reviewing nanny cvs.. what should I look for?

[poppy34]

right just got my first one through - apart from checking that references easily to cross check, qualifications , anything else I should look for?

one thing that is ringing some bells for me is that this person seems to change jobs A LOT (ie never in one for more than 12/18 months) - is there any reason for this? ITs a pattern over about 6 years and although you can't tell what is going to happen, I'd rahter not hire someone who only sticks around for a year or so...

depends what the reason is for them leaving the jobs ?

maybe a child has gone to school so nanny no longer needed ? or another child arrived and Mum no longer works ? etc etc etc

i would be more worried if they were very short times eg a few months.

18 months is a fair amount of time,( i know some nannies work for families for donkeys yrs lol but not all) so not like the nanny just tried it, didnt like it so moved on to the next family!!

don't think bad of the nanny / put you off,until you know the reason

good luck
x

thanks rachie -thats what I thought as could be all sorts of explanations

Ask them the reason for leaving each job. That detail may already be on the CV (I find putting it on helps). If they choose to leave, then that is different to them being made redundant.
Look at the location of the jobs, are they perhaps moving around the country due to their partners work?

Short list by seeing which CV's meet your requirements - in terms of experience, qualifications etc. Then at first interview quiz them about their previous jobs, especially with regard to the circumstances as to why they left those jobs.

I've had nanny jobs that have lasted 11 months/a year. Whereas other jobs have lasted 3 years. It can vary quite a bit, as once children go to school, the nanny may not be kept on.

ah nannynick so pleased you answered as guru on all this kind of thing - it does have referecnes which is good but all in same area.

I nannied in Australia as a temp nanny. I would do proxy parenting for a month, short term jobs when a parent was ill or away etc..I did this happily and enjoyed the changes but when I got to the UK most familiies could not understand why I had changed so much. I think it was a cultural thing. Once I explained this all was ok. Maybe your nanny has been doing a similiar thing?

Written references included?

If so, just one thing to look for from past employers: "she is now a friend of the family". If she's done lots of jobs and doesn't have at least one reference that has that kind of ring, then she isn't a treasure.

Re CV/job changes - how old is she? I would think frequent job changes absolutely fine up to about, mmm, 27 - indicates seeing-the-world while nannying, which is a Good Thing. Also somebody much older, with a least one very long-term job in their past, is probably fine too - a bit of a Nanny McPhee, parachuting in to do a specific job & then moving on.

this is all v.helpful -esp the point about being a family friend and cultural diffs aussielou (she is not english by nationality but has been working here for abotu 10 years).

I think tbh nothing will beat actually meeting her and following up on references

Very important to question any mising references (if that occurs). I would be wary when there are missing ones, especially if she has worked in that time.

thanks magic... and good name - tbh she is not native english speaker (will have to see how fluent she is) which i did request but does live close by and has extensive experience

I would pick the things that are important to me. Every has things that are must haves and things they aren't bothered about. I am quite strict on nutrition, and someon who dresses them well. I'm not fussed about nanny qualifications. I want someone who is fun and sporty and if they are not British a CRB is a waste of time.

Pick the handful of traits that are high on your list and seek out the candidates who possess those traits.

some people only work short time in families. I won't take on any permanent work as i am a mum myself and need to factor in time with them

I am Australian and as such I've been back and forward between London and Brisbane, my home town.

I pick jobs that I know will last a certain duration - long term temp (a couple of months to a year).

For example, the family needs someone for a year until their child starts school or alike - that way I know I have the freedom to move on without causing a problem / new nanny search for that family.

This has never caused a problem for me in job hunting as I just explain I've been traveling and every job I've had is accompanied by either a detailed written reference which can be cross checked or a willing telephone/email referee - all my past employers can vouch for me...

I agree re picking the things which are important to you. One of the things which is important to me is that the nanny will stay a long time, if it all works out, so for that reason I prefer to interview people whose jobs have lasted 2 - 3 years rather than 1 - 2. Nanny jobs don't always last as long as jobs in, say the legal sector, and people can be unlucky with their employers' change of circumstances. But as you can see from these posts, some nannies and employers don't mind a change every 12 months or so. The cv you describe would ring bells for me. I would also look carefully at someone who had had one job lasting for ages early in her career, and then moved around frequently - maybe nothing else ever measures up to that first great role.

I would also suggest you take telephone references before you decide this is The Nanny for you - before you become emotionally committed to the candidate. This makes it easier for you to hear cautionary notes from previous employers. With our first nanny we waited too late, persuaded ourselves we could overlook or overcome some points. This was wrong - she was an ok but not a great nanny.

fridayschild - its a pretty high priority for me too to have someone who (all things being equal) will be around for a while. Hence the post - I've spoken to the agency and got a bit more background - if what they say is true sounds like in her last 2 jobs it was employers circs changing (eg mother stopped work etc) rather than her so that bodes well. And totally agree re checking out refs before offering.

this is all really helpful - doubtless will be back on for more help before too long