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Original poster

No luck finding a nanny - what am I doing wrong

30 replies

PremierBebe · 07/03/2012 13:10

Hello,

I am looking for a nanny to look after my baby daughter who is due in two weeks. I am in my last year at university and will start full-time work in September. I need therefore a nanny that helps me at the beginning when I need to study and when i have my exams in May, as well as somebody who looks after her when I start to work in autumn. I have contacted several nanny agencies (Eden, Little Ones, Nannies Inc etc.) but nobody sends me suitable nannies. What am I doing wrong? I don't want Mary Poppins (I actually hated that movie) nore do I expect 10 years of experience and a Norland qualification. The "most" important thing I am after is that the nanny speaks French (preferably MT) and is comfortable looking after newborn babies.

So what can I do to find somebody?

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Fraktal · 07/03/2012 13:19

Have you tried advertising in French speaking communities? Or via French agencies?

Is the job attractive? Is the salary competitive? Have you been given any advice from agencies?

It also depends how long you've been looking.

Fraktal · 07/03/2012 13:20

Also what's wrong with the nannies they are sending? Not French speaking, not experienced or meeting all your requirements on paper but just not what you want?

dinkystinkyandveryverybored · 07/03/2012 13:29

I found our lovely nanny via gumtree. Think about what you need from your nanny - is french speaking a necessity or is the previous experience of looking after a newborn the most important point? Focus on that, and then make your list of like to haves from it. For me, I needed someone who spoke and read good english (as I wanted them to read to my children lots and take them out to local playgroups/have playdates as they got older) and who had at least 2 years of previous experience, including looking after 6 month old babies, and an up to date CRB check and infant first aid certificate. Everything else was a nice to have.

minderjinx · 07/03/2012 13:33

Is it the gap in employment that is putting candidates off? When you say you want help with the newborn in May and then care when you return to work in September, do you mean that they would not be needed in between? If not, and you do want someone over the summer, is it possible that candidates might have thought otherwise and perhaps you should clarify what your needs are?

Original poster
PremierBebe · 07/03/2012 13:43

+minderjinx+ There will be no gap in employment. We will travel a lot in summer and would like the nanny to come with us. I am not somebody who will let the nanny alone with the child 12 h a day when we are travelling but would like to bound my baby and the nanny together and therefore it would be great if she could come with us. Oh what a long sentence.

OP posts:
nannynick · 07/03/2012 13:50

Is it a live-in or live-out nanny you are looking for? Some nannies may like to travel, others may not, so that travel in the summer if it's being mentioned to candidates could be putting some off.

annh · 07/03/2012 13:50

What have you not liked about the candidates which all the agencies have sent you?

Original poster
PremierBebe · 07/03/2012 14:05

Its live in with a own little house in our garden provided. The travel hasn't even been mentioned yet.

OP posts:
Karoleann · 07/03/2012 14:09

I think its the fact that you want french speaking and newborn experience.
I think you should (if you're not too late) get a maternity nurse for the first few months and then have the other live in start in August when you go travelling.
Newborns before three months aren't usually awake enough to pick up lanbguage skills and you wouldn't have any major attachment issues that that age either. You'll then have a better pick of nannies as you won't need complete newborn experience, just someone who has looked after little babies before.
I employed a mothers help when having DC3 who had no experience at all with babies under 9 months. I send her on an MMT training course before she started and a specialist paediatric first aid course. I couldn't really leave her alone with DC3 for the first few weeks, but she did pick things up really quickly. If you're going to be around most of the time anyway it could be an option.

nannynick · 07/03/2012 14:09

nobody sends me suitable nannies.
That implies that the agencies have sent you some nannies... have you actually interviewed any? Are you getting much interest in the job at all, or is it more that those who are put forward you are not feeling are suitable?

Don't suppose you could like to a job ad... that may help us get a feel for how the job is being marketed to nannies.

anniemac · 07/03/2012 14:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Blondeshavemorefun · 07/03/2012 14:33

The French speaking nanny may be a hurdle

I know many professional nannies with nb exp but none who can speak French let alone be their mt and then you also want someone to live in

I'm assuming you or dad are French - so maybe get a nanny to take child to French lessons when older?

