Kelley Farrell, a former Nanny and Mother of five wrote a blog about the merits of hiring a Nanny through a Nanny agency. Although Nannies On The Go has been placing Nannies throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area for ten years, I think Kelley really addresses the reasons life can be better after hiring an Agency, and she is spot on.
Here are a couple of points that really hit home.
“A reputable agency has professionals (often mamas and former nannies) who know the ins and outs of the industry and are highly experienced in helping you navigate your way through the nanny hiring process. Working with an agency specifically focused on the nanny industry saves you a great deal of time and energy. They will do the initial search, screening dozens of applicants. This step alone will save you countless hours of time and cut down on your stress. Once they’ve narrowed the search down to good, qualified candidates, most agencies will conduct in-person interviews, further narrowing down the candidates until they’ve found the prospects who most closely match your wants and needs. A good nanny agency will complete background checks (national criminal and motor vehicle background checks are standard), and check references.
Once the agency has narrowed down the candidates to a small list of highly qualified nannies that meet your needs, you will receive detailed biographies of the agency’s best fit applicants for you to review. Usually, the agency will handle the process of setting up your interviews based on everyone’s availability. They are generally available to help you understand the interviewing process and to discuss any details of the potential interviewees, if you have any questions. As you prepare for your interviews, write down a list of questions. There are many great websites that can help you come up with ideas, if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the challenge.
Be aware: searching for a nanny for your little one (or ones!) can bring on some really strong feelings! You want with all your heart to find the right nanny for your children but it can also be incredibly difficult to let someone else take that primary role in their lives!
It’s normal to worry about letting someone else care for your baby, I promise! You might be worried that you won’t find the right person for your family. You could feel pressured for time if you’re returning to work soon. You could even be afraid that the nanny you hire might do something terrible. But be encouraged: these fears are all normal and a good agency can help you work through your concerns.
As a career nanny and mom of five, I can’t say it enough: create a list of needs before you begin your search. Narrow it down: in column A, list the imperatives and in column B, list the nice-to-haves. These lists will help you define the specifics that are important to you, which will help the nanny agency you hire be in tune to your needs as they begin their work finding your ideal nanny.”
For more tips and Mom Share stories look up Kelley at Chicago now.