I'm about to ring about a nanny job,

Question

I'm nervous I rarely speak on the phone, any tips?

Answer 1

I just recently got hired to be a nanny for a 17 month old and I was the same way you are. I was nervous the entire time I talked to the first family, but the second family made me feel completely comfortable which is why I decided to work for them. Make sure you make a list of questions to ask them also. Don't worry too much, you'll do fine. If you need help thinking of questions you can email me: [e-mail]

Answer 2

speak in a calm voice

Answer 3

1.) make sure yr kids are asleep or not home when you call her. because if something happens while yr on the phone w/ her and she hears screaming and crying in the background, well, it's not exactly the most reassuring thing to hear as a nanny.

2.) try to sound like you really need her, but make sure you don't make it sound like it's because you can't handle yr kids.

3.) sound happy to call her and try to get to know a little bit about her in that short time on the phone, even try to get her to brag a little, people like people that make them feel good about themselves.

Answer 4

The time to decide on what you want is NOW.  Make sure that you get agreement on some important points.   How much are you to be paid, and what exactly do they want in return?   What are your hours?   Do you need to drive?   How far?  How often?   Where?   How many kids do you care for?   Are you expected to do housework?   Any other responsibilities, like meals?

You must have the authority to discipline the child, and you must have plenty of options, like timeouts, denial of privileges, or requiring the child to take some action like doing pushups or writing lines, etc.  You need to establish very clearly that when you are ill, you will be unable to work.  You should have some reasonable level of sick pay and vacation pay and paid holidays, and you need to hear the parent tell you what they will do when you do call in sick, so that you know they have thought about it and made plans, so that they don't try to "guilt trip" you.  You should set clear expectations about household chores, and make it clear that the children are your primary responsibility, and set very low expectations with regard to how much housekeeping they should expect from you.   You need to establish exactly what your hours are to be, and what happens when there is a need to adjust that schedule.  Do you get paid extra for staying late?   At what rate?    

Also, you need a clear understanding on what your days off are to be.     Also, do you have any responsibility with respect to transportation?   If you are using your own car, make sure you are being compensated not just for gas, but for the overhead of maintaining a vehicle for their use, and your services as driver.  You should also set a clear understanding about how problems should be addressed, who you should talk to, and make it clear that you expect them to communicate openly with you about the children, and work with you to solve any problems that come up, because you cannot do your job otherwise.   You also need to decide if you are willing to care for children who are sick.  Do you want to take on that responsibility?  

You should write some of these ideas down, and any others that you have and have them ready to glance at while you are discussing it.  Have a pen handy so you can take notes and check off the things that you have discussed.

Once you have worked out the details of the job, you need to write them down in a contract, and have it signed by your clients, so that if they have a "memory lapse", you can helpfully provide them with a copy of your agreement.    Don't forget to write yourself an annual raise into your contract.  Agree on an overtime rate for when they arrive late without arranging it in advance, and make it clear that, at a certain point beyond the agreed upon time, you will consider the children abandoned, and inform the police.    Obviously, you are not going to do this without serious provocation, but it is good to establish all the parameters, so that parents are discouraged from taking advantage.  

Preparing in advance will help you in presenting yourself as a professional who is knowledgeable about the job and knows what questions to ask.

When you accept the children in your care in the mornings, look them over carefully before you accept them into your charge, so that you are not blamed for various scrapes, bruises, etc..  Keep a digital camera ready, so you can record any questionable behavior or injuries.  Make sure you have access to a thermometer, so you can check to see if a child is sick if you have doubts, preferably before they are left in your care.   Accusations from parents are all too common, and they are devastating to a conscientious care provider.

Good Luck!!