How to hire a nanny
To hire a nanny, define your family’s needs, set a budget, and create a clear job description. Suitable candidates should be carefully screened, and references must be checked during the interview process. Once you select a nanny, establish a written work agreement and handle payroll legally by registering for nanny taxes.
1) Define your needs
Before officially launching your search for a nanny, take a moment to clearly define your family’s needs. Having specific expectations from the start will make the process of finding the right fit for your family smoother.
Think carefully about the days and hours you need coverage. Do you need full-time or part-time help? What about evening or weekend availability? Is a strict schedule important to you or would you prefer some flexibility?
Also, consider the specific responsibilities you’d like your nanny to handle. Will the winning candidate focus solely on childcare, or do you also require light housekeeping, meal preparation, or transportation to activities?
It’s also important to factor in any special skills or traits that may make a candidate especially ideal for your household. For example, if you have an infant, a nanny experienced in caring for newborns will be essential. If, however, your children are school-aged, you might favor someone who can help with homework or after-school activities.
At Sommet Nannies, we simplify this step by scheduling a phone or Zoom consultation with families interested in hiring a nanny. During this conversation, we’ll discuss your unique childcare needs, helping you identify the factors that matter most to your family. We’re here to answer your questions, clarify your expectations, and provide expert guidance on how to hire a nanny.
2) Set a budget
Setting a budget when hiring a nanny ensures you can offer fair compensation while staying within your financial means. Research average nanny wages in your region and consider what’s feasible for you, bearing in mind that rates vary based on a nanny’s experience, education, and responsibilities. Don’t forget to factor in the cost of payroll taxes, as these are normally payable in addition to your nanny's salary.
To attract the right fit, balance your budget with what’s competitive in the nanny market. Offering additional benefits like paid time off, guaranteed hours, and a healthcare stipend can make your job posting more tempting to high-quality candidates. A well-rounded package that aligns with industry standards will give you a better chance of finding a long-term caregiver who meets your family’s needs.
At Sommet Nannies, we offer guidance on competitive pay rates based on your family’s needs and the qualifications you seek in candidates. We’ll share up-to-date information and insights so your compensation package attracts the best possible nanny for your home.
3) Create a job description
Crafting a well-defined job description is key to finding the perfect nanny for your family. Start by outlining the schedule and duties you expect the nanny to handle, then list any additional qualities or skills that you and your family deem important. Including a salary range can also attract candidates who align with your budget, giving them an idea of the compensation you’re prepared to offer.
A nanny job description typically includes:
Schedule: days, hours, and flexibility requirements
Duties: specific responsibilities like childcare, meal prep, transportation, and household tasks
Required experience: skills or qualifications you value, such as first aid certification or experience with specific age groups
Desired traits: qualities (think patience, creativity, or adaptability) that would complement your family dynamic
Salary range: a clear indication of pay based on experience and duties, plus any benefits you offer
Sommet Nannies takes this step off your plate by crafting a customized job description that accurately reflects your family’s unique needs. From there, we’ll handle the intricate matchmaking and vetting processes, successfully identifying candidates who meet your specific criteria.
4) Post your nanny job
When posting their nanny jobs, parents typically have two options: using reputable job websites or working with a specialized nanny agency.
Posting on websites grants you access to a wide range of candidates, but you’ll need to set aside time to review applications and conduct background checks. Parents taking this do-it-yourself approach must be prepared to manage the hiring process from start to finish.
Partnering with a nanny agency can simplify this step significantly. Agencies often have a pre-vetted pool of professional candidates, saving you the time and effort of sorting through numerous applications. Plus, agencies handle much of the legwork—from initial screenings to background checks—helping you focus on finding the right match for your family.
Parents who choose Sommet Nannies don’t need to worry about posting jobs or waiting for responses. We have a carefully curated selection of top-notch candidates ready to be matched with families. By working with us, you can skip the hassle of sorting through applications and focus on interviewing highly qualified professionals who check all your boxes.
5) Screen candidates
Screening applications for your nanny vacancy lets you filter out candidates who don’t meet your criteria and identify those who match your needs. Carefully review each application and resume to see how closely they align with your job description. Pay particular attention to candidates’ experience, skills, and qualifications. This step can be time-consuming if you’re handling the process yourself, so make sure you have a clear list of criteria to guide your decisions.
Be mindful that experienced nannies in search of new positions don’t hang around for long. High-quality nannies are in demand and get snapped up fast! If you receive a promising resume, don’t hesitate to move forward with that candidate.
At Sommet Nannies, we pre-screen candidates based on your specific requirements, providing you with one resume at a time to simplify your decision-making process. If you don’t think a candidate is quite the right fit, we’ll promptly provide another option.
