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. :-)

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..............

On the search for a great St. Louis Nanny?

When hiring a Nanny……....originally run by STLFamillyLife

written by: Patti Mueller

www.nannymall.com

Asked by Lisa with STLFamilyLife: 1.)When a parent interviews a nanny, what are the basic questions a parent should ask?

Nannies are a wonderful addition to a family for several reasons so when your family is searching for a new Nanny lots of questions should be asked!

This is just a very small sampling:

• What is your experience working with children? (were you a Nanny, work at a daycare, have a home based daycare? Etc…)
• How old were the children you cared for?
• Do you have any formal early childcare development or childcare training?
• Are you CPR and First Aid certified? Are you willing to become certified?
• Why are you a Nanny and what type of position are you looking for?
• Will you follow our house rules and will you speak up when something is bothering you?
• What is your definition of “open communication?”
• Do you have future plans (school, marriage, children) that would put a limit on how long you expect to be a Nanny?
• What is your salary range?
• What is your availability date?
• And many, many more!
  

2.) What's the difference between a nanny and a babysitter? What is expected of a nanny that's not of a traditional babysitter?

The difference is really quite simple.

A Nanny is a professional childcare employee. Nannies have years and years of childcare experience on their resume along with impeccable references. All Nannies that work through an Agency have been cleared with clean backgrounds and are required to be CPR certified. They usually have a degree in Childcare or a similar field and more often than not, they have made “Nannying” their career.

Nannies are employees; just like any other employee they receive benefits: paid vacations, paid personal days, un-paid personal days, sometimes help with health insurance, and by state and federal law taxes should be taken out of their weekly salary. (There are GREAT tax breaks/benefits to the family when employing a Nanny!)

Too, Nannies always appreciate finding a family to stay with for a number of years as it can be difficult on both parties to jump from family to family each year. It’s not unheard of for a Nanny to have made the commitment to a family for 5-6 years!

Nanny’s normal duties are not limited to childcare but also include cleaning up of the kitchen, play areas, children’s rooms and their laundry. They are also in charge of play dates, occasional doctor appointments, and child related errands.

A sitter is someone who is usually younger, still in school and looking to make a few extra dollars a week for social expenses. Typically sitters are not dedicated to just one family and will not work many hours a week, the norm is 2-6 times a month with any given family…and only with families that are located within their own neighborhood.--Nannies will drive up to an hour each way to their respective families!--

3.) How does a parent find a nanny to match his/her parenting style?

This could be as simple as outlining exactly what the family desires in a childcare employee and making sure your expected criteria is matched through the first question and answer interview. -The thorough process of a good Agency will begin by matching 90-100% criteria between the family’s application and the Nanny’s application before even sending the portfolios over for family to view.-

What are the questions that should be asked in the interview process to ensure a great match with the children?

• What do children like best about you?

• How do you comfort children? How do you deal with separation anxiety?
• How do you discipline children?
• What are some of the rules you've followed in other households that you think worked well? Which rules haven't worked for you?
• Would you be willing to follow my rules and disciplining/comforting strategies even if they're different from yours?
• What will my child be doing on any given day?
• What are your favorite activities to do with a child the age of mine?

4.) How do you tell if a nanny isn't working out for the family?

There is always a period of adjustment which can last a few short days or a couple of weeks. There will be times when the family may feel a little overwhelmed and same for the Nanny but should you start to see these warning signs, it may be time to find a new Nanny:

• Nanny begins to call off one or more days a week.
• She asks if she can come in later or leave earlier.
• The children act different around her perhaps because she isn’t dedicating as much time with them or has distanced herself from them.
• There is less communication between Nanny and family.
• Chores that are in the normal description of duties aren’t completed.
• Your neighbors have noticed the children aren’t outside as much, and/or play dates have dwindled.
• Where she may have come over for the occasional weekend to keep the children, she’s now stating she’s unavailable.
• You find the browser on your computer has been opened to Nanny Job sites.
• There are many other warning signs but those are the top few. --A true professional Nanny will discuss her concerns with the family before it gets uncomfortable.--

NannyMall, LLC is a local Full Service Nanny Placement Agency and below answers some questions regularly asked by families.

Why should families use a Nanny Agency such as NannyMall, LLC?

The use of an Agency cuts down your time spent looking for qualified childcare. A dedicated Agency such as ours will take the time to discuss your needs, learn your specified criteria desired in your new Nanny, and spend time going over your family application, making sure nothing is overlooked or forgotten.
All Agencies should, and ours will, match criteria between both the family app and the Nanny app, cutting out the Nannies families wouldn't even consider. Agencies also contact Nanny's references, do background checks, and make sure they are CPR Certified within 30 days of hire by a family.

