Is it me,or the competition is really tight for nannies in London?nannies&even parents please help

[NannyNorthLlondon]

I am looking for a nanny position since november,I tried agencies aswell,I have been for a few interviews,but no answer..
I have 3 years exp as live-in nanny+some volunteer in Eu,Icp and first aid...the crb is in progress.I am starting to get worried little bit,maybe I am doing something wrong at the interviews or my qualifications are not enough,I really dont know,because I have excellent references,and the 2 families I worked for have been really pleased with me,and we still keep in contact,but they dont need me anymore.
Nannies who have more experience and parents..what should I do?some advice please.
Thank you

Come nannies..tomorow I have another interview..I am really fustrated,I just dont know how to act,what to ask,what to wear..I just feel like is my faulf for not getting any of this jobs,please some advice!What do parents expect from a nanny at interview?

How long had you bee in in your previous jobs?

Why did you leave your previous jobs?

What sort of salary range are you applying for?

How do you respond to questions like: what do you do in the day with the children? What would you do if my child developed a biting habit? How would you encourage good behaviour? What would you do if the child wouldn't sleep at nap time? What meals would you prepare?

What age experience do you have and what are you applying for. Is your CV widely different to you?

It could be lots of things really. Maybe it's as simple as not having an up to date CRB - do the people you have already met want an immediate start?

Are you registered for vouchers? This can make a difference.
If you are getting interviews but not getting jobs then I would ask the family for feedback. Sometimes it is just down to who the parents click with.

As an employer; I think it's a buyers market at the moment. However, I have always had to interview a lot of candidates to find the right one. Fortunately once found seems to be a very good success rate (2 great nannies later and 2nd one now in her 3rd yr).

From my experience, the most annoying thing is folk interviewing you don't fit the profile e.g. get there and ask if they can do less than 11 hours (uh no), tell you right at the end they don't swim when it is explicitly stated in the profile etc. So I would start with making sure you are interviewing for the right posts.

Then be enthusiastic, show a genuine interest in the children. Answer questions with enthusiasm but don't be either too bossy or too conciliatory, generally I would say most employers don't want to be dictated too nor do they want a wallflower that can't think on their feet.

Make sure you have what I believe is becoming mandatory, ofsted registration, up to date first aid etc. Employers can be picky at the moment.

Also see if you can get some candid feedback if using agencies.

Also:

what sort of things can you cook?

What attracted you to nannying? If you couldn't be a nanny for some reason, what would you choose to be?

What did you like most about your last job? The one before? Why are you leaving?

What did you like least about your last job? (Can be tricky - either nothing at all if that was genuinely the case or else be honest but very brief in your answer - don't go into any gory details if your last MB was dreadful, for example)

How would cope oif siblings or playdate friends dveeloped an argument?

Do you know other nannies locally?

What sort of activities did you do with your last charges? Are you any good at arts and crafts (but be prepared to back that one up with some sample pictures.)

The thing that I would look for is whether the nanny is able to engage with my DD and whether she does so happily, without prompting. Also important: will I be able to get on with her? The thing that used to bother me most about a couple of nannies I had was they really didn't like it at all if I was in the house - wanted sole charge every minute. Didn't even like when grandparents came to visit from overseas for a few days. I would want someone who made it clear that she was there to look after my DD, in the way I wanted but with a willingness to moot ideas and take initiative when required and also to make my life easier. You might also think about how flexible you want to be about working late - no nanny wants to be taken advantage of but in today's job market it is often very, very important for parents to stay late at short notice - are you happy to cope with that, provided it doesn't happen more than, say, once a week or or 1-2x per fortnight?

Finally, have you checked that whatever salary you are asking is in line with the market where you live?

Good luck, I hope that you find a nice position soon.

Thanks 4 answering.

