Well,  it’s nanny-hunt time again (I have mixed emotions about this).. Looking for someone new to see me everyday isn’t fun when I know that I will be saying goodbye to someone else  who isn’t just a babysitter, but who has become a sister to me. I hate change, which means that I am not looking forward to getting a new nanny. I (try not to) think about how sad I am to say goodbye to our current nanny.  Instead, I want to focus on how super-pumped I am to experience a new adventure with a new person!

Finding a new nanny is a process my family and I tackle together. After screening applications and resumes, we narrowed it down to a short-list of five people to interview. All of them seem great on paper. But the interviews are the real telling time.

You would think that when you  get applications and applications of people interested in the job it would be easy to find someone totally interested and happy to be working with kids. But when you meet the girls, all of the sudden it isn’t so simple. Based on my experience searching for nannies, I have come up with what I call types for all of the nannies out there. Answer a, b, or c to find out what  nanny  type you are.

Here is the scenario: You are looking to nanny for two active, fun and creative girls. Their mom has a demanding job, so you’ll be a very valuable and important part of their family – and they’ll make you feel like it!   You are walking around the shady streets to find their condo.

How are you feeling? ( note: please answer honestly)

A) super nervous that the mom won’t like you

B) overall pretty relaxed and excited to hear about their busy lives  and possibly become a part of them

C) not worried at all.Nothing to stress about because this is just a job on the sidelines that won’t matter to me

Now, you have entered the condo and are thinking about what to say and who to say it to.  What do you do?

A) Talk to the mom only. After all she is your employer, the one hiring  you, and the main voice in the decision

B)  Chat with the mom but mostly address the kids. after all, they are who matter most and the people you will be spending the most time with

C) Make sure all of the attention is on the mom, she is paying your rent

Now, the family  asks  if you have  any questions for them. You ask……

A) Talk only to the mom “What do you do?”

B) Talk to the kids ” What do you like to do for fun?”

C) Talk to the mom about the financials and vacation time ” How much money do you make and how much will I get?”

Now you are leaving and saying your goodbyes. You……

A) Give the mom a wide smile and ignore the children

B) Give the children a warm hug and tell them how much you hope to seem again

C) Give the children a forced smile and the mom a professional  handshake

Results

Mostly A’s: The momoholic. You say that you have  had so much experience with kids and you are an amazing care taker but you are taking care of the kids not the mom. If you are going to get a call back from this family you are going to need to engage more in the children and give them the attention. The mom will hire who the children like.

Mostly B’s: Nanny type. You have gone through the interview well and shown that you are interested in the kids as well as the parents. Perfect job.

Mostly C’s: The greedster . You are only interested in the money and won’t go far in this job. You have to love what you do to be good at it.

I will update you as we continue the search for (not the momoholic, not the greedster)  the nanny type.

XOXO,

citygirl