One of the most common mistakes new parents make is not taking enough time to find the right nanny. Whether your parental leave has ended or because you don’t want to hurt a family member’s feelings, too many people end up hiring the wrong nanny.
In turn, they end up back at square one without a nanny and having to take time off work or leave their child with someone who doesn’t fit the bill. Finding the right nanny is a process, so it’s important to have a plan before setting out to find one.
To make the process a little less stressful, here’s what you should do when interviewing San Francisco nannies.
Asses Your Needs
Before you find your Mrs. Doubtfire, you need to assess what your family’s needs are. Families come in all shapes and sizes, so your needs are probably different than someone else’s. For instance, if you have a newborn, you need a nanny who has experience working with very young infants. You also need someone who has the stamina to take care of them the same way you do. Determine what kind of coverage you’ll need prior to interviewing San Francisco nannies. It will save both you and candidates applying for the position time and energy.
Pay Scale
Once you know what kind of nanny you need, you then need to determine how much you can spend. Granted, a full-time nanny is going to cost considerably more than someone to comes over once or twice a week. However, you need to have a clear idea of what you can afford, how much nannies in the area are earning and how you are going to pay them. While some nannies might ask for weekly pay, others might be okay with a bi-weekly salary.
Screening Candidates
Finding candidates to interview can be as overwhelming as choosing the right one. When it comes to finding the right types of candidates, you have several options. You can ask friends and family for referrals, you can enlist the help of nanny referral agency or you can look at job boards. Keep in mind that as great as it would be to find the nanny of your dreams online, the likelihood of this happening are slim. However, that’s not to say it’s impossible either.
Making a Final Decision
After you’ve compiled a list of suitable candidates, the fun part begins. To … Read the rest