When it comes to finding a nanny for your family, there are several critical things to consider.
First, find out why do they do this.
Find out the story behind the agency. Why was it started? Try to find out what the motives are of the owner. You want to work with someone who has a true passion for building strong relationships between families and their nannies (as well as children).
How Accessible Are They?
You want to work with a company that you can reach easily by phone, email or both. How quickly do they respond to your inquiries? It’s important to be able to have access to the person you will be working with you during your hiring process.
Another thing to think about in relation to accessibility is meeting someone in person. Is the company willing to come and meet with you?
Do they have references?
Each company should have a list of references that they can provide you with. These lists don’t have to be super long -- you just want to be able to speak with a few people that have used their services before. If they don’t have a list, check out their website to see if they have a testimonial page. A lot of times families will send in testimonials instead of being added to the company’s reference list.
How does it work?
This is something you want to find out before starting with any nanny agency. Each agency is different, so you want to make sure that their process fits your needs and time frame.
Example: Say you hire a nanny placement agency to find a nanny for you. You are hoping to have the position filled within two weeks of signing the contract with the nanny placement agency. The agency process is to take the first three weeks just to search for a candidate. This agency would not suit your needs at all.
These tips were sent to us by Natalie Akpele, the owner of Cuddlebuggs - a newborn care and nanny placement agency in Atlanta, GA. She is also a full time nanny. She loves helping families find nannies that are right for their unique needs.
