Inspirational HELP wanted! wording for Gumtree Ad for Mother's help/cleaner

[majorstress]

I want someone intelligent, pleasant but efficient, 4 days a week from 4:30 to 7:30 pm, mostly to do household chores cooking and cleaning, the childcare would at most involve getting on with some housework while one dd watched cbeebies while I drop t'other round the corner at her class.

No smoking. What else should I specify? I'm willing to pay well for a good job, not just the minimum I can get away with. How do I convey that?

I want to get someone who has an easy journey, one quit today (she worked 9 to 12 Wednesday) because the bus takes over 1 hour.

I don't want zillions of no hopers annoying me. BUT OTOH I don't want no one to apply.

Help me find the right words to get it right this time! thanks!

I don't think Gumtree is your market, really. Why don't you put ads up at the local tesco? Since you want them local there's not much advantage to getting the gumtree audience.

Hi! fancy seeing you here

All right, I'll do that too-but what to about content?

I'm not really sure. Maybe you should require someone with cleaning and childcare experience, and MUST have references. Easy enough to specify a non-smoker.

You might put a pay range and say it's negotiable depending on experience.

Do you want them to have any experience of looking after children (although obviously there is little sole charge childcare involved) - might want to put that in.
Moneywise - I have always hidden behind the 'good rate of pay' type statement in advert and then asked any good candidates how much they were thinking of - it's surprising really. If I really like them and they ask for a reasonable rate I always add on a bit so they feel happier.

(It does sort out some of the wheat from the chaff though - I had someone ask for £400net per week for a live-in v. part-time nanny job in deepest Essex..and she had no qualifications and only 6 months experience).

Agree with Eleusis (as usual) - since you want someone local it would be a good idea to try postcards in corner shop.

hello where do you live?

We live in north London-in a cramped house with messy neighbors and ugly street far from most convenient public transport (there is one bus that goes to Mill Hill shops and Edgeware).

The nearest corner shop isn't very near and has too many thugs hanging about at the moment, but I plan on taking the bus and getting off at busy shopping areas to put up cards in windows.

I have found myself that experience of childcare isn't much help-ones with none have been delightfully kind and in tune with dds, and others "with" have been really cold and only want to get on with housework-which would help me nonetheless, but is less valuable as you know.

I might just ask for a housekeeper.

I don't plan to leave them in sole charge of kids for more than an hour, and that would be after I'd seen them in action for several weeks. I'm quite happy for them just to be THERE, and able to phone me in a crisis (I would only be around the corner).

oh ok! it's just that i recently found someone who i think would fit... but never mind.

wording:

Someone intelligent, pleasant and efficient needed by down to earth, friendly family, 4 days a week from 4:30 to 7:30 pm. Mostly to do housework, such as cooking and cleaning plus some limited childcare.

The successful candidate will be a non-smoker and will live within easy travelling distance . Fluent English required. Pay negotiable.

If interested please send your CV to .

We look forward to hearing from you!

hth.

Would I call them a housekeeper/mother's help? or something like "dynamic homehelper?".

I don't really want just a housekeeper, as the cold one shook us up a bit (she left to have a BABY!!!), but I don't want a nanny who won't touch anything not kid-related either.

How do I attract someone who is not going to move away after a few months?

you know what majorstress i wouldn't worry about the job title - i'd just say something like p/t evening housework and childcare. mnetters get v het up about titles for some reason - i'd just specify what it is you want them to do.

sorry i can't answer the latter! but you could think through who would want a job with these hours. i've just recruited for this type of job in this timeslot (more emphasis on chilcare than housework in my case but both are required) - i've been looking for people who have a good story to tell re why the hours suit. the person we've hired is just about to start an undergraduate degree, so the story fits. likewise the last person, but then her timetable changed and she couldn't do the hours any more i would just make sure there is a credible sounding reason for why an after-noon/evening job suits. hth.

Yes I thought a student might work, is there a way I could advertise at local colleges do you think?

Damm thats the second time I have posted and it didn't go up, am I being edited? .

I was going to suggest a childcare student would be ideal if there was a college nearby.

Agree they must have a good reason why the hours suit as they might not stick it for long otherwise.

Resurrecting this thread as I think I am looking for something similar to this and would be interested to hear from people with experience!
Some specific questions:

1. Does your housekeeper have longer hours in the holidays, or if not, how do you cover school holidays?
2. Best recruitment methods? (I have thought about local colleges, gumtree, local paper or adds in the local shop)
3. How do you vet them? (i.e. make sure no lurking skeletons in cupboard)
4. What about tax etc - are you employing them as per a nanny? Pay rate?

Thanks!