First live-out Nanny job - advice please

[Cathalyna]

Hi there!

I've been looking for answers to my questions around here for a few days already but couldn't find anything really helpful - so here's a new thread :)

I'm planning to start working as a live-out Nanny next year - it would be my very first live-out position what makes me worry about lots of things.

I'm still pretty young and not really qualified but will have 2+ years exp. in my home country (not GB but EU) i.e. nursery internships, godchild, babysitting etc. plus 1+ year full-time, sole-charge exp. in London, first aid bla bla...I've been spending most of this time being around babies and would like to look after older children now (nursery/school age)...so here's the first problem: Kids in nursery/school don't really need full-time care, right? So there must be a little one around if I want to work full-time for only one family?

I'd also be happy to do a nanny share or split my time and work part-time for two families...any suggestions what would be the best way to do that?

Then what is best - looking for a family first or a place to live and then for a family in the area (I don't want to travel too much)? I thought looking for a family first would be best but then there'd be all the stress finding the right place, flatmates etc. (I want to have a flatshare) whilst starting the job already and I don't want anyone to be stressed out - especially myself when I need to bond with the children etc. which is the most important time! But looking for a place first (I'll be able to pay all the stuff like deposit etc. without the new job) will make me less flexible finding a family in the right area! Plus I will have to ask for a min. salary to be able to pay rental (I hope that's the right word...?) what's not too ideal I think.

Help, please? Thanks. :)

There is an awful lot of competition for nanny jobs so you really need to find the job first and then worry about everything else. If you get offered a role you can give yourself maybe 4 weeks before you start, which should be time to sort out accommodation, etc.

Why not just look for a live-in role? You will almost certainly be better off without rental and living/travel costs to worry about.

As for the age range of children - there is a lot of competition for roles at the moment so you may not have the luxury to choose. Families looking for nannies for older children (without babies in the mix) will probably want much earlier starts/later finishes generally (otherwise they would use cheaper options such as breakfast clubs/after school clubs/childminders). Again another reason to look for live-in roles

if you looking for older children
are
prepare to do housework cooking cleaning old bit of shoping ect to fill the time older one are at school

if the kids are non state school the holidays will be l o n g so this when they will need you and you earn your money
but make sure you know how much house work you will do in the holidays and what kind of child care they want

I too would go for live in so you get a feel for area and how long it takes to travel some where and then when you have been here year or so start looking at where you would like to live and where the jobs are

Consider where you would live, areas where there is demand for childcare but a lack of providers. Tricky to find such places, but London wouldn't be such a place in my view as that is where lots of people go to find work. Consider commuter belt areas, also consider other cities and their surrounding areas.
Live-in job would help you see if you like the area.

I would look for a job in the area that you want to live and then at telephone interview, explain that you don't live in the area at the moment and wonder if it would be ok to stay with them for a short while, while you find a room to rent.

They then decide, yes that would be ok and interview you, or no, and don't.

Thanks for all the nice comments so far!

I do know that a live-in role would be more of a benefit
however I would really prefer a live-out position next time
as I want to be more independent and, to be honest, I'm quite annoyed about the whole 'screaming children waking you up at 7am on a Sun morning' -thing.
There are some other points too, of course.

But thanks :)

so you are in london now ?

if you are
work out where you can afford to live

then find a job from there

as employers need to know where you live and if you can get to there house in morning

you have to know how public transport works so you get to and from work

but as nick said job are very hard to come by the moment and people want to pay the least amount they can
which is very hard if you have bill to pay
so you have to work how much your bills will be and aim for that wage
there is no point getting a job and then not be able to afford the bills