I`ve had just 2 jobs in Uk,one was for 2 years,the other one was for 1 year.In first job they didnt need me,as mum decided to quit job and stay at home,in second one I just wanted to move back in London and have a private life,as the previous jobs were live-in.(I was working in bournemouth).the salary 8£/h
Activities with the kids:Parks,museums,playgrounds,at home:reading,drawing,singing,role play,depends on age group really.
To encourage good behavior i will just tell him every time how wonderfull he is,what a good job is doing,giving small rewards when the children are doind something good,just be positive,and show a positive atitude.
If the child will not sleep at nap time,I will just have a chat,put him in bed,read a story,or sing a sleep song give him a cuddle(the story time has been working all the time)
I am quite a good cook,I can prepare anything,pastas,soups,veggies,bake,I am open to any ideas,even if i never cooked that type off food,I will search and try.
I have experiences with children between 8 mths and 7 years,and that the age group i am applaying for.
The Cv says exaclly who I am,I am myself all the time,I wrote the Cv with no help
My english is good aswell..I really dont know.
It can be the CRB,I applied for it just 10 days ago and most families were looking 4 someone to start in few weeks.

I am just fustrated... I have friends just with au pair exp,and they found positions before me I was just wondering if i am doing or acting wrong

There are a lot of nannies looking for work and fewer jobs at the moment - all down to the credit crunch and people losing jobs/working fewer hours/earning less money.

Are you looking for live in/out? You mention moving away from a live in job for privacy. £8ph for a live in job was very good money, especially with only 3 years experience. Many live out nannies in London earn £10ph+, but usually have more experience than this.

Are you getting many interviews? If not, get someone to check over your cv. I see that you wrote it by yourself. Sometimes it helps for someone else to cast a critical eye over it (especially if English is not your 1st language). Through your cv you are giving the family a first impression of you and it is vital that spelling, punctuation etc is spot on.

Good luck

Ah, I see that you are not from this country. In that case, what are you saying to people when they ask you about your future intentions - how long are you here for, why did you come to England, what were you doing in your home country before you came here etc. This is important because most families want someone who will be here at least for a year, if not longer. The CRB check could be an issue especially as it will be difficult or impossible to check your background in your country.
Coming from another country is not a problem in my view - I have always quite liked the foreign element being brought into my house by an American, a New Zealander and several very good girls from the Baltic countries. Then again, we are are not 100% English ourselves
The answer to the questions you typed sound good but of course it is impossible to tell how you come across in person. Friendly, outgoing, flexible, interested in the family, the children and the job

It may just be bad luck. My old nanny (who has 14 years experience as a nanny) has been looking now for about 8 months. She was an exellent nanny.

I have heard that it seems that some jobs are going to people with less experience as they are cheaper. There also seems to be a lot of very good nannies chasing fewer jobs at the moment.

The best thing you can do is get your agency to get feedback from the employers. Nothing in your answers strikes any alarm bells.

I registered with agencies,but most of them said that they cant put me forward for any job until i dont have my CRB.So the interviews i went at were thanks to me searching and advertising..but I tought its not ok to call the parents,unless they call you and let you know they want you or not.All the agencies said that they like my Cv and my references,so Its no problem about that.It should be the CRB,i cant wait to sort it out . I came in Uk for better opportunities,for a better life.I am still studying from distance accountancy,that what I was doing even before I left.I want to stay a long time,atleast 5 more years,I have a partener here aswell,so its not like i will live uk soon.I could`ave stayed more with the last family,but we agreed,and I moved in london.I am looking for a live-out position,and i dont expect anyone to pay me more than 8£/h,I understand I am a beginner,but all of us have to start somewhere,dont we?
I will study to get a diploma in childcare and everything,i am really pasionate about it,but I need to save some money to do that.
Thank you for your responses,maybe its just the police check at the end of the day..

about being registered,i dont think its any point registering before you the job,if the family want me to register i will do it,but otherwise i didnt considered doing that

• Have you checked nannyjob.co.uk?

• I don't know which country you are from and what is your first language but perhaps you could target bi-lingual families with the same background as yours?

I would agree with K75. We get people saying at the end 'By the way I have booked 3/4/5 weeks' holiday in school term over the next 3/4/5 months so I would need to take them'. We then show them the door. As the job description specifies that no holidays can be taken in school term time, we wonder why they have applied. One week might be acommodated, but being absent 25% of the time we needed them in the first few months ... duh?

I have also had people announce they only want a part-time job and can't I go part time myself to fit in with them; demand 25% more money than we are offering in the advert and then telling us everyone else is getting that (er - they're not, you know) and fail to answer basic questions such as what they might do to entertain a one-year-old.

