NannyUp: Session 2
Nanny interviews
You need to be well-prepared when you interview for a nanny job. Here is a link to questions your employer may ask you. Here is a link to questions you may want to ask your employer. And if you would like to practice your interview, here is a link to more sample interview questions. Here are some tips for a successful interview:
Know your hourly rate and whether you want your employer to pay taxes for you before the interview starts.
Dress professionally.
Bring a notebook and take notes during the interview.
Bring your Nanny Portfolio to the interview (of course!)
Prepare a list of questions to ask your employer.
Be confident or fake it til you make it!
Taxes and your pay check
If you don’t have a Social Security Number (SSN) you may want to apply for an Individual Tax ID number (ITIN). Jesus Alcala is a Redwood City tax advisor who can help you apply for an ITIN. Josue gives free consultations. His website is here.
To see the difference in your paycheck between taking taxes out of your paycheck and not taking taxes out of your paycheck, see this document. To see an example of a paycheck with taxes taken out, see this sample paycheck.
If you want to determine how much will be taken out of your paycheck, go to this tax withdrawal calculator.
Asking for a raise
Most workers get a raise every year and nannies should do that to. You can ask for a raise on your work anniversary, that is, after you’ve been at your job for a year, two years, etc. Or you can ask for a raise after something has changed on your job, for example, your boss had a baby or you received your ECE certificate.
Here is some advice on asking for a raise:
Know what other nannies in your area earn. If your pay is about the same as the pay of other nannies, you still can ask for a raise. It is common to ask for about a 5 percent raise.
Plan when you will ask for the raise. You might say something like, “Do you have some time this week to to discuss how things have gone this past year and also discuss a possible raise?” You also can send an email asking your employer to choose a time to talk about this.
Be ready to explain why you deserve a raise. Make a list before you talk to your boss so you’re well prepared. Try to talk about specific things you have done and how they have helped the family.
Be ready to negotiate: Your boss may not be able to give you the raise you request, but she may present other options. For example, maybe she will suggest that you get three small raises over the next year or she will offer you additional vacation days. If you are flexible, you are more likely to find a good solution.
An excellent article about asking for a raise is here.
Nanny contracts
Nanny contracts ensure that the nanny and the employer have the same expectations. You can find a sample Nanny contract here.
Other Helpful Resources
California Domestic Workers Coalition — Know Your Rights
The California Domestic Workers Coalition’s website is a great resource to learn everything about your rights as a Domestic Worker as well as what to do if you ever feel your rights are being violated. You can also read their Know Your Rights Booklet in English or Spanish to stay informed on everything from your legal rights, calculating your regular rate of pay, overtime, meal and rest breaks, etc.
Child Care Coordinating Council (4Cs) of San Mateo
4Cs of San Mateo often has free events that help childcare providers, like nannies, learn skills that can make them more successful and professional in their careers. Check out the Training and Events calendar to see when they offer certain courses and to sign up.
ECE classes
You can start taking ECE classes at Cañada College after you finish ESL 924 and 914.Check out Cañada ECE classes here.
You can take ECE classes on Saturdays, get free childcare and meals. Go to the Teacher Pipeline Project for more info.
Activities for infants and toddlers
Pathways is a great Web site for activities for infants and toddlers starting at three months. The link is here.