Before you make the plunge into advertising for a nanny be sure to do your homework so your ad will attract the best candidates for the position. A thoughtfully planned ad can help make the process of selection a lot easier. Here some things to think about as you create your ad.
- Keep it simple – You want to be as succinct as possible when writing your ad, so it should be well planned and include the most important items you want candidates to know.
- Know what you want – Make a list of traits you would like your nanny to have. Keep in mind that this person is going to be an influence on your children. Knowing what is and is not acceptable is crucial in deciding who will be spending their time with your kids. You won’t list all the traits in the ad, however, once you have your list you can pick out a few key traits that are most important to you.
- List responsibilities – Make a list of responsibilities the nanny will have. Be sure to include any responsibilities that may fall outside a regular nanny role. Again you probably won’t list all the responsibilities in the ad but you will want to make sure the top few are in there including any driving responsibilities, flexibility in scheduling and other tasks that may affect the candidate pool.
- Discuss the listing – Talk to your spouse or partner to make sure you are on the same page. As you compare lists you may find some differences in what each of you consider most important. Discuss which features are going to be key in your listing.
- Seek advice – Talk to parents who have used nannies. Experience is a great teacher so use the experience of others to your advantage. You have in mind what you would like in a nanny however there may be important things of which you haven’t even thought. Having a conversation with others who have been down that road can be a big help in getting you the right person for the job.
- Check out other nanny ads – Your ad will be unique to your situation but it may help to see how other people are advertising for nannies. Some ads will resonate with you and others will turn you off. Getting an idea of what’s out there will help you in creating the most effective ad for your circumstances.
- Start with a good line – Open your ad with an appealing statement to get the attention of the type of nanny for which you are searching. Try to say a little about the family or the children in the line such as: “Physician couple looking for energetic nanny to care for our bilingual daughters.”
- Your information – Be sure to list your children’s ages and any special needs they may have. Be honest about the environment the nanny will be expected to handle. If the kids are rambunctious, let it be known. Sugar coating the work environment up front can lead to issues down the road.
- Your requirements – List any requirements you have for applicants. If you require your nanny to be a college student or graduate, bilingual, older person, make sure that is in the listing. You may want to ask for a resume, expected rates of pay, proof of experience and don’t forget references.
- Where to place the ad – Decide where you will place your ad. There are many sites on the internet which specialize in finding nannies. There are also local papers, college newsletters, job boards, etc. of which you can also take advantage. Most places will charge a fee to list your ad and the cost of the fee will depend on size, how long it will run and whether or not it is part of the offering if you are placing it with an online nanny service.
Carefully crafting your nanny ad will narrow your search to the best candidates. A well done ad lets the applicant know what will be expected and will help eliminate time wasted for both of you.
