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Paid childcare

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Original poster

OMG I have had 80 replies in 48hrs to a nanny ad, how do I begin to sift through them?

60 replies

PPH · 19/06/2006 19:10

This is completely mad. It is for a temp nanny job to cover my nanny's honeymoon. I have emails from over 80 people. I'd say on a first read through probably 60 of them would be absolutely fine, probably 10 would be great, probably 1 or 2 are super fantastic lovely perfect Mary Poppins types.
But I don't need superfantastic, I just need someone nice to have around and competant and fun and trustworthy for a couple of weeks. She won't even be in sole charge. How do I START to sift through them?

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Uwila · 19/06/2006 20:56

To be honest, I think you could offer a lot less than £300/week (especially if that's nett).

Uwila · 19/06/2006 20:55

Oooo... so where's the holiday? Does she get her own room? Meals out or is she self preparing her own?

Original poster
PPH · 19/06/2006 20:45

earlybird, I've thought about school people, but the job is to go on holiday with us for 3 weeks and I'm just not sure I want to mix school and personal life quite so closely if you know what I mean. One of ds's teaching assistants helped out at home last holiday (actually cod and harpsi met her) but she isn't available to go abroad for that length of time and I'm just not sure it is a good idea anyway. Not sure why really...

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Original poster
PPH · 19/06/2006 20:43

I haven't even told anyone what I'm going to pay! I guess around £300pw but I suppose a Slovakian doesn't need that much for 2 weeks of sitting on a terrace of a beautiful house overlooking the sea listening to a baby nap.

Yes I'm princesspeahead.

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Original poster
PPH · 19/06/2006 20:41

A couple of them have sent photos, which is actually quite nice - they look kind!
I think we have to decide between an eastern european au pair type (cheaper, can get to our holiday destination by train, but can't meet beforehand) or an australian primary teacher type (more expensive and have to fly them out to holiday destination, but may be a good investment since could then possibly do holiday cover in the future)... but there are just SO MANY.

And my dh and I are chuckling over some of them...
One has a degree in gardening AND a background in the Slovenian Ministry of Defence where she dealt in "secret documents" ???!

One calls herself "exotic and full of joy" (hmmmm, no I don't think so) Grin

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Uwila · 19/06/2006 20:37

Lower your offering, see who still wants the job. Then choose on from those still remaining, and then pay her the original higher rate anyway. She'll be thrilled with the higher pay and do a fab job for two weeks.

I was going to go into my usual speal of questionaire which is to be returned with cv and picture, and then.... but for two weeks of non-sole charge, does it really matter? I'd perhaps be thinking along the lines of someone who is not used to full time sole charge.

Are you PrincessPeaHead?

SSSandy · 19/06/2006 19:28

Did any of them attach a photo?

Earlybird · 19/06/2006 19:27

I imagine you've already been down this road, but does your current nanny have any friends/acquaintances who might fill in while she's away? Is there anyone at one of your children's schools who might be suitable?

Don't know if it's cheeky, or good management to ask your nanny to do an initial cull of responses, maybe even have some preliminary phone conversations to suss out who seems truly capable/personable, and then give you a shortlist of her recommendations (and absolute "no" people too)?

Original poster
PPH · 19/06/2006 19:16

I just don't know though - they all seem to be 24 yr old s african or australian primary school teachers, or 25 yr old poles/czechs/hungarians who have done 3 tours of au pair duty in the uk and looked after 4 children under tha age of 3 at once while also cleaning the house. help!

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bossykate · 19/06/2006 19:14

ditch the 60, prioritise the remaining 12, follow up in priority order? seems you have already started sifting! Wink