9 Ways NOT to Get Fired!

Want to know what seriously bums out parents looking for babysitters and nannies? Check out the following factors that determine whether parents hire (or fire!) a sitter or nanny. These are need-to-know items for keeping or landing a job!  Post a comment and let us know how you seal the deal and keep your customers loyal.

1. Be Available - If you're going to be a babysitter or nanny, make sure you have some free dates in your calendar.

2. Be There - Show up at your appointments!  If you think no one will notice if you blow off an interview or show up late for a job, think again.  Continue to be a no-show, and no one in your neighborhood will hire you - people talk, and bad news travels fast.  Got a real conflict?  Pick up the phone and let the parents know.

3. Be Clear - If you can only babysit for two hours because you have other obligations, warn your employer when you accept the job.  Don't wait until the night of the job to drop the bomb - the parents may be expecting you to stay as long as they need.

4. Be Responsible - If you must cancel a babysitting job, give your employer as much notice as possible and maybe suggest a friend who could fill in for you.  Why would you cancel?  You might be sick, have a conflict with school or another job, or be out of town.  Running late or stuck in traffic? Call, call, call!  Parents will trust you if you keep them informed.

5. Be Interested - Be friendly, professional, and interested in the kids and their wellbeing.  It's a true bummer for parents if they can tell your heart isn't in it.  Parents want to know that their kids are a sitter's first priority.

6. Be Honest - Parents appreciate babysitters who are honest and upfront.  Let them know if you had to use their phone, if you broke something, or if the kids misbehaved.

7. Be Creative - Parents love babysitters who plan ahead and bring arts and crafts supplies, sports equipment, song books, or just some great ideas for entertaining the kids.  Be sure anything you bring or do is age-appropriate and safe for all the kids involved.

8. Be Calm - You MUST be able to handle an emergency - even if it just means staying calm and dailing 911.  Let your employer know you're ready for anything by asking them to leave contact numbers and information you might need in an emergency.  Click here for a babysitters' emergency checklist.

9. Be Prepared - Let parents know if you have up-to-date certifications for babysitting, life guarding, or CPR.  Ask them about installing car seats or about the kids' allergies, bedtimes, or playdates.  They'll love that you're thinking ahead!

10. BONUS TIP: Be Appropriate - You would DIE if we told you some of the horror stories we've heard.  Long story short: don't swear and don't dress for sexy night out at a club!

Let us know how you seal the deal and keep your customers loyal by posting a comment!

Comments

[Mercedes V. Rodriguez]

Of course this is all true. Children deserve boundless love and creative input. Go on line and look for inexpensive seasonal and holiday crafts.Be responsible. If you think sitting is not a "real" career, then remember that you dishonor yourself when you don't do things that you do the very best way that you can. If you choose to do this, then give it your love and effort, because this is one job that gives back tenfold.
If your heart's not in it, then please stop. If it is, give it your all.
I've been doing it for over 25 years, it's been a loving and lucrative life choice.

[Stefani]

I found the most important thing is a "contract" that the parents & the Nanny BOTH agree to & sign. I have always been much in demand, asked back, referred to others & NEVER fired until I worked for a woman who said; "No I don't have a contract to go over with you; I don't believe in contracts for children." This left me sooo in the dark. I didn't know what was expected of me or what the children's rules or schedules were etc. As you guys know; all families are so different from one another. One family will want you to only step in when they ask you to & another will expect you to care for them as if the parents weren't home. One parent will insist you get up in the night with the toddler & give him a bottle where another will insist the child is not to have a bottle in the night. One family wants child-led play & another wants structured educational play. One wants a strict schedule & another is happier with a child-led routine. One family expects you to prepare dinner for the kids AND for yourself, another will want you to cook for the family or perhaps to feed the children & not yourself (you are to bring a sack lunch) & one family I worked for has a house manager/cook & I was not to interfere with her during meal prep. It's different in every home & without a contract there's no way to know whether they want you to use your Child development education as a guideline or whether you are to follow their specific beliefs in how children should be raised. Something as simple as whether or not housework is included in your duties & if so which ones also needs to be written down & agreed to by both parties. For example: I didn't know I was supposed to mop the floors in this huge mansion where they had a housekeeper AND a house manager until I was told I had overlooked doing this particular job. I received detailed do & don't instructions from the other Nanny but when I followed her instruction to the T,I got in trouble for not only not doing my job correctly but for doing the exact opposite of what was in fact expected by the parents. I think now I was being sabotaged by the Nanny who thought I'd take her job instead of just work on her days off. But regardless of what she said; had I been given a contract with my duties clearly laid out & defined & agreed to then there would have been no misunderstandings among us & I'd still have my 35 yr. long clean record of having never been fired.

[tracy]

One of my employers has expectations just to "feed the kiddo and put him to bed." That is untrue, she wants you to bathe him, play with him, and watch the dog, and make sure the cat is in.

[Dance4life]

Beware of some people who hire you with babysitting. I have found out that a lot of people cancel after an interview or wish for you to do other jobs. I was asked by one parent to do her college outlines and reports for her after we had agreed on babysitting. I did not want to do her typing for her, therefore, she did not ask me to sit for her. Beware of those people who try to take advantage of you. I recently just babysat for a family with 2 children; both in diapers at the age of 3 and 4 years of age. One child had to have a certain drink all the time, and I happen to be allergic to this certain drink and was totally up front during the interview with her. I babysat once for the family and received a call saying the chose another babysitter all because I could not drink this certain item with their child. Very aggravating. You can be open, straight up and honest with people and they turn your back on you. Also, don't be afraid to set a price for babysitting. Be careful and speak up!!!!!!

[cecile]

I am in a new nanny position, the couple always fight over money because of the bad economy and they say i am getting paid too much for little work. They knew i did not have a drivers license and because of this i cannot help in certain aspects of the job. I was insulted by the wife and told i was not worth the salary i was getting. So i talked to the husband and told him that i was willing to help out as much as i can. The house was a mess. Every day it was a mess. I took all the childs toys and put it in the attic and cleaned up and tidied up and walked the dog and made a salad which was all that i saw available. There were no available ingredients for the chicken so i could not cook it. I told them i would help with the groceries but to please give me money to buy them. I came from a job which i did all of these things but i could take a taxi etc. to do them. The insults from the lady were what i did not like. I am very hard working but the clutter was a little unnerving. I did not want to throw important items without the supervision of the mother. She is a stay at home mom. That is ok but i would be happy if she told me what she wanted. Especially since i only started 3 weeks ago.