Interviews

I'm sure at some point I've talked about Interviews......but today I'm reopening the topic.

This will be more of a story than the do's and don'ts of an Interview.

A few weeks ago I sat across from a very nice lady in a STL Bread Co, whom I was interviewing, and while I was asking questions, I could see she was getting a bit nervous. Now anyone who has interviewed with me knows how laid back I am so it was interesting to see her get so nervous.

At one point (as always done) we talked a bit about our personal life, our kids to be exact. We were talking in general about their ages and things they go thru at certain ages. I mentioned that

I didn't have difficulty with my daughters until my oldest, upon turning 25, decided to go thru a stage of really disliking me.....upon hearing that, this very nice (around my age) woman decided that exclaiming I've had it so easy I can't complain, then throwing her balled up napkin at me, was a good idea.

Well no, bad idea.

(I hardly flinched at the outburst due to having 3 brothers and them putting me thru the ringer during childhood, I am prepared for anything and everything at any time.) ;-)

So back to bad idea....she had no idea at that moment that she had just lost out on getting a job.

While being playful and open is a great quality, throwing something at the Interviewer that you've known for a whole 30 minutes is a big no-no.

After talking with her for a bit longer we ended the interview. A few days later, a letter was sent out explaining we were not interested in moving forward with her at this time.

The moral of this story is, when interviewing, please keep all objects in hand! No really, refrain from throwing things, including exclamations that the Interviewer has had an easy life with the children....assuming that and stating it out loud is impolite....and as far as throwing things.... it's an immediate dismissal for employment. (what would happen in a family's home!??)

Have a great weekend.......or week depending upon when you read this. :-)

As an Agency Owner, I have the privilege of working with both Families and Nannies.

Though I have seen of late, families moving towards the internet based "agency."
These self-proclaimed agencies are gaining new clients (families) with their low monthly costs and
the "guarantee" of providing excellent childcare workers (nannies).

What you can do w/ our local agency:

• Meet face to face with owner and/or placement coordinator
• Receive referrals from local Families that use(d) our services
• Receive several personally matched Nanny portfolios at once
• Know Nanny's background screening has been completed
• Know they have been interviewed by the Owner
• Receive Owner contact throughout the entire placement
• Rest assured we stand behind our Nannies because we personally know them
• Receive honest pricing. We don't under or over charge. 
• Families may talk with other companies that refer our services

While it may seem like the next best thing, online "agencies" may be more of a problem

than a solution. (personally speaking of course)

If you're in the gray area of decision, call the "online agency" and ask them a series of

questions like:

How long have you been in business?

How do you retain customers?

What's your placement percentage?

How many clients do you have vs childcare workers?

How do you attract childcare workers?

Who is running their backgrounds? Are they ALL screened?

Most importantly, WHO IS interviewing them and is it face to face?

Then call your local agencies.......ask them the same questions. 

Submitted most sincerely -- Your local Agency - NannyMall, llc

April 4th, Wordless Wednesday

Do you see what I see?

3 Year Thank You Letter

Three years ago this month, NannyMall, llc, came into existence. It was in motion several months before that, however I was with another agency and truthfully, I really liked my position there, so I took my time in preparing this agency, there wasn't a hurried sense about it.

I think that's what made a difference, the slow process. Getting everything lined up and being involved in every area/decision.

I took what I knew from being a previous business owner and culminated it with the "love" I had seeing Families & Nannies matched, thus making sure NannyMall was everything and more that both groups would appreciate. So far so good.

Yes, there has been a few potholes along the way, but nothing that has caused this agency "to pull over to change the tire." I think every business has it's moments where it could have done something different, made a better decision, but instead of letting those moments stimy us, we choose to learn and grow from them, knowing that we can serve the next Family even better!

So I guess this really is a thank you letter. Thank you to all the Nannies, the Families, the learning times, and all the NEW FAMILIES & NANNIES coming in!

We can't wait to serve you!

Wordless Wednesday

I just learned (10 minutes ago) that there is a Wordless Wednesday. (yes, I'm willing to admit there are times where my rock doesn't allow the sun to shine in and I'm in the dark/clueless)
I thought it was a cute idea and I was positive I had a picture (or 100) that didn't need words.

I was right.

And since NannyMall is dedicated to children......it fit. Enjoy.

What's in an Agency Owner?

As a Nanny Agency Owner I wear many hats such as, but not limited to:

Business Director - one of a group of persons chosen to control or govern the affairs of a company

Human Resources - people, especially the personnel employed by a given company, or institution in charge of

employment decisions.

Bookkeeper - the work of keeping account books or systematic records of transactions

Adman - a person who works with/in advertising

Advocate - to speak or write in favor of; support or urge by argument; recommend publicly

Confidant - a close friend or associate to whom private matters and problems are discussed

Researcher - to make an extensive investigation into: to research a matter/person thoroughly

Blessed individual - blissfully happy and content; fortunate

Again, that's just the short list of what my duties are but along with all of those responsibilities, I can honestly say, I like each any every one of them.

Yes, there are days that I have struggled with a decision, or wasn't able to get every Nanny into a position immediately. Those days are fewer and far between now. After 3 awesome years, we have all seem to have reached a nice stride.

And I understand that when you own a business, it can't possibly be ALL ABOUT BUSINESS. There are days I spend on the phone with my Nannies who have called for a personal discussion. There are days when I have spent the entire day going through constant rolling emails, working on situations that needed attention....that aren't necessarily related to Nanny needs.

Then there are the days/weeks/months that roll by and everything is working smoothly. Nannies are working, Families are content and I'm able to fully concentrate on current incoming permanent or on-call Families.

I wouldn't turn over any part of what I do because I enjoy it all.

When I've been asked why I do what I do, and how I accomplish it in all it's enormity, I simply answer, because I was called to it, and when a person is called to do something, anything, the equipping comes with.

My favorite day: When a Family calls or emails to tell me how much they love their Nanny. --That is my goal; to get a call a day from a Family that appreciates their carefully chosen, patiently matched, wonderful Nanny.

I can almost hear the phone ringing now..............