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How long does the search process
take? Top of Page
Our advice is to plan on a six
to eight week process. It may go faster if we have qualified
experienced candidates in the "pipeline"
that are interested in your job. It may also extend to eight weeks or more if there are
some things that make your more challenging to fill (consider part time or
full time hours, pay, duties, location, time
of year, number and ages of children, etc.). In addition, most nannies want to give their
current employer at least a two week notice - you would want the same consideration!
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How can we speed up the search process?
Top of Page
There are some things that are beyond your control that affect the search process, such as
where you live. But there are many things you can control. First of all,
carefully consider our advice on setting compensation and benefits, hours and duties. Second, when we
send
you an applicant's file, call her quickly to set up an interview. These
qualified candidates may have one to three offers within a few days after
they interview with us.
We have an excellent handout "Hiring a Nanny: How To Do It
ASAP" with tips and insights into the search process. It
is available for our client families at the time of the in-home consultation.
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Can nannies be independent contractors?
Top of Page
In order to win your business,
some agencies may tell you that you can choose to treat your
nanny as an independent contractor. The IRS has ruled
definitively that household workers are considered employees. If
the family hiring a nanny has the right to control what must be
done and when it is done, the nanny is an employee. To comply
with the law, household workers must be paid and reported as
employees. Household employers are entitled to tax breaks when
they pay legally.
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Do you refer candidates to more than one family at
a time? Top of Page
Yes. Just as families
often want to interview several candidates, nannies may want to interview with
several families to find the best job for them.
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Why use your agency rather than
hire on our own? Top of Page
Trust the experts. Your time is valuable and your family's security
is critical.
Nannies from the Heartland puts your mind at ease.
We are the experts in screening and qualifying
applicants. We provide you with detailed information prior to
interviewing so you will feel comfortable and secure inviting
qualified candidates into your home.
Families that have previously hired nannies through online services tell us they waste valuable
time with many unqualified applicants and planning for interviews
with candidates who don't show up. Leave the hassle to us!
Highly qualified experienced nannies know it's to their
advantage to work with our agency; we help them find prescreened
employers who appreciate their unique talents.
Finding the right fit for your family is of the
utmost importance to us. That is why we primarily refer experienced
nannies who have been placed and/or screened through our service
previously. Because of our
selective screening and the extra
effort and care to ensure a good match, our nannies typically stay
with their employer families for 3 years or longer. Your children
and family will benefit from the stability of a careful match made
with the help of our professional agency.
Choosing quality child care is one of the most
important decisions in your life. Let us help make your
decision a confident and safe one!
For those families that wish to find a nanny without the help of an
agency, we offer some tips on
Hiring a
Nanny On Your Own.
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What sets Nannies from the
Heartland apart from other agencies? Top of Page
Nannies from the Heartland is the
Twin Cities most highly regarded agency placing prescreened, well
qualified, thoroughly referenced and experienced child care
professionals. We are well
respected by the nanny community, nannies feel good about working
with us and they refer colleagues to our service.
Ours is a
locally owned full time business rather than a part time, start-up effort
or a national online service.
Over 35 local agencies have opened and closed since Nannies from the
Heartland, Inc. was founded in 1990. We have the experience and stability that you can count on to do
the best job possible for you.
Mary O'Connor (owner of Nannies from the Heartland, Inc.) was the President of the
International Nanny Association (INA) from 1997 to 1999 and served on the
INA Board of
Directors for ten years. Professional nannies and successful agency owners
from around the country have demonstrated their trust and respect for Mary as a leader in
this industry. She was awarded the Meritorious Service Award and 25 year
Service Award from the INA in
2015. Her extensive regular contacts with those colleagues are a tremendous
source of knowledge and insight into this business. Nannies from the
Heartland is a 27 year member of the International Nanny Association, and the honored business member of the Twin Cities Professional Nannies. No other agency owner in the
Twin Cities brings this degree of commitment, knowledge and experience to this business.
See our "Choosing an Agency" page for a list of probing
questions that nannies and families can ask of agencies to help you choose one to work
with.
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Can two families share a nanny?
Top of Page
Yes. We recommend that those
families only consider candidates who have had extensive full time experience in child
care. In addition, they should offer a salary at the top of the scale. It is generally
more challenging for the nanny, and requires greater skill to work with two family employers. Such jobs
need to be very carefully defined. We offer experienced guidance in
developing your job description and defining job expectations for
this unique employment situation.
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Are there education and/or certification programs
for nannies? Top of Page
Over 50% of the
nannies we place in jobs have two or four year degrees in Early
Childhood Education, Child Development, Elementary Education,
Family Social Sciences, Child Psychology or other child care
related college coursework. The International Nanny Association (INA) offers a
credentialing exam for nannies. There are a few nanny training
programs in different parts of the country. You
can visit the INA's web site for more information (see our hot links page).