So if everyone demands experience and excellent references for nannies, how does a new nanny go about getting those...? And how much does it matter?

[flowerybeanbag]

I am looking for a nanny at the moment, I have said in my ad that I want qualified, excellent references, experience, etc etc

A candidate has shown a lot of interest in the post, asked lots of questions, seems very keen, comes across well, has lots of experience providing childcare for her niece, but nothing more official.

Assuming I meet her and like her, how concerned do I need to be about lack of experience? And how do new nannies go about getting it unless someone gives them a break?

New nannies get experience as part of their course, if they're qualified - placements etc. Or by having worked in supervised childcare - nurseries and so on. Or, and this is a common route, having done their first job(s) as a "mother's help" - so not sole charge, but an extra pair of hands while parents are around. It isn't a catch-22 really - there's quite a logical lead-up.

Are you looking for sole charge? I would be concerned about someone who didn't have any professional childcare experience at all - basically because she won't know what the job really entails, so won't be able to make an informed decision about your job.

If on the other hand you are looking for a shared care nanny (you'll be working from home, or something) or can do a long handover period during which you can do some training, then I wouldn't be so concerned.

Not everyone looking for a nanny wants someone who is qualified, experienced with excellent references. Some parents will accept someone unqualified, whereas others will want someone qualified but not mind too much about experience. Initially references could be from a course tutor, families that they have been babysitting for, general character references rather than actual childcare related references, that sort of thing.

Don't rely on references... go more on your gut feelings when you meet them, and see how they interact with your child/children. She has experience of caring for a child, and if qualified will have some experience of working in various childcare settings with luck.

That's very helpful, thank you both.

Bink I will be working from home, going to occasional meetings, and could certainly spend a lot of time with her initially.

I suspect this job is really the 'next job' for this candidate, but that doesn't mean she couldn't rise to it. Hmm..

I am hoping a couple of others who expressed an interest apply, it would be nice to be able to compare.

Nannynick I like what you say about gut feeling. I trust my gut feeling and I think I am a good judge of people. But despite years of experience recruiting for companies, recruiting for a nanny is a whole different kettle of fish and I do feel slightly at sea!

I think that experience and references are more important than qualifications - because you could be qualified but have disastrous refs from placement IYSWIM. And if you have the experience then you know what you're getting yourself into.

I think that to have sole charge and be expected to take on a full-time nanny you really need experience of working for someone not related to you in a domestic setting, not necessarily as a nanny but weekend babysitting or mother's help type roles. It wouldn't be the lack of experience factor that would bother me, it would be that her experience is caring for her niece because family is totally different and I would wonder whether she could make the jump from playing with her niece who she knows very well and is probably comfortable disciplining etc to looking after children she doesn't know so well.

But as you say, it's tough to get into nannying without experience so if you're comfortable taking her on and you get on well with her (and you have contigency plans for if it doesn't work out*) then go for it. In the end gut feeling plays a big part on both sides. Everyone has to start somewhere!

*I only mentioned contingency because you come across as being a bit unsure about her, and if you need someone to start, continue and be 100% reliable then she might not be for you. Someone who hasn't worked as a nanny before might decide they don't like it and leave you in the lurch. It can be quite a demanding and stressful job, and being a professional nanny is different to babysitting your niece.

Frannikin those are some really helpful points. I have gone back to her and said I am hoping to be able to see and decide from several candidates, so having just placed an ad on nannyjob (her response was from gumtree) I am going to give it a couple of weeks.

She seems fine with that and very keen that I keep in touch, which i will do and see what transpires.

My old nanny had qualifications coming out of her ears but she was absolutely awful and I couldn't get rid of her quickly enough.

Our current nanny is not a "qualified" nanny but has worked in a nursery for a few years. Her references were very good and I liked her straight away. My children took to her immediately. She is brilliant with them and they adore her.

Oh hoorah hoorah, have just had a nice email from a local lady who is fully qualified with 17 years experience!

At least I'll have something to compare!

Look at it this way - you'd be happy to leave your child in the charge of another mum who has no qualifications but lots of experience..it's the same thing.