Summer job as a nanny?

[singingpixie]

Since my position at the Concert Hall where I work runs Sept-May, I'm looking for a summer job where I can continue at my current pay rate at least ($16/hr). I thought I might look into being a nanny (those rates look quite reasonable in my area, based on some online research). I love kids (almost went into teaching before I went another direction) so this could be a lot of fun (I know it'll be hard work too). Plus, I can probably get an evening job to pay down some of my debt and put some money into savings.

I put an add on craigslist and already got three responses. I dont know what the next step is though- how do I decide who to work for if more than one can meet my pay request? How do I make sure I'm getting into a safe environment? (I'm probably being overly paranoid, but I'm slightly nervous about being alone in a home where I dont know the family.) Any thoughts?

 

[Imzadi]

Wait until the April 21st film premiere of The Nanny Diaries, starring Scarlett Johanson. Once you see it, then decide if you still want to be a nanny.


Just kidding!

 

[Minnie824]

you should go to enannysource dot com. Thats where we went to find our nanny....its free for potential nannies to join and families pay $150 and get a background search. You can email families and they email you as well. Good luck!

 

[singingpixie]

you should go to enannysource dot com. Thats where we went to find our nanny....its free for potential nannies to join and families pay $150 and get a background search. You can email families and they email you as well. Good luck!

Do you mind if I ask what you pay your nanny? I dont' want to ask outrageous prices, but I don't want to shortchange myself because I asked for less than the going rate either.

 

[clutter]

Actually, I live in Fairfax and I have hired sitters as have many of my friends. I use student-sitters.com, but that's for college students, so I don't know if you can get access to the jobs there. I've been paying around $15/hour for short term sitters that drive. Some of my friends are hoping to pay around $12, I think. But I don't think $16/hour is unreasonable by all means. Remember, the closer to the beltway, the higher the pay.

As for how you decide, you're in the driver's seat. Do you prefer babies, toddlers, pre-school or school aged kids? Think where you'd be most comfortable. Most of the school aged parents I know haven't nailed down the summer yet, so you may not want to commit this early. You also have to decide if you're comfortable driving kids, and if your car can handle it or not. That will expand or narrow down your search. (You probably will want to be able to transport kids around so you're not stuck at someone's house all day.) What activities are available for the kids? Pool? Camps? Playdates? Are you going to end up with 18 kids from the neighborhood in your family's yard?

Mainly trust your instincts. If you don't get warm fuzzies from a family, it's probably a bad match. Nothing wrong with either of you, but it's just not a good match. Every sitter I hired I instinctively trusted just by talking to them on the phone. Set your own standards. Feel free to say 'I won't sit if there are guns in the house.' or 'if the parents smoke', or whatever. A lot of times, by setting your standards high, people know that you're someone that they can't take advantage of.

Good luck, and have fun! When you were posting about trying to save money for Disney, I was wondering if you liked kids, because I was going to suggest that you think about doing some sitting!!

 

[mrsv98]

I was a nanny for 12 years so here is the sum total of my collected, ahem, wisdom.

Be specific about the number of hours and the number of children. Once you have that, then you can figure out the rate. Minimun wage? Higher? Younger children tend to equate with higher pay because they need more "tending"

Are you going to be driving the kids to activities? Who's car? Who pays for gas?

Also ask about things like pool passes and such (I think a pp mentioned that).

Live in or out? If you live in, make sure you have firm hours anyway or you will end up working 16 hour days ( I speak from experience).

Most of all trust your instincts and have fun!

 

[Chipperdini]

I don't have any info or advice. My sister works as a nanny, and about a decade ago a family offered her $50,000 for a single summer. It would have required her traveling with them out of state, though (I think to Florida). She turned it down... No clue what she's made with the families for whom she's actually worked. If I'm not mistaken, I think her current family provides a car and a laptop in addition to her wages.

Good luck!

 

[Mickey527]

Rather than using the "Nanny" title why don't you just try and do babysitting or daycare? People who look for a nanny usually want someone who has credentials or education in child care.
Go to a local school and talk to the secretary. Let her know that you are looking for a summer job and have been thinking of doing some daycare. I know at my neice and nephew's school some parents have big problems finding someone to watch their children during the summer. Maybe the secretary can give your name and info to them.
Or make up some posters to distribute to schools and ask if you can post them on the front door or memoboard. Include a list of your attributes. Safe driver, education, plans for crafts, day trips, can you swim, could you attempt to teach them how to swim, etc...
I watched my neice and nephew last year as a favor to my brother, and this year I plan on watching of their classmates so the kids have something more to do than hang with me all day. Plus, I didn't like planning all those play dates, one would be out and the other was bored. This way they will have others to play with. I am 52 and was not looking for a job for the summer but daycare for them cost my brother $250 a week per kid. That is outrageous.

 

[mrsv98]

Rather than using the "Nanny" title why don't you just try and do babysitting or daycare? People who look for a nanny usually want someone who has credentials or education in child care.
Go to a local school and talk to the secretary. Let her know that you are looking for a summer job and have been thinking of doing some daycare. I know at my neice and nephew's school some parents have big problems finding someone to watch their children during the summer. Maybe the secretary can give your name and info to them.
Or make up some posters to distribute to schools and ask if you can post them on the front door or memoboard. Include a list of your attributes. Safe driver, education, plans for crafts, day trips, can you swim, could you attempt to teach them how to swim, etc...
I watched my neice and nephew last year as a favor to my brother, and this year I plan on watching of their classmates so the kids have something more to do than hang with me all day. Plus, I didn't like planning all those play dates, one would be out and the other was bored. This way they will have others to play with. I am 52 and was not looking for a job for the summer but daycare for them cost my brother $250 a week per kid. That is outrageous.

Jut FYI, $250/week for a standard 40 hour week is only $6.25/hour. People who work at Starbucks make more than that. Sorry if I sound cranky, but the ridiculously low wage most child care providers are paid has always been a sore spot.