Do-It-Yourself Nanny Search Hiring Tools

1) Online Application. Nanny candidates complete the detailed online application for your job. This allows you to compare various nannies' experience easily rather than sorting through complicated resumes that may not present experience in straightforward, uniform manner.

2) Online Personality Screen This is a scientific, standardized, statistically validated instrument that assesses the candidate on over 27 psychological traits with an automatic scoring system that provides you with a detailed written report. Our screen items were drawn from a pool of over 2000 personality items that have been tested on thousands of individuals for over 15 years.

Research shows that many people will make a hiring decision based on an interview alone. Research has also shown that interviews alone are no better than a coin flip when making a hiring decision. This strategy usually results in hiring the candidate who has the best interview skills (i.e. a good talker who thinks on her feet) -- not the candidate who has the best childcare skills. Our personality screen allows you to quickly assess which candidates have the personality traits needed to excel as a nanny vs. those candidates who may be unreliable, impulsive, emotionally unstable, unsuited temperamentally to caring for a child -- or worse -- those candidates who may pose a risk to the care and safety of your child. It is important, however, to conduct a thorough reference check and in-person interview in conjunction with the personality screen. The personality screen results should never be used alone to make a hiring decision.

3) Online Interview. The candidate completes an Online Interview when she completes the Application and Screen that enables you to review important, potentially disqualifying information that you need answered BEFORE you invest time and energy in pursuing her. For example, can she commit to the same schedule for at least one year? Does she have childcare for her own child? Does she have reliable transportation? Is she legal to work in the U.S.? Is she allergic to pets? Does she have a reliable car and insurance? Has she ever been arrested? Although we recommend you verify this through a court record check, once the candidates realize your process is thorough, the vast majority will answer these questions truthfully BEFORE you proceed further, saving you time and money.

4) Personal Screening Dashboard. Once you register with us, you will have access to your own Personal Screening Dashboard which lists all candidates who apply to your position including their completed application, online interview and personality screen so that you can quickly assess and compare candidates.

Sample Nanny Screening Dashboard

Use the browser's back button to return to this page from the Sample.

5) Reference Check Template. When you register with us, you will have access to a standardized Reference Check Template that allows you to compare candidates based on uniform, open-ended questions you ask of former employers. Reference checking is the most reliable way of verifying impressions and authenticating the information gained from the candidate's application and interviews. Many people are not experienced with checking references in a way that gives the "former employer" no clues, and requires the former employer to validate details such as dates, hours, and experience that the nanny has reported on her application. Some candidates may fabricate references or use a friend as a reference, presenting them as a former employer. Valid reference checking is "expensive" in terms of your time and effort, so it is important to make the most of each check. Our reference check template asks specific, uniform, open-ended, probing questions so the former employer must give details that help you assess not only the nanny's performance, but the authenticity of the reference and former nanny position, the level of reponsibility the nanny had over the child, the reason she left the position, etc.

6) In-Person Interview Questions. Once you register with us, you will have access to our structured In-Person Interview Questions that we've used for over 10 years to assess such areas as: knowledge of safety issues, knowledge of developmental stages, experience with different ages, judgment, ability to handle a crisis, stability, problem-solving skills, energy level, ability to take direction, level of genuine interest and love for the child, etc. We also include situational questions, how to rate the candidate's answers, and what non-verbal cues to look for in a candidate during an interview. Often, the nannies who are the most outgoing and friendly receive the most offers. These are frequently not the best candidates. We know why; you should too. We also include a list of common interviewing mistakes and how to avoid them.

It is important to keep in mind what you are measuring during your interview. In a typical unstructured interview, the questions flow as a conversation might flow. By going with your "gut" to assess a nanny, the only thing you are measuring is how good a conversationalist the candidate is -- and research repeatedly shows that this does not predict how good a job the nanny will do. Our structured interview yields more valuable information and helps you to compare nannies more accurately and objectively.

7) Professional Hiring Secrets. Once you register, you will receive tips and secrets on topics including:

How to Evaluate a Nanny Application
What to Look for in an Interview
Nanny Responsibilities: Do's and Dont's for Parents
The Five Fatal Pitfalls Parents Make When Hiring a Nanny Themselves
Preventing Problems: The Top Ten Reasons Nannies Are Unsuccessful and How to Avoid Them
The Top Ten (Real) Reasons Why Good Nannies Leave A Position (But Don't Tell Their Employer)
How to Manage and Retain an Excellent Nanny
Understanding Nanny Taxes

The above information is priceless for any parent who is considering hiring a nanny to care for their child. Whether you choose to find your own nanny on our site, or hire a full-service agency to find your next nanny, the information above is vital to finding the best nanny and getting the most out of your search time and money. With the information above, you will know more about finding and keeping a great nanny than many agencies, and you can ensure they are doing the best job for you.

9) Nanny Contract. We supply a sample Nanny Contract that outlines the specific requirements, pay, hours, possible overtime, responsibilities, vacation, holidays, sick days, etc. that you and the candidate are agreeing to. A good contract prevents issues from arising in the future that may jeopardize your long term relationship with your nanny.