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Trial Period with a Nanny-Housekeeper


In a nanny housekeeping position, children's well-being and safety are the priority

A trial at your home gives you a chance to “test the waters” and see how you feel about having the selected candidate working in your home. Keep in mind that once the contract is signed, the first three months also serve as a probationary period. 


The trial can last a few hours, one, two days or one-week maximum.  If a trial is less than one hour, it is considered simply a second interview. if the trial is planned to be longer than one hour, the candidate then needs to be paid for the hours worked. 


The candidate will be compensated at the standard market rate upon completion of the trial period. Please note that specialized roles such as maternity nurses, tutors, butlers, house managers and chefs, typically command higher hourly rates.


Welcome and Introduction


Giving the candidate a few minutes of conversation is a nice way to welcome the candidate before starting the trial.  The candidate may need some minutes to prepare herself. Let her know where she can leave her shoes, handbag and coat and where she/he can get prepared for work, wash her hands or change her/his clothes and shoes.

Share information about the house, especially the areas where she/he is going to perform the tasks, where to find the cleaning products, etc.   


Be close but give some space


During the first day of the trial, the candidate can be nervous. You’ll want to be close enough and available to answer any questions or explain different parts of the schedule or expectations as the day progresses but it is important to give them some space to make easier the process.  


At some point in the day, you may want to have the candidate be on her own and alone with the children. 


Give the candidate-specific tasks and instructions about what you need:   “Today I need you to help me with 1, 2, 3... Even if it’s something as small as taking them out in the yard to play. Let both, the children and the nanny relax and start to get to know each other. 


Focus on the Childcare 


Even if the nanny will have household tasks as part of her regular job duties, it is recommended that you focus the trial on childcare as this is the more complex part of the Job. The well-being and safety of the children are the main responsibility of a nanny-housekeeping position.


Identify what is important to you and test that


Whatever you are anxious about, let that be the area of focus. For example, if you are concerned about how to prepare and give the bottle; have the nanny prepare and give the bottle.  


If you are concerned about the driving children, have your nanny take the driver's seat, while she drives you to the school pickup. Make a short list of these focus areas and structure your trial around these providing specific instructions. If it is a housekeeper position, the t


Example: Guide for a two-hour cleaning


1.   Preparation of one Bedroom and one Bathroom

  • Inform the candidate if there are particular preferences. Eg.

  • Only fold clothes and place them on the chair. 

  • Do not pack anything away in cupboards/drawers, etc.

  • Do not throw anything away. If you think it is trash, please put it all together, and I will dispose of it later.

  • Please only use this product ______ on the floors


2.   Ironing, depending on the clothes to be ironed)

  • If necessary, explain to the candidate how to use your iron and mention if you prefer the clothes hung or folded. Also, mention if there are any delicates that you do not want her to clean/iron

  • If there are any delicate surfaces or fabrics; ask him/her to leave these for another time. The idea is for the Housekeeper to become operational as soon as possible


3.   Cooking and setting the table

It depends if it is one course or includes a dessert.  The candidate or the family will have suggested two or three dishes in advance and one of the dishes will be prepared during the trial. Inform the candidate if you do not like spicy dishes or prefer to avoid salt if the family is vegetarian, vegan, allergic, etc. 


It is also important to consider whether the family will provide all the ingredients or if the candidate has to take time to do the grocery shopping.


Feedback 


If possible, schedule some quiet time at the end of the trial  (away from the children) to talk with the candidate about how she felt the day went. She may have specific questions or concerns for you, and even if you thought everything went great, you’ll want to make sure she felt the same way.


When the trial ends, make sure to pay the candidate and thank her for coming.


Evaluate


Once the candidate has gone, give yourself some time to reflect and look back through the notes you made. 


Just because the candidate didn’t do everything perfectly on the trial day should not automatically disqualify her from the position. Some things come more naturally as she gets used to knowing the house, your routines and preferences and gets more comfortable with your family.


  1. Is the candidate very sociable and talkative? (Some people will love this but some won’t! 

  2. Does the candidate demonstrate a positive interaction with the children?

  3. Is the candidate organized and good at timekeeping? 

  4. Is the candidate respectful of your space? 

  5. Do you like her/his habits and the way the candidate performs the tasks?

  6. Cleanliness standard

  7. Cooking, ironing skills...


Most of all, listen to your gut. If the candidate looks great on paper and interacted well with you, the children and other family members or performed great housekeeping tasks but there’s still something not quite right you can’t put your finger on, it may be better to keep looking.





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