Where have you had most success finding a care giver or family to work with? I would like to interview with wealthy families who have the means to provide a generous salary. I have impressive experience and references to provide. Should I utilize an agency or conduct my own search? The websites I've used in the past seem to be filled with parents seeking to pay very little for a full week of care.
This post may make me sound like a greedy nanny, but I'm burnt out on working for middle class families who really can't afford private care.
10 comments:
I've found my most wealthy families (I don't specifically look for them as I charge the same regardless) through my area's Nanny/Parent Connection FB page, agencies, and one on Care.
In my experience agencies (ones that have higher fees especially; so just make sure to glance through the parents side of the website) or through connections (do you have any nanny friends working with families that pay their childcare providers a higher wage? Or any previous families you have worked for?). Also try Facebook/Facebook groups/general social media. A lot of times these types of families will have PAs that will do the first few steps of the nanny hunt and are more tech savvy/have more time and utilize social media more than an average parent. Good luck!
I'm curious - why are you wanting to work for wealthier people if you will be charging the same? Are you hoping for perks? I would understand that.
I guess I would just say that be prepared - wealthy people sometimes nickel and dime worse than people with less money. I live in a wealthy area and some people are very hard on their staff and they can be weird about money. Weirder than people who are middle class.
OP Here
I don't charge the same because, unfortunately, the middle class families I work/have worked for really can't afford to pay me what I'd ask. We usually negotiate upon hire and I end up accepting a lower salary to secure a job. My hope is that a family with the means to pay me what I ask wouldn't try to talk me down. I do realize it's possibly a trade off though because it seems wealthier families don't treat their nannies as kindly.
Right now though, I'm at a point where I have to find a higher paying position or switch careers. I just am not making enough to cover my bills comfortably.
I have worked for a couple of wealthy families. Please be careful. Not all are fun, honest families. Money and power sometimes equal disaster. Just be czreful if whom you pick. Good luck!!
I have found wealthy families through a white-glove agency and care.com. On care.com, post your rate and you will get a better response from parents who want the best and can afford the best.
I understand where you are coming from. My last position was with a couple who were struggling but felt that the care and education of their child was paramount. However, limited finances got the best of them and the poor little guy was dumped in daycare after two years with me. The sudden switch to daycare has been very, very hard on him.
I have felt the same way! I was tired of going on Care.com or Sittercity and finding people who want me to work 50 plus hours for very little pay. It's like people can not afford a nanny, but really want it. I got fed up and started looking around my area for top notch agencies and I have found a ton!! I actually have an interview tomorrow with a family paying me between 65,000 and 78,000 a year, with some great perks! I am nervous but really excited! After 7 months of being with this agency I finally get to interview for an amazing job. The client loved my resume and thats that! So don't give up! I am sure if you keep looking, you will find something perfect :)
I have no agencies in my area, yet its a high cost of living place. There are agencies 20 miles away, but they don't accept nannies in my area; but will place their nannies in my area. We did have one agencies here, before they went out of business-- They had a flat rate for all nannies, nannies had no negotiation power. I've had some luck with care, minimal on sittercity, great luck on CL (shocking yes), and amazing work of mouth. The key is sticking up for yourself. Your rate is $____, up it by $2 to leave room for negotiation, don't go bellow the amount you personally set for yourself. Parents could interview and interview, ask prices and negotiate all in the same step; if your the most qualified and they got you to say a number bellow a minimal experienced girl-- well yeah you got the job. But if a family had a minimal experienced nanny say '$13-hour' and a highly experienced nanny say '$17-hour' they could: negotiate or pick whats best for their family, or both.
I get lots of families wanting me for my experience, but want to pay a newbie price and try the 'we can't afford that' I just remind them of my experience and say a $1 less to judge their reaction.
Wealthy (multimillionaires)families are not "nice" families. They do NOT respect their staff .Why? because they have the money and the power to do whatever they want!
Plus they are cheaper than the other families ,very stingy.. The lady of the house who marry their "older " husband for the money are unsecure ,mean and jealous. They do not have the time to spend more than one hour a day with their own kids even during the "vacations" in Europe. Too busy to climb the mont Blanc with a private guide, or go wine testing in Italy but they do want to have total control on what the nanny and the kids are doing all day, and want their kids with the nanny to be standby all day.
They modify their contract as they wish ,find a way not to pay you overtime ect...
Their babies fall in love with the nanny because the nanny is actually nice and spend 10 hours/day with them so they love the nanny but once the " mother" realizes that the nanny is loved by the kids, the nanny gets fired for some lame excuses..
The only thing the good nannies can do about this is NOT to work for them!
I would recommend to look for a smart family ,upper class but actually "work" for a living (doctors,professors..)and not in a financial business..
Wow. Anonymous' posting of Dec. 20, 2014 was enlightening. Thank you for that advice. I am not a nanny but am considering working in child care after having raised three children of my own. Needless to say, I am grateful to have discovered this blog/website. Thank you again to all who have added their insights and experiences as nannies, child-care workers, and sitters.
Lynette
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