--Also a big question: isn’t hiring a Nanny more expensive than daycare? The short answer is no. For more information about this topic please visit our website, www.nannymall.com

What is NannyMall’s role?
We provide excellent services to families in need of experienced childcare. We are here to walk you through the process of hiring the very best Nanny for your family. The family has unbiased people, our Placement Coordinators, to discuss each Nanny's portfolio should the decision become difficult.

What criteria do you look for when recruiting Nannies?

When searching for a Nanny, the qualifications we look for are:

· experience

· sweet, healthy disposition towards children

· impeccable references from previous families

· willingness to work within family guidelines

· clean background/driving record

· dependable car with enough space to seat children safely

· desire to stay with a family for at least a year or more

How do families benefit when using your Agency?

• We have a knowledgeable staff to help guide them.
• We know the ins and outs of hiring a Nanny.
• We perform the interviews, backgrounds, reference checks.
• We work side by side with Household Tax specialists. (Who can teach the family how to pay Nanny legally and help save on their taxes!)
• We provide a Family-Nanny Agreement form that takes out the guess work of writing an Agreement on your own.
• Most importantly our Nanny Placement Agency is here to help and encourage you through the entire process so that the very best Nanny is found for your children.

You may contact NannyMall, LLC and learn more about our services by going to our website: www.nannymall.com , calling 314 769 MALL (6255) or emailing us: info@nannymall.com .

Thank you and we wish you all the success in finding your “gold star Nanny!”

Some suggestions for "waiting Nannies"

If you are a professional Nanny or just breaking into the profession, waiting to get placed with a family can be extremely difficult! It's not an question of your experience, your talents, your availability, your age, your anything, it can be simply explained like this:
Families are extremely particular when it comes to choosing a Nanny for their family. (as they should be)
After all they want someone "just like them."

If you polled families the general consensus would probably look a little like this: Nanny must be fun, energetic, playful, loving, gentle, kind, and above all, must love our children. You see, it's everything they offer their children so they expect to bring in someone with the same actions and feelings they have towards their children.
And true, they might even hold a brighter candle to you to make sure you pass the grade due to "you being the professional."

It's not always an easy choice. There are times when a family meets with just one applicant and "tag you're it!"
happens. There are families that had a clear idea on what type of Nanny they would like for their home only to interview many and decide they need to change their criteria and start all over. Then there are families that interview 15-20 applicants and decide not to hire at all.

It's constant wait and see but understandably a Nanny can become discouraged and feel she doesn't have what it takes should she be passed by time after time. (side note: a good support group or agency can help in that area)

Here are some suggestions that may help keep your mind strong and your days busy during your waiting period.
#1 Post its ---write out a post it stating, "today is the day I get placed!" or "My perfect family is going to find me today!!" Place your post its on your mirror, in your car, on your computer, on the fridge, ON YOUR TV! Keep reading your notes, you will get placed!
#2 Call another Nanny or two, perhaps they know of some on-call work you can pick up.
#3 Post a simple flier around town informing the public what an awesome Nanny you are!
#4 Find your local support group and go to the meetings, there may be some Nannies in the same boat that could use an encouraging word from you!
#5 Use the time to update your resume and references. Touch base with your references and make sure they are still accessible for a phone call or email.
#6 Pick up a Part Time job at a mall, especially right now, there are many seasonal jobs to be had! (think of the connections you could make there!!)
#7 Take an 8 week class online or at your local community college, you'd be surprised how much that keeps your brain moving forward.
#8 Start a blog. Write about the ins and outs of being a professional Nanny. Someone may need to hear your words of wisdom and your words of caution. Try not to be too opinionated, that makes that writer sound negative and that's the last thing you want! :-)
#9 Create a Facebook page and invite your past families and Nanny friends to join. Make it a fun place where they can find links to local happenings, local restaurant coupons, local parks, etc....you'll find that they keep coming back to your page for good information, their friends will begin to ask, "where did you hear about that great deal?" and before too long you'll have new requests from people you don't know BUT THAT MAY NEED A NANNY, especially a wise Nanny that keep her page updated with fun stuff!!
#10 Perhaps choose a room in your house to paint, switch the furniture around in your apartment or even get a new haircut. It's amazing what a little change does for a person.
#11 Take a weekend road trip with friends or family. Check with Hotels.com, they probably have some great deals! Maybe you can't be hours away from your home, but you can certainly spend the night at a hotel and take advantage of their indoor pool and treat yourself to their hospitality! (and free breakfast!)
#12 Lastly, keep a positive attitude at all times. If you go in for an interview expecting they won't offer you the position, they will pick up 0n that and you probably won't get the position. So chin up, smile in place, shoulders squared, laughter ready, wisdom in check, answers firmly planted, ready-set-go!