Hiring a nanny to provide childcare for your family is a big decision, and it’s important to make sure you take your time to find the right person. If you’re wondering when to start looking for a nanny, the answer depends on several factors.
First, consider when you’ll need the nanny to start, and work backwards from there. If you’re expecting a baby in the near future, you’ll need to start looking for a nanny as early as possible - three or four months before the due date is ideal. This will give you ample time to interview potential candidates, consider the applications, and find the right person for the job.
If you’re not expecting a baby soon, but perhaps returning to work, starting a business or some other significant change with which you need some support, you may want to start looking a couple of months before you’ll need a nanny. This will give you enough time to find the right person without feeling rushed, and also to train them up and integrate them seamlessly into your family.
Second, consider the type of childcare you’re looking for. If you’re looking for a live-in nanny, it can take weeks or even a few months to find the right person. If you’re looking for a part-time or occasional nanny, you may be able to start looking only a few weeks before you’ll need the her to start.
Finally, think about what type of nanny you’re looking for. If you’re looking for a nanny with specific qualifications or certifications, you may need to start looking earlier than if you’re looking for someone with general childcare experience. Identifying the type of nanny you’re looking for can help you estimate when to start looking for a nanny.
When to start looking for a nanny depends on your specific needs and situation and the more time you can take for the process the better. It’s important to give yourself enough time to find the right person, so plan accordingly. However, we all know that life often gets in the way of your perfectly laid plans. Although you may wish you had plenty of time to find the perfect nanny, reality usually doesn’t work out that way.
Whether you have plenty of time to interview and choose the perfect nanny, or you find yourself looking for a nanny in a hurry, Good People can help you find the perfect fit for your family. With a host of trusted, professional and reliable childcare professionals on our books and a process that ensure we match your nanny to your family’s unique needs, we are at your service, no matter how much or little time you have.
At Good People, most of our hires are done within 4 to 6 weeks, and we break our hiring process down as follows:
Week 1 - We promote the job description with our multi-channel approach and organise the applications that come in.
Week 2 - We interview candidates to find a shortlist.
Week 3 - The client meets the shortlist.
Week 4 - We conduct trials in the home and, if they are successful, proceed with hiring.
When the family is involved and reactive in the process, this is the ideal timeframe. With delays and feedback we find it will usually take up to 6 weeks.
Factors that would require you to budget extra time
For a live-in position we recommend you give yourself 8-10 weeks to find the right person, as we need to work more on the chemistry of the candidate and the family, and some relocation may be involved.
For part-time jobs it can also take 8-10 weeks, as finding somebody with availability during the hours you need can take time.
Anything with special skill set (eg specific languages, ability to drive, owning a car, weekend availability, specific qualifications) can take more time to find, as your pool of candidates will be considerably smaller and we would not want you to compromise on finding the right fit for your family.
If you'd like an estimate of how long it would take to fill a position with your specific needs, contact our team for a consultation today.
Good People is a domestic staffing agency specialising in introducing high quality household assistance. We provide a simple, fast and professional service to recruit trained and vetted staff who match your family values. To discuss what we can do for you, or to join the Good People Club, get in touch.
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