As a career nanny, you have a number of avenues for finding a job, but finding just the right family can be a tricky task. You want to be respected for your experience and knowledge, compensated fairly, and treated as a professional. Using a local nanny agency can meet your needs and offers you peace of mind:
- Personal Attention & Support: When working with a local nanny agency, you will have all the personal attention you deserve throughout your job hunt. Look for an agency with a caring, professional staff to guide you through your job search. A veteran agency with a tenured staff will also have a great deal of knowledge and expertise in the industry. They will match your unique skill set and personality with the right families, and offer you jobs that meet your needs.
- Industry Knowledge & Professionalism: When you decided to work with a local nanny agency, you can expect to be treated as a professional. Seek out an agency who is involved with the nanny industry at large, and who knows what is standard for compensation, benefit and vacation packages. A local nanny agency has first hand knowledge of local wage and benefit packages. Families who work with nanny agencies are well educated, and treat their employees with the respect they deserve.
- Long-term Success: Families who work with a referral agency have realistic expectations about hiring a nanny. Look for an agency that provides families with an employment contract that outlines the job description, duties, compensation, paid time off, etc. You will also want agencies who educate their families on recommended intervals and processes for reviews to keep open communication between nannies and families.
- On-going Support: Local agencies offer ongoing support even after you have been placed with a family. Professional agencies will host events for nannies to network with fellow nannies, as well as ongoing training opportunities for development. They will seek to expand your skills as a nanny professional. Your agency should also offer unbiased counseling and/or mediation should you have any issues with your placement.
As an agency that has been in business for over 20 years, we find that the nannies we place come back to us time and time again to find their next position. They realize the advantages that we offer them as a local, professional agency. They know that we only work with top notch nannies, and when we represent them, it gives them additional credibility as a career nanny. We highly recommend that all professional nannies partner with a local agency to help you every step of the way.
A special thank you to INA members Kathy Dupuy and Kim Winblood, Mom’s Best Friend. Mom’s Best Friend caregivers who complete a thorough, 10-step screening and background check. Since 1994, Mom’s Best Friend has been providing reliable, safe in-home childcare. Their offices are located in Austin, Houston, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Midland and San Antonio, Texas, as well as Vail/Beavre Creek, CO. Mom’s Best Friend is a division of MBF Agency, a full service household staffing agency.