A Complete Nanny Recruiting Guide for Parents
Introduction
Bringing an employee into your home, whether it's a nanny, household manager, or family assistant, is an exciting step for your family. However, it can also feel a bit overwhelming. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the entire onboarding process, from initial hiring to getting your employee settled and integrated into your household.
Define Your Hiring Needs
Clearly defining the role and responsibilities is essential for attracting the right candidate. Establishing a predictable schedule allows a nanny to rely on a guaranteed income while building a fulfilling life outside of work. If families expect a nanny to work split shifts or seven days a week, the chances of retaining that individual are slim.
It’s also important to specify the duties required. Some candidates may be open to a role that combines domestic support with childcare, while others may prefer to focus solely on childcare responsibilities. By clearly outlining your expectations, you can find a candidate who aligns with your family's needs.
Define Your Budget for a Nanny
Salary and Payroll Taxes
Before starting the hiring process, it’s essential to establish your budget and consider the total costs associated with employing a domestic worker, nanny, or family assistant. You can use Hello Nanny’s pay map to assess market rates in your area. Research typical pay ranges for the position you’re hiring, factoring in the candidate's experience and your local cost of living. Additionally, remember to account for payroll taxes, which can add an extra 7-15% to your overall labor costs.
How you choose to compensate your employee—whether you pay above board or not—can significantly impact the quality of candidates you attract. Not offering a payroll position may limit your talent pool and deter skilled professionals from applying.
Benefits and Expenses for Nannies
Decide whether you'll offer benefits like paid time off, health insurance, or retirement contributions. These can significantly impact your overall budget. You'll also need to account for any job-related expenses, such as mileage reimbursement or cell phone stipend. It is important to remember that caregivers are not immune to burnout and parents should consider nanny industry standards that can make or break their ability to recruit and retain talent.
The Hiring Process
Nanny Job Description and Posting
The first step is to create a detailed job description that outlines your family's needs, schedule, and expectations. Include key details like required tasks, desired experience, and salary range. Setting the right expectations is key to attracting the right candidates. You can post in local Nanny Facebook groups, Mom groups, care sites like care.com, and sitter city, or you can even ask for referrals. However, it's worth noting that most dedicated career nannies prefer to work exclusively with agencies like Hello Nanny.
Remember, whether you source your own candidate or work with an agency, thoroughly vetting applicants and adhering to legal pay practices and industry standards are essential for long-term retention.
Interviewing Nanny Candidates
Review resumes thoroughly and conduct both in-person and video interviews to get to know each candidate. Be prepared to ask questions about their relevant experience, work style, and approach to their responsibilities.
Vetting and Nanny Reference Checks
Thoroughly vet your top candidates by checking references, verifying their work history, and confirming any relevant certifications. This due diligence is essential to finding the right fit for your family. Additionally, conduct comprehensive background checks and motor vehicle record (MVR) checks if the candidate will have driving responsibilities.
It's also crucial to differentiate between fake and genuine references. Agencies like Hello Nanny employ specialized VPN capabilities to help deter fraudulent references and have trained professionals skilled at identifying discrepancies between fabricated and authentic references.
Parents should aim to check at least one reference before scheduling a meet and greet or working trial, as the outcome of this reference check may deter them from ever hiring the candidate, saving time and effort for everyone involved.
Working Trial with a Nanny
Before making a final hiring decision, consider inviting your top choice to spend a few hours or a full day, or 2-3 days to get a sense of their connection and abilities working with your family. This working trial allows you to observe how they interact with your children and manage requirements of the position.
Making an Offer to a Nanny
Once you've identified your top candidate, extend a competitive job offer that includes the agreed-upon salary, benefits, and start date. It's important to first extend a verbal or written offer of employment that is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check and motor vehicle record (MVR) report, if applicable.
After this contingency is met, provide a written employment contract that clearly outlines key policies and expectations. When working with a nanny agency, they can supply you with a comprehensive work agreement template, ensuring you address all potential scenarios that could impact the partnership. Anticipating needs, family expansion, and situations that may cause tension in the relationship can help prevent misunderstandings and foster a successful, long-term partnership.
Onboarding Your Nanny
Nanny Orientation and Training
Set aside time for a comprehensive orientation, where you can introduce your employee to your home, routines, and household rules. Provide any necessary household rules, parenting styles, or task-specific skills you desire. Consider drafting emergency contact information and expectations of what to do in case of an emergency.
Building a Positive Relationship with Your Nanny
Make an effort to get to know your employee as a person. Discuss their interests, communication preferences, and any cultural considerations. Establish open lines of communication and set aside regular check-in times.
Ongoing Management
Setting Expectations
Revisit your household policies and schedules regularly to ensure they still meet your family's needs. Provide constructive feedback and be open to adjustments.
Nanny Compensation and Performance Reviews
Consider offering annual raises and performance reviews to show your employee that you value their contributions. Stay up-to-date on industry standards for domestic employee wages and benefits.
Retaining Top Talent
Keep your employee engaged and satisfied by providing growth opportunities, respecting their time off, and expressing your appreciation. A happy employee means a happy household!
Feeling Overwhelmed? Get Started with Hello Nanny!
If you're ready to find the perfect domestic employee for your family, our team is here to help. Book a consultation to discuss your needs and get started on the hiring process.
Whether you desire to hire your own nanny and tap into agency resources and processes, or delegate the entire process to an agency, we hope you found this guide valuable and wish you all the best in the hunt!
Shared with The Parent Collective from the team at Hello Nanny