6) Conduct interviews
Interviews are a great way to get to know candidates as individuals and see if they’d be a good match for your family. We normally schedule a phone or Zoom interview to cover the basics, followed by a face-to-face meeting if you’d like to learn more about a given candidate.
Nanny interviews should focus on the candidate's experience, childcare philosophy, and approach to the responsibilities you’ve outlined in your job description. Take note of candidates’ communication style, enthusiasm, and understanding of your family’s needs. Interviews are also a good opportunity to go over your schedule, expectations, and household rules in more detail.
Before each interview, draft a mix of open-ended and situation-based questions to see how a candidate might act in certain circumstances. We recommend a combination of personal questions (like “What inspires you most about working with children?”) and practical questions (for instance, “How would you structure a day with two children in different age groups?”).
7) Check references & run background checks
Before hiring a nanny, it’s essential to conduct thorough checks to verify a candidate’s qualifications and trustworthiness. Remember, you’re putting the safety and well-being of your children in this person’s hands! Make sure to cover the following points:
Reference check and validation
Social media screening
50-state criminal background check
Sexual misconduct record check
Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) driving record check
Social Security verification
Residency history search
Infant/Child CPR and first aid certification verification
At Sommet Nannies, each potential caregiver undergoes this intensive vetting as part of our recruitment process, which eliminates over 90% of applicants. By the time we present a resume to you, you can have confidence in that candidate’s background, skills, and trustworthiness—and enjoy peace of mind as you move forward in the hiring process.
8) Conduct a working interview
A working interview allows you to see a potential nanny in action with your children, observing how a candidate handles daily routines, engages with your children, and manages any unexpected situations. It also offers your children an opportunity to get comfortable with the candidate, giving you a feel for their compatibility. The working interview’s timeframe will depend on your personal preference. An hour or two suffices for some families; others opt for a longer paid trial period.
During this interview, assign the nanny typical tasks, such as preparing meals, playing with the children, or managing a bedtime routine. Pay attention to how they communicate with your children, how patient they are, and how they handle minor challenges.
Remember, the candidate is most likely a bit nervous and is unfamiliar with your household routine. Don’t expect perfection at this stage! Your goal is to see if the nanny’s style aligns with your expectations and if this individual can seamlessly fit into your family’s rhythm. If appropriate, consider offering gentle guidance and observe how they respond to feedback.
9) Draft a written work agreement
A written work agreement is the foundation of a clearly defined professional relationship with your new nanny. Creating a comprehensive contract protects both parties by outlining expectations, duties, and terms of employment. It should cover all the essential details: from the work schedule, salary, benefits, and job responsibilities to your house rules and any conditions affecting holidays, sick leave, or paid time off.
Creating a written agreement isn't just a legal formality. It ensures that everyone is on the same page from day one, preventing potential misunderstandings down the road. This not only helps you set boundaries but also serves as a useful reference if any questions or issues arise in the future. Having everything in writing makes it easier to handle changes, enforce expectations, and maintain a positive working relationship.
At Sommet Nannies, we provide a nanny employment agreement template as part of our services, saving you the time and effort of drafting a contract from scratch. This professional support ensures that your agreement is thorough, legally sound, and tailored to your family’s needs. Plus, you can be confident that everything is set up correctly from the start.
10) Register for nanny taxes
Nannies are classed as household employees rather than independent contractors, which means their employers are responsible for withholding and remitting their tax contributions. Nanny taxes typically include Social Security, Medicare, federal unemployment tax (FUTA), and state unemployment taxes. When hiring a nanny, you will need to obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) via the Internal Revenue Service’s website, deduct and deposit the appropriate taxes, and file all relevant forms at the end of the financial year.
Some families feel daunted by this process or are simply too busy to deal with the extra paperwork. To help ease the way through this financial terrain, Sommet Nannies has partnered with HomeWork Solutions, which provides exemplary payroll and tax support.
At Sommet Nannies, we believe that paying attention to every detail is the key to a successful nanny recruitment process. We hope that by following these 10 steps, you’ll find the perfect solution to your childcare challenges.
And even when you think you’ve found the ideal candidate, please note that we offer a 90-day replacement period, beginning on your nanny's start date. If this new relationship proves to be less than ideal in this timeframe, we’ll reactivate your nanny search at no additional cost. The fact that less than 5% of Sommet Nannies families take advantage of this feature eloquently attests to our recruitment and interview processes’ effectiveness!
Welcome to Sommet Nannies, a nanny agency with presence in Boston, Chicago, Washington DC, New York, and nationwide. We help busy families find dedicated and caring college-educated nannies.
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● If you’re a family interested in learning more about our nanny services, head over here.
● If you’re a nanny looking for a new family to work with, you can apply to become a Sommet Nanny.