***NANNYDUST***

[PhDMumof1]

Hi there, I was just wondering if any of you Mary Poppins on MN could sprinkle me some nanny dust plse? We (me and DH) are very disheartened in our nanny search and I need some conviction that it is worth it, and that we will find someone who will love DS and care for him as much as us ...!!

where are u situated PhDMumof1? Are you looking for a live in or live out nanny?

Oh, PhD, us too - very disheartened - about 50 miles from you, so nanny dust spread over here too!

Not sure what I'm going to do...

My DH remains positive. But it's not his career on the line. And he's generally more optimistic.

Hi mums, I am a nanny available for work immediately if you are still looking. I would require live in though as I am from Lancashire and I'm guessing you are down south.

I have almost 5 years experience in nannying and nursery work with aged newborn to teenage. I am a sensible, reliable and cheery girl, who is easy to get on with, and I am hardworking. My hobbies include swimming, arts and crafts, days at the beach and animals. If you would like more information or my CV, please just pop a reply back on here and I will email you my CV.

Hurrah TwinkleTwinkle and OliviaGrace thanks for your interest / nanny dust!! My ad is on the childcare jobs classified here. Or you can CAT me. I am down South but would consider partial live-in (eg I don't need cover in school hols).

SoftFroggie - I don't know - maybe nannies look for jobs nearer the time, or maybe I can combine nursery + au pair - but I can't even find either of those ... ! UKMickey on this site told me to use bestbear so I might pop a classified onto there too. Or nannyjob, but maybe that would be duplicating bestbear tho'? HoHum. Wait and see.

heres some nanny dust...

Im down south bur already have alovely job

Have you thought about looking for a childminder instead? Most of us love our little 'mindees' too .

I recently put an add on nannyjob.co.uk and ended up with two suitable candidates. You might want to give it a try.

Also, if anyone is interested in an Italian girl (the one I didn't hire), CAT me and I'll be glad to share her situation /details with you. There's a catch though, she has to return to Italy for Dec.-Mar. to complete her degree so that might not be something you are willing to work with.

I have just posted on nannyjob so please kind nannies more dust please!

Thx Uwila you are really kind, but Dec-Mar I would prob need someone.

Blodwen - I WISH there were childminders near me - but they are all the other side of town so not a great commute from there to where I am meant to be working / studying ... there is a lovely lady near me but she wants to do occasional days only .... >sigh

www.bestbear.co.uk is an independant site actually run by investigative journalists & solicitors & is totally independant...all agencies listed on site are regulary checked. Excellent w/site to parents full stop re childcare issues etc...lot's of info

www.bestbear.co.uk is an independant site actually run by investigative journalist/s & solicitors & is totally independant...all agencies listed on site are regulary checked. Excellent w/site to parents full stop re childcare....lot's of info etc

While bestbear do not charge agencies for having a listing, they do charge for contacts made via the site Source . Makes me wonder...

Mind you, they have a message board, so that's another place to put an advert!

Well I have been contacted very promptly by the agencies I ticked on the site.

I have also received about 12 emails in respnse to putting the job on nannyjob - even some really good CVs!!

The nanny dust is working keep it coming!!

Good to hear that you are getting reponses to your advert and that Agencies who appear on BestBear respond quickly.

Would you say that most of the CV's you've had so far as Good ones, or just a few of them?
Out of interest, what do you consider to be a good CV (as I'm sure all our opinions on that will differ a bit).

try gumtree.com theres often aussie / kiwi girls looking for nanny work

bambi06: I will have a look at gumtree but it seems to be more London based (looked last summer).

jothorpe - are you about to send me a CV?! I think that a good nanny CV - or any other CV - is:

• Well-written, with no glaring grammar mistakes.
• Lists all relevant jobs & experience, to show where & why employment gaps have occurred or other skills (eg someone has sent me one showing that they studied catering for a year, which is actually quite useful for a nanny!)
• Shows how & why they would be a good childcarer / employee (for instance, might use 1 example of how they have gone "beyond the call of duty" when needed
• Gives an idea of what sort of person they are - when they list interests, show examples (eg in school team for sports / walking hols / own a bike)
• Provides checkable references

Then all certificates, qualifications, written references can be seen at interview (the 2-3 nannies that I have interviewed had a "book" with all that stuff in, like 1st Aid certificates as well).

HTH.