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Placing a nanny classified ad is the do-it-yourself approach to finding a nanny and requires a large investment of time and energy. Place a classified ad, keep the phone on and arrange various interviews until the right fit is found.
Families who wish to bypass this hefty investment of time and energy may go directly to a traditional nanny agency. The available labor pool is pre-screened, professional and ready to work. This is the most expensive option, but offers the best service. A good full-service nanny agency will very effectively screen out inappropriate candidates.
The trend with online nanny services has been to offer families an economical solution that combines the do-it-yourself approach with that of traditional nanny agencies. While the online process requires that the parents take an active role, web-based nanny agencies usually make a point of providing helpful hiring forms (see our Nanny Success Kit) and information (like this!) to give you a head start on the hiring process. Online nanny services databases are also designed to streamline your drilling down to viable candidates.
The helpful information that online nanny referral services provide includes what to look for in a nanny, the advantages of a live-in verses live-out nanny, the kinds of questions to ask during a nanny interview, how much to offer for a nanny’s salary, important nanny tax information and many other useful products. In other words, families won’t be left out in the cold.
While families must conduct the nanny interviews, fill out all the appropriate forms and complete a variety of other steps independently, paid membership with an online nanny service involves much more than “listings.”
The nanny candidates presented to members are tailored to the families’ preferences. Since both families and nannies fill out preliminary get-to-know-you questionnaires, the search for a nanny online becomes a lot more targeted and efficient. Many times members will receive email notifications of personalized nanny recommendations!
Oftentimes, online nanny services include criminal background checks for an additional fee, or are included in package deals. It is important to remember, however, that apart from the individually requested background checks, the nanny pool recruited by an online service is not pre-screened.
Before signing a family up, a trustworthy online nanny service will typically provide potential members with an in-depth preview of the nanny pool and even free trial memberships, so that families can decide whether or not membership is worth it. After paying a flat fee for membership, families are given access to the labor pool, after which it is their responsibility to screen the nannies, make job offers, do background checks and finalize the working agreement.
Arguably one of the most attractive benefits of hiring a nanny online is the affordability. Not only is the cost dramatically lower than traditional nanny agencies; families dramatically reduce the search time of the do-it-yourself approach. Members benefit from the speed of online communication – they can send instant job requests and respond immediately to nannies seeking jobs. Families also benefit from privacy. Through a specially created on-site inbox, families receive all their communications from potential nannies who are members of the site. If a family is not interested, they simply don’t have to respond.
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