I would like to thank Michelle LaRowe for contributing this helpful article.
It is great advice on preparing yourself for the next step going forward.
Taking Inventory
During Times of Transition
by Michelle LaRowe
Whether your nanny job has a hard end date or you sense that
the end of your position is coming near, you’re heading for a time of
transition. But before you take the next step in your nanny journey, stop to take
inventory so that you don’t forget to look forward as you’re focusing on your
soon to be past.
Are You Ready to Move
On?
If you’ve been in the same job for a number of years,
chances are you have a strong emotional commitment and sense of loyalty to the
family you’ve worked for. You may feel a variety of strong, conflicting
emotions about the job ending and may be emotionally and physically drained if
the job was particularly intense. Oftentimes nannies are more concerned with
the well-being of the family than of themselves and as a result will put the
families’ needs first when it comes to navigating their departure. It’s no wonder that once a nanny job has
finally ended, nannies often walkway feel completely exhausted and burned out.
Before committing to your next position, it’s essential that
you access your readiness. Ask yourself if you’re ready to give your physical
and emotional best to your next family. If you’re not, take some time for you.
Picking up temporary and short-term assignments can be a great way to ensure
you get an emotional break while still bringing in an income. Doing so can also serve as career
insurance, ensuring that you keep your
reputation and references intact - as it can be quite common for a nanny coming
out of a long-term position to go through a string of jobs, some which may end
badly, before finding her next right
match.
Are Your Expectations
Realistic?
If you’ve been off the job market for a while, you want to
get in touch with current nanny industry trends and industry standards in the
area you are looking to work. The wages and benefits package you had at
your last position don’t necessarily transfer to your next one. The way you
communicated with your past employer won’t necessarily translate to your new
one. While you may approach the job and
your new employers the same, the way they interpret you and your approach may
be quite different.
When starting your new job search consider what is
negotiable to you and what isn’t. Know what your bottom line is when it comes
to pay and benefits and consider carefully what duties and responsibilities you
are willing to take on. Be prepared to justify why you are worth your required
wages and why you will be picky about the job you accept, rather than expecting
to have the perfect job at the perfect pay handed to you on a silver platter.
Remember, the agency or parents you are working with won’t know your job
expectations unless you tell them. If you don’t sell yourself to them during
your search, they won’t know what they have the opportunity to buy.
Are You Easy to Work
With?
After the first few nanny jobs, most nannies know what types
of families they work best with and what types of jobs they are best suited
for. Because they’ve been through a job search before and have high
expectations for their next position, if not careful, their confidence can be
portrayed as arrogance. Consider when
you go to a new doctor for an exam. The doctor has done hundreds of exams on
new patients, but for you, this is your first experience with this doctor. How
would it make you feel if the doctor rushed through the exam with an all
business approach, expected you to take his word on everything without evidence,
and showed no care as to how you perceived the examination process to go. Be careful
not to be perceived as that doctor. Even when an agency representative knows
you personally from nanny organizations or networking, she still needs to put
you through their process to ensure you the highest level of
representation. Nannies who expect
exceptions make it incredibly difficult for placement specialists to represent
them successfully. And for many parents hiring a nanny, it’s their first time interfacing
with potential nannies. A nanny who
comes across as arrogant or entitled will be a huge turnoff.
As you prepare for your job search, put yourself in the
shoes of parents and nanny placement specialists. Consider how your attitude
may be portrayed by them. Ask yourself if you’re prepared to consider the needs
of parents and agency representatives as they put you through the screening
process. Are you giving off the impression you think you are?
Transitions can be hard, but you can set yourself up for
success in your next position by taking inventory of your readiness. Once you
are truly ready to commit to your job search and next job, that is when you
will have the greatest success.
