Nannies! Don't Wave These Red Flags

By Michelle LaRowe

Each week I connect with hundreds of nannies, whether it be through managing online nanny groups, recruiting, or interviewing nannies for jobs through Morningside Nannies, our award-winning nanny referral agency in Houston, Texas.

During my interactions over the years, the following list of things candidates regularly do have led to a negative impression, and ultimately impacted my decision to work with them.

As you are conducting your nanny job search, be demure. Be mindful. Be classy.

And avoid doing these things:

  • Oversharing About Anything

  • Providing Fake References

  • Bad Mouthing Previous Employers

  • Not Taking Responsibility for Issues Where Fault was Disclosed

  • Sharing Age Alongside Qualifications (or at all)

  • Leading with Discussions about Money (and not learning about job)

  • Unprofessional Email Addresses and Voicemail Greetings

  • Justifying Wage Demand with Personal Debt (i.e. providing a list of bills)

  • Focused on Needs vs Qualifications for Role

  • Overall Immaturity

  • Lack of Basic Child Development and Safety Knowledge

  • Negative Social Media Footprint

  • Referring to Desired Wage Expectation as a Set Rate (positions nanny as an independent contractor without understanding of employer/employee status)

  • Bait and Switch of Any Kind

  • Unprofessional Behavior (i.e. asking to be paid “off the books)

  • Conducting Interviews from the Car While Driving (or trying to, I should say)

  • Answering Calls While Working and Disclosing This (while kids are heard crying in the background)

  • Resistance to Screening Process (i.e. “I thought my resume would suffice”)

  • Offering to Provide More Past Employers After Turning in a Complete List of Past Employers

  • Ghosting and/or Lack of Responsiveness.

When I think about things that are an immediate red flag to me when considering if I wish to represent a nanny for a job, these items are on the top of my list.

And once you see one, you can't unsee it.

In an industry that has gained so much ground in moving from an occupation to a professional, there is still much work to be done.

If you want to be treated like a professional, you must act like one.

Avoiding these red flags will get you well on your way.

Michelle LaRowe