Childcare is a major consideration; encompassing a host of concerns for parents and caregivers. How much will it cost? Are services available to cover my needs? What are my goals and philosophies about child-rearing? And how can I possibly convey them to another person?
The process of coming to terms with your child care needs, and finding the right ways to fulfill them is a natural part of parenthood; occasionally testing patience and resolve. Use these tips to bring order to your next nanny search – helping you get a handle on the details.
Plan Ahead
On its face, finding a nanny does not seem like it would be a monumental endeavor. And it isn’t, unless you wait until the last minute to secure a worthy care-giver for your kids. Like so many of life’s big decisions, you don’t always have as much time as you’d like to land the best nanny. Job changes, moves, and other life events crunch timetables beyond your control, but it is best to start your nanny search well ahead of time.
Start by crafting an ad aimed at exactly the nanny you require. Your standards are high, so there is no need to mince words for applicants. Include information about your family and your expectations regarding references and employment experience. As applicants begin to respond; filter them according to the cream of the crop. Isolate your strongest candidates for interviews, choosing a manageable number for further scrutiny – based on your availability and comfort level.
Define the Position
Before meeting with candidates to conduct personal interviews, share a detailed explanation of the job requirements with applicants. Your family values, for example, may not align with every nanny applicant’s beliefs, so it is important to be honest about your needs up-front.
Expectations, in terms of what you need done, should be articulated very clearly, so there are no misunderstandings moving the work relationship forward. Don’t be surprised if you lose a couple interested applicants by spelling out your requirements – better now than after you are counting on them.
Conduct Interviews
Primary interviews don’t generally include your children, unless circumstances make it unavoidable. Instead, conduct personal interviews with you short-list of worthy candidates, focusing on getting to know their styles and philosophies.
Include open-ended questions in your interview; allowing candidates to open-up about important issues related to their nanny experience. You are not trying to trick them, but one of your ulterior motives is determining whether applicants share your values. Specific inquiries should also be levied; yielding genuine responses to questions about disciplinary actions, play philosophies and other child-rearing concerns.
Proper Vetting
In the end, you are looking for the truth about nanny applicants, so it is up to you to do due diligence vetting your pool of recruits. Honesty is essential to the trusting relationships shared between nannies, children and parents; so inconsistencies in applications or interviews should be seen as deal breakers. Selecting an applicant with incomplete references or other shortcomings only opens the door to potential problems down the road.
Consider contracting for a more extensive background check than you can provide yourself. Professionals furnish deeper resources for vetting nanny candidates; ultimately leaving you at-ease about your nanny selection.
Extend a Contract
Once you have settled on a nanny applicant, the relationship should be formalized with a contract. Include the same language you used to outline your needs up-front, reinforcing what you and your nanny-to-be have covered during the interviewing process. Specific duties, work hours, and even compensation levels should be clearly drawn-up, so everyone is on the same page. Remedies and consequences should also be included in the contract; such as accommodations for sick time or extending care hours during certain periods of employment.
Clear communication and proper vetting are key approaches for landing a great nanny. Whenever possible, allow plenty of time for the process to occur; enabling due diligence to unfold at your own pace and comfort level.
This guest post is contributed by Rebecca Gray, who writes for Backgroundchecks.org. She welcomes your comments at her email id: [email protected].
