Job Seeking

Wow, has it really been months since I last updated?

A lot going on in my nanny world! I am officially looking for employment again. the family I worked for won't need me again until Fall, and even then my hours will be way down from before because both boys will be in school most of the week. I've told former MB that if I find a job that allows me to work the one day a week they will need me, that I will do so. But in the meantime, I am looking for more full time work.

I was planning to just take the summer off, and am looking for jobs that have start dates for mid August or Fall. I can afford to do that, as my husband is the main wage earner and we can live quite comfortably on his income alone. However, I came across a job 2 weeks ago that was too good to pass up, that had a start date of immediately, so I applied and interviewed for this job.

The funny thing is, this couple ended up taking a much, much cheaper option of in home daycare. These were people offering between $32000 - $38000 a year for a nanny working 25-40 hours! When we got into the discussion about what is required tax-wise, etc, this corporate executive mother got very confused. Seriously, she abandoned a private nanny over the issue of employer taxes for an unlicensed in-home center that is now costing her probably about $4000 a year?!??!!

My mind is boggled.

But nevermind that......

This has lent me to now kick around the idea of actively seeking for summer, altho I am still not certain I wanna work during summer. The hours and pay would just have to be right, and I am lucky enough to be picky and wait.

Another note: I had a woman pursuing me on a care site, and the hours sounded good. The start date was mid-August, also good. So, in interest, I sent back a reply to this woman's request asking for more details, including that of her pay.

She wrote back giving me all the details I had asked for, except the one about pay.

Now, I am not trying to be a biddy. But with gas prices the way they are, I don't see any need to waste anyone's time on setting up interviews and getting hopes up when something that is a deal breaker can be noted upfront. I am efficient like that, and I admit not everyone appreciates it! When initially corresponding, I make certain the hours, days and pay specifically match up between us or I see no sense in wasting anyone's time. I've been tangled up with too many parents who say things to get me 'in', only to switch the game around to something I very clearly do not want. Like with the Indian couple who pursued me and said they would be flexible and all when I stated that it didn't seem the hours they needed a nanny matched what I wanted in a schedule. Once they got me 'in' tho.....they changed all of that, Added on hours and lessened pay.

Ummmm.....no.

IMO, all of that can be avoided. I believe in communicating clearly. In the case of this mother who didn't answer my question, I wrote her back again and told her everything she said sounded good. However, my minimum charge was X, and that was solely for the care of the baby and the cleaning associated only with my being there (meaning I clean up the messes baby and I made while there). If she wanted extra housework, laundry, etc, the charge would be more. I asked her, was this within her range?

I never heard back. Oh well.

Another family, just a few weeks ago, also started pursuing me. I asked the father (who contacted me) for details. Days, hours? He simply said, "8 hours a day 5 days a week"

Well, THAT told me NOTHING. Not to mention, my former family knew of this family and sorta gave the advice to steer clear of them. So I did not write this guy back when he clearly did not answer my question for details.

He then wrote again. I told him it didn't appear as if my needs matched what they needed.

So then he had his wife email me. She was a tad more sociable, it seemed. I basically told her 'no'.

But then I changed my mind, and they had already found someone else!! LOL

Oh well again.

So, anyway, that is my update. I'll keep ya posted on the interesting stories as they happen!

Update on Former Employer

In my last entry, I told the story of a couple from whom I had accepted a job for an infant nanny. It was an uncomfortable situation, and didn't work out from the get go. I handled it as professionally as I could, and cut it off as soon as I knew it was not going to work (which was only 2 days in) so as to not waste any more time that the parents would need to find another nanny before the Mom went back to work.

This past week, as I said, I had come across the mother on the care site where I had initially found the job. She was advertising for another nanny. It's only been 2 months since I had left, and 1 month since she has returned to work from maternity leave. I had maintained that she would NOT be able to find a quality nanny who would stay long term for what she wanted to pay, while also changing terms as she saw fit. I was curious as to what happened to the nanny they found after me. (yes, yes, I wanted to see if I was , indeed, CORRECT) So I sent her a friendly message, giving her the link to a local nanny community site where she could look at some local nanny profiles for free, and even place her ad, for free.

Here is her reply to me :

Hello [Nanny Me], 

Good to hear from you and I am over being upset now :)

Initially I did think that you were just not liking us or [the baby], which is why you did not want to continue, but I then decided to give you the benefit of the doubt... And thank you for sending this site - I had to re-advertise for a nanny because the one we found after you left, cheated on us and actually left one day without saying anything while [the baby] was sleeping ! And she also stole from us ! Very upsetting and shocking because we treated her very well and trusted her..anyhow, we found someone else but it has been tough... Hope you and your family are doing good. And Merry Xmas / Happy Holidays to you all !


I am curious as to how this new nanny will work out.

Why do I care? I don't, really. But I do have a curiosity on how things work out, and I also don't like to truly burn bridges.