Here are 5 common mistakes families make during the hiring process:
1. They Don’t Write a Clear Job Description
When hiring a nanny make sure you write a detailed job description of all the things that you are looking for. The more clear you are with your expectations for your nanny, the better off you both will be. Make sure to include duties, flexibility, hours, and pay.
If you change your expectations a week or a month after you hire them, then you are at risk of losing your nanny because the new expectations might not be what they wanted to sign up for. Be up front about what you want.
2. They Aren’t Negotiable About Pay
How much can you afford for a nanny? Are you flexible based on their experience? These are all important questions when choosing your next nanny.
Make sure you are paying the going rate for your nanny. If she feels underpaid or is underpaid then you are at a high risk of losing your nanny to a better offer
Check out Care.com’s rate calculator to learn how much caregivers cost in your neighborhood.
3. They Don’t Pay Legally
Make sure you are paying your nanny legally. With so many nanny’s getting paid under the table, the IRS has been cracking down on the industry. As a nanny, getting audited by the IRS can be a very big problem. Make sure to provide your nanny with a W-2, and pay their employee taxes to save them a headache in the long-run.
4. They Fail the Interview Process
Make sure you have more than one interview with your prospective nanny. Many people make the mistake of thinking they found the “right” nanny after just one interview, and are later disappointed to find out that they made the wrong hiring choice. Have an interview over the phone, then in person, and then finally with your kids. You might also consider going through a trial period for a certain period of time.
Ask the right questions, whether that be from their childcare experience and philosophy, to situational questions. Take your time and come up with thoughtful questions that will weed out the candidates that do not fit your needs.
Follow these 11 Tips for Interviewing Nannies.
5. They Skip the Safety Step
Conduct background checks and follow up on your candidates references. Ask the references probing questions about how the candidate conducts themself and their skills and weaknesses
