Who would you choose?

[lumpasmelly]

I'm currently interviewing nannies for a full time position with my family to start when I have my third baby. It's not a sole charge position, but there are going to bbe 3 children aged 5 and under, one of which will be a newborn, so plenty to do! There are 2 candidates that I really like, but I can't decide....candidate one has worked in a nursery and only done a bit of part time nannying at weekends. I really get on with her personality wise, and she is very keen to break into nannying, so i feel she may be quite easy to mold....however, she has no experience with newborns, and I get the impression that cooking isn't her strong point! I am a tiny bit worried that she may feel overwhelmed if I am laid up in bed after my c-section and she is left to hold the fort..... The other candidate comes across as super efficient, also with nursery experience (running baby room) and a previous 2 year sole charge position. I like her less personally (though she is still very nice) but I feel she would really be able to hit the ground running and cope really well while I am recovering....however, I worry that she might get a bit frustrated once I am up and fully running again (as I like to take charge !!!) What do fellow MNers think?

If you are laid up in bed after C-Section, that will only be what - 6 weeks at most? You are I assume hiring a permanent nanny, and will be taking charge once up and about, so I would definitely say choose the candidate you get along with better, and the one you can mold to your liking. She will be much easier to give direction to.

I am of the second type, very efficient at what I do and very take-charge, don't need any direction - but this is why I don't take posts with parents at home. I don't feel Nanny 2 would be happy with your job in say, a few months time and you would have a problem on your hands.

Good luck!

could you get each of them to come and spend a morning/day with you (paid if need be), and see how you get on with each of them with you being at full speed? Plus you could give them 'jobs' to do - 'would you mind putting some lunch together for the dcs, there should be plenty in the fridge, while I do X Y & Z' and see what nanny A comes up with? I think if you get on better with the first one, she'd be better if you're around a lot. You can always make lists for her to work from for the short time it will take you to recover. (well relatively short time, YKWIM!

That's what I am worried about - candidate 2 is almost too good, and if I was looking for a sole charge person, she would definitely fit the bill!

I am a firm fan of trial days, for both nannies and employers. It is quite odd to be offered the most important job in the world on the basis of a 1hr meeting (although I have been offered jobs immediately and know others who do also).

Trial days are different than settling in though. On a trial you should be looking for the nanny to be proactive, asking questions, handing out suggestions on what to do for the morning/asking to go to the park, and asking questions about the children's routines. Settling in days are for when the nanny already has the job and you explain in detail the workings of the house, children's likes/dislikes, etc.

Do you have the capacity to offer both candidates a trial morning/day? I would say do it and it will probably confirm your gut feeling. Good luck, let us know how you get on!

Candidate one.
Cooking is an easy thing to learn if you are willing to be taught - do you think she is? And are you happy to teach her?

You'll have the newborn to yourself nearly all the time, and again if she's willing to be shown what to do & you are happy to help her learn, then she'll be confident in no time.

References will be important with both. When will you take those up?

go for no 1, you like her and job isnt sc so a good way for her to get into nannying and get nb exp

sure she will cope with basic cooking and sorting out 3 of them while you recover

no 2 sounds fab IF you wanted a sc nanny, and i fear that she wont like you being around and her not having 100% control - plus you say you didnt click with erh as well as with no 1

are you DEF having a c section - do both know this - have you explained that job for 1st 6weeks will be VERY hands on

could you get a temp/doula etc for 6weeks

or hire 2nd nanny for temp for 6weeks then employ nanny no 1

Will defo do 2nd interviews with both - to meet the kids etc ....that should give me a better idea. Plus check up on all references!! Thanks for all the food for thought! It really helps to crystalise my thoughts!

Definitely do a trial day with them and see how they come out. No 2 will probably not like you being around if she's used to sole charge but may turn out different!

What was you gut reaction when you first met them? By the sounds of it, no1 is your gut reaction, based on how you say you got on with her best.
You don't mention about going back to work, so is the job going to be shared care? If so, No1 sounds fine as they can be taught to do things your way and the newborn experience isn't necessary as you will be around, even if you are in bed. Will you be Breast Feeding? If so, then nanny not knowing much about newborns won't be that much of problem I expect, as most common issues are to do with feeding and sleep.