I see the agency's point about a CRB. Ofsted also takes a while to come through because they do their own CRB and if you've lived outside the Uk it bumps up the waiting time, frustratingly.

I would get someone else to check your CV through for you. Sometimes they will spot things you don't. I find I'm having to put more extra info on my CV such as additional languages, my hobbies and interests, etc. I do ask parents why they picked my CV out of the many and 50% of the time it's down to something I didn't mention a couple of years ago.

The bilingual suggestion is an excellent one. Do you have your nationality and right to work stated on your CV? I found that made getting jobs overseas easier because I was stating that I was EU and automatically had the right to work and they didn't have to worry about visas.

Clotheswise I wear either smart jeans and a shirt or black trousers and a nice top with boots or ballet flats. I aim gir presentable but able to dig on the floor comfortably and run after a toddler.

Being brutally honest you are up against much better qualified nannies, either with full childcare qualifications or with something else on top of the icp. Actively showing parents which diploma you plan to do (assuming you'll complete the dhc) may help.

Good luck and try out for temp jobs as well!

Weird predictive text! I aim for presentable but able to sit on the floor!

Laquitar,I did check nanny job,I have subscription and every day I recieve a resume of the jobs that are for me.I advertised on simplychildcare aswell,i check gumtree daily,bt I dont apply for every job thats in there,just for the ones that suits me,because I cannot afford to loose my time,and the parents time aswell.I am from Romania,I dont have any restriction to work in Uk,before I came in Uk my french was better then my english,so with a little exercise I can say I am fluent in french aswell,I can understand spanish and italian,i am not the lazy type,I like to learn and etc.,but I dont have the £ to finish my studies unless I find a job.
Frankkina I understand what you are saying,i am sure they are plenty nannies with more qualifications and more experience,but the experience you can have only if you work,not staying at home .And the only thing I wear are jeans ,always trying to be confortable and presentable aswell.

Boffinmum, I am a reliable person,and I am serios when it comes to my job,I commit to it,no matter what!I only go to see my parents when I have holidays,even in case of emergency i didnt took a day off.My mum had surgery,and i just didnt ask for day off.I look after myself,even if i have flu,in 2 days is gone,my past employer was because in winter time all of them had terrible flu,and they had days off,just me didnt.With all my past employers I keep in touch,because they respected me,and I respected them.
Conclusion,if an advert says looking for a swimmer driver skiier with full qualification and 20 years exp,i will not apply,but if it says we are looking for a honest hard working bla bla bla i will.I even considered moving if i find a job in different area.

I wasn't doubting your exp or motivation, merely saying that it may explain why you're not getting the jobs rather than it being you as you were worried earlier on in the thread that it was something you were doing wrong. All I was trying to point out was it may not be you it may just be you're up against better qualified on paper candidates with the same experience or candidates with more experience. There's not much you can do about the experience short of temping, working in nurseries as cover staff, babysitting and voluntary work but you can actively seek out what qualification you plan to do and tell parents what that is so they can see they'll be getting someone who has a career plan for working with children. You could also put it on your CV that as you've completed the ICP which is unit 1 you're studying for the DHC. Unless of course you plan to do something different.

As you speak French I suggest looking in Ici Londres for work. I have found it very useful in the past and it's a market which will utilise a skill you can offer but many others can't.

thank you frakkina,i will try that aswell.i am gonna check my Cv,maybe i will change some things in it ,hopefully make it better,not worst.

anyone volunteer to have an eye on my Cv please?

Go for it. english governess at gmail dot com

done,i send you the original,i just notice,,i dont have any languages in there .where should i put them?

i am a nanny who found it hard but never been out of work and never found work through agency i find better families myself. all you need to do is add yourself to gumtree talking about what your like and experience and what you are looking for and upload your cv i had 60 people apply and 6 jobs to chose from if you need help i will help you just contact me at
[email protected]

my name is claire and have been nannying 12 years now

Just getting ready for interview, hope it goes well

tiggergirl i will try that aswell,i tried before,but without featuring it.I think i will wait until the crb comes,just to be sure
Thank you 4 the advice

Definately put the languages in (and any musical ability) , that was a big selling point to us for our last nanny as she used to play games with the children in French.

Good luck with the interview.