Why do nanny agencies ask the questions they do?

[Pupudushku]

I am genuinely puzzled as to why I need to reveal my parents occupations on a nanny agency registration form when I am pushing 40 myself?!

Does anyone know the reason for asking this question? Would I be unreasonable to put N/A as my reply, or should I be honest and say "Mother - doesn't work due to long term depression" and "Father - no idea as I haven't seen him since I was 9"?

The same with "do you have any brothers and sisters?" This one, I can understand for very young nannies, but middle aged ones with their own children?

If anybody is around who runs an agency, would you mind enlightening me? I am quite bemused by this!

I have never known that either and decline to answer those personal questions now! They don't seem to care too much...

I, too, think they are aimed at younger nannies.

I've found it's to do with social class.
They want to know where you come from so to speak.
There is no reason why you should answer if you do not want to. For some people it works in their favour and for others it doesn't.

I always wondered about these questions too.

They wouldn't get my social class from my parents occupations now, mum has athritis and so doesn't work and dad is a "litter picker" for the local council! He walks Hayling beach twice a day and chats to the local dog walkers!

When I first started as a nanny, my parents owned and ran their own businesses and where (still are) well off! My dad retired 14 years ago when he was 50 and has dabbled in a lot of things (mainly just to get out of the house) and now loves his job, he gets paid for walking, which he loves, and gets to hog the remote in his little hut if it is raining!

I point blank refuse to answer them. Same with height and weight. I want to interview with families who are interested in my child care abilities. Nothing else.

Surely they can work out social class (if that is what they are trying to do) by which private school you attended.

Or what your hobbies are! Horse-riding and skiing, anyone?

I can see the point why they are asking for hobbies... imagine you would be placed into a horse craz family and you hate horses? I actually know a nanny that plays Polo and Golf.

Re questions om family I think they are quite important as that does Influence your style as a carer in all sorts of ways and is quite an Important part of judging candidates.

Re hobbies it's the same in all jobs- do they really need to know what I do outside of work? Only I sense that working relationships work best when have similar or complementary personalities.

Can you explain more Hardandsleazy. I was raised in a 2 parent household until my early teens, then in a single parent family. Does that impact on how I care for children?

Oh hobbies I definitely see the point - I was replying to nick, saying that often you can work out social class by your hobbies as well as which private school you attended

Hobbies, particularly for a school aged child, can help match the right nanny to the family. If a child does music lessons a nanny who plays an instrument will be an asset, if a child is very artistic a nanny who has artistic/crafty hobbies might come up with lots of related activities.

Parents professions has bugger all to do with social class. Likewise the number of siblings you have.

I can half see the point for younger nannies of siblings - it can tell you about dealing with conflict/sibling rivalry. An only child won't necessarily have had those experiences and might not understand the dynamics of a mutli-child family but once you've had a job with a mutli-child family it becomes irrelevant!

what does the following hobby tell you about someone?

Hobby: posting on Mumsnet

nannynick - if someone posted on internet message boards all the time when they were supposed to be working, I'd not have wanted them caring for my children when they were younger.

nannynick - sorry that wasn't aimed at you btw! I didn't mean it to sound like that.. I was just responding to your question that even that as a hobby can give an indication of a person..

i.e.

hobbies: gym, running, swimming, dancing

what would that say in comparison to

hobiies: TV & films, music, surfing the web

Treeesa - I spend far too much time posting/lurking on mumsnet and others, so it could be seen as a hobby . That doesn't mean I would do so while I'm working - I never actually use the computer whilst I'm at work.

Yep, definitely a hobby of mine but not one I declare! When I do makeovers on nanny CVs I tell them to think seriously about their hobbies and interests. Occasionally it reveals a little more than they intend...

Is going to the gym really a hobby... I thought it was more a lifestyle choice.

I'm about to head down the gym (to sit in the spa pool, steam room and sauna) - won't actually be doing any exercise. Exercise is tomorrow... when I have 2 hours of exercise planned.

I struggle to understand the concept of a hobby. It can't just be something you do outside of working hours... there must be more to it than that. So what is the definition of a hobby?

I always struggle for what to put under hobbies. I go to the gym, I walk the dog, I bake cakes, I like to go out with friends for drinks/meals. Nothing exciting!

I really dont have time for hobbies sad I know. I just extend the truth. Like reading, and swimming, but I would love to have the time to swim and read a book,

I agree with you nanynick & cinpin. I don't have time for any hobbies myself but in my opinion hobbies are enjoyable things that you want to do out of choice. Not out of necessity.. I go to the gym or swim out of necessity - but I nate swimming as I find it so boring..!

its not a judgemental thing so much as an insight thing - stuff like what were your parents views on discipline and how has that influenced your views, how you dealt with falling out with siblings etc. Even things like say if you were a child of a separated/divorced parents may give you some insight if you were working for a family where this is relevant -its stuff like that

and re the not having many hobbies that would ring true as frankly if you are busy working all the time (esp long hours as a nanny) the fact that you don;t have time to swim the channel etc.

And I kind of assume most people have an internet habit - its when they have it at work.

Oh and also I would always be careful about what you put on fb (if its accessible) and the kind of photo you have there - I know of people who have been put off from hiring by the drunken ibiza holiday shot thats used as a status photo..

Thast not to say that you can't go and get drunk in ibiza -more that be careful what is attached to your name in the internet age

Just read the thread and i have to say that i agree with hardandsleazy, any background check would naturally involve a compulsory check on the web and facebook for background.

These days parents certainly do look up prospective nannies on the web. Message boards on Mumsnet and NannyJob are both searchable, so if someone can work out someones posting name (not hard in my case) then they can read everything you have ever written.

I quite like that though... it shows them the real me. By reading what I write people probably have a much better understanding of what sort of a nanny I am, what I am good at and what I am bad at.

And I agree nannynick- I know previous nanny was a Mn - never bothered me (we would chat about it). I always work on basis that same foes other way so anything I post here could be searched by a nanny

What are people's opinions on locked FB profiles then? Nanny is cautious and discreet or nanny us hiding something?

People could probably work out who I am from what I say on here and other sites if they really wanted to but I do sometimes alter job details when posting on the net (number of children, their ages etc) to keep the family out of it, which I suppose makes it harder to match my identity up to my posts?