. I’ve had a lot of practice posting for families who needed help and finding jobs myself so here are a few tips I’ve learned along the way.
1. Parents – Create a Separate Email
The amount of responses you’ll receive can be daunting (some families get upwards of 200 emails) so in order to keep your personal email clear, I suggest that parents create a separate email for your nanny search.
2. Have a Checklist
Know what you want in a nanny or family.
Parents: What are your must haves?
Ex: Should she…
Cook for baby Do light cleaning Do laundry for baby Speak French Love the outdoors Be proactive in finding activities for your child Be okay with taking care of a sick child
Nannies: What tasks are you willing to do?
Ex: I am willing to…
Cook for baby Do laundry weekly Take baby to language immersion classes if I don’t speak a foreign language Teach child basic elementary subjects ( i.e. alphabet, numbers, shapes, colors) Take baby outdoors daily, weather permitting Maintain space child occupies
3. Creating a Profile
Now that you know what you want in a caregiver or can do for a family, it’s time to create a profile. Building your profile is pretty straight forward on the Care and Sittercity websites, however the ad you post to find someone can make or break you. Depending on how clear, concise and warm you are in your post can determine whether you receive five or fifty responses.
Parents – Briefly describe your family, two qualities that reflect you, and what you are looking for in a caregiver. If a parent works from home or has a child with any medical concerns make sure to mention it. Be explicit concerning scheduling.
Caregivers – Briefly describe yourself and what you can honestly offer a family. If you’ve had any special training make sure to mention that! Every bit counts.
Here are some sample posts…
Parents: Hi! We are the _____ family and we’re looking for a wonderful___ (sitter/au pair/ nanny) to help us with our baby____(boy/girl) on a ___(full-time/part-time) basis. He/she is now ___ (weeks/months/years) old. We are a _____(fun loving/ easygoing) family who enjoys ____(being outdoors/ playing games/ reading at home), and would love someone who enjoys those past-times as well! Mom currently works from home, but will be in her office during the day and will endeavor to not disturb the caregiver and baby more than necessary. However, she may pop in once to say “hi!” if you’re around. We are looking to hire someone for approx___(hrs/days)per week. (Competitive pay offered / Salary will be commensurate with experience). We hope to hear from you soon!
Nannies: Hi! My name is ____ and I’m looking for a wonderful family to work with! I’ve been a(n) ___( nanny/sitter/au pair) for ___ years and have had experience working with children from __ (newborn/toddler) to ___ years of age. I am currently available on a___ (part-time/full-time) basis and my rate is negotiable. I am known for my kind heart, outgoing personality, honesty, and cleanliness and would love to share that with your family! I look forward to speaking with you soon!
Or if you’re new to the childcare world you could say…
Hi! My name is ____ and I’m looking for a wonderful family to work with on a ___(part-/full-time) basis. Despite my limited experience in childcare, I am an outgoing person, friendly, honest, a quick study, and I work well with others. I am also infant CPR certified and can show proof of certification. I have a love for the arts and enjoy dance and music, so I’d love share that with the children I care for. Having grown up around the ___ (Brooklyn/Manhattan) area I am familiar with many activities going on in the neighborhood and would be happy to bring your child to local events/play spaces. Hope to talk to you soon!
4. Post A Pic
We live in the age of the selfie. Now is the time to flash your sweetest grin, in your most modest but stylish attire, and take a quick pic without any elaborate filters to add to your account. Don’t quote me on this, but people are 99% more likely to reach out to someone they can see as opposed to a figment of our imaginations who says they have a child or are great nannies. Because of the many scams out there, focus on posts that have a photo and make sure to post your own so that families and nannies have a face to your name. This is not to say that posts with pics showcase all honest individuals, but it definitely helps weed out many of the scam artists out there.
5. Be Swift
After you’ve posted your ad, be proactive and reach out to nannies or families that peak your interest. If they respond to your request, answer in a timely manner to avoid lost interest. Nannies be wary of people that reach out to you with jobs that seem too good to be true.
I hope these tips are helpful as you go about your search! But what if you find someone awesome and have to set up an interview? Check out my next post for more tips!