Again travel would put me off / though you say you havnt mentioned it yet but again some nannies love to travel and see the world

Tbh think your chances of finding a nanny with mt french who has baby exp who wants to live in and happy to travel may be hard

Take away one of the above - ideally not nb exp and you may find easier to find a nanny

Original poster
PremierBebe · 07/03/2012 15:05

Here is a link

www.eden-nannies.co.uk/en_showitem.php?id=5341

OP posts:
nannynick · 07/03/2012 16:16

Interviewing in Germany.
Whilst you are offering to fly people out to Germany, are applicants really wanting to do that? Maybe having interview in Germany is putting some people off.

parents require a flexible nanny, preferably a German or French speaker.
Flexible nanny - what does that mean? What it means to you could be something different to what it means to the nanny. Are you actually needing someone very flexible in terms of what hours they work, or are the hours really going to be more fixed?
Restricting to languages restricts number of applicants in my view. Is speaking German or French essential? If it's not essential, then I'd remove it from the ad if you are finding you are getting a lack of applicants.
If on the other hand you are getting applicants but they just don't meet your expectations, then keep that bit in and have the advert give more detail on your expectations.

redglow · 07/03/2012 17:20

I think I read your advert and I thought who would want a big break in the middle, perhaps you worded it wrong, might have been a different advert. I know loads of nannies but no French speaking ones. Why not advertise in France .?

MrAnchovy · 07/03/2012 17:48

You didn't mention Wimbledon Nannies - have you tried them?

French and German schools (IF in South Ken, German School in Richmond) may have good contacts if you can get to speak to the right person.

redglow · 07/03/2012 18:38

Sorry I just read your link advert it wasn't. The job I saw.

FizzyLaces · 07/03/2012 18:43

I'll do it can I bring my kids Grin

FizzyLaces · 07/03/2012 18:43

flippant sorry, looks like a brilliant job

Original poster
PremierBebe · 07/03/2012 19:21

Hi,

Eden Nannies must have gotten it a bit wrong. The position doesn't stop over the summer and I do not interview in Germany. I said if I will be still in Germany I would like to interview the nanny over Skype and then MAYBE pay for her to visit us at the weekend. I will know look for a maternity nurse first, that gives me time to find a nanny.

OP posts:
HolyNoSheDittantBatman · 07/03/2012 20:29

I think the interview in Germany will put people off. The pay is good, but not great. The language thing is obviously limiting the people who can apply for the job.

I also think people may be reluctant to apply for a job for a baby that hasn't been born yet. Until your baby is born you don't know how you'll feel, whether you'll want to leave it 60hrs a week etc. The thing that would worry me is that I wouldn't know exactly what would be expected or how you and your DH are as parents, therefore I wouldn't be able to judge whether the job would suit me or if we would work well as a team.

Blondeshavemorefun · 08/03/2012 13:48

The pay is good as comes with a separate flat so seems there is no reason why you can't have a live out nanny / tho may cost more

I would be wary About interviewing for a baby that isn't born yet as for the below reasons - you won't know how you feel - you may not want to work - Many times I have heard from mums to be that they def want to work / can't afford to give their job up etc and then baby is born they don't / can't go back to work

Did you not see the advert Eden put up on your behalf before it went online?

Flying to germany would def put me off tbh - even if you pay for flights - a 2hr interview will take the whole day with travelling

So talk to Eden ASAP and change advert

Original poster
PremierBebe · 08/03/2012 14:13

Hi,

Thanks for all your replies. I have just spoken to Eden to close the position. I found a nanny with excellent references etc. who will come
To Germany this weekend. The best thing is that she applied to the position through Eden but never got a reply from them.

OP posts:
Blondeshavemorefun · 08/03/2012 14:20

Tbh I woukdnt close the ad till you offer your job and the nanny accepts and contracts signed

You may not like her - she may not want to work for you

Original poster
PremierBebe · 08/03/2012 14:21

Yes but def closed job with Eden. They did not listen to my requirements at all!

OP posts: