Finding a Nanny Vacancy in the UK

Nannies are in high demand in the United Kingdom and qualified nannies should have no trouble locating a wealth of positions - if they know where to look. Online notice boards, local community papers and childcare recruitment agencies are all wonderful places for nannies to find advertisements for vacancies, and posting an ad of their own may be something nannies should consider if they are seeking a position immediately.

Online Notice Boards

Some parents choose to advertise their need for a nanny on free online notice boards such as Gumtree and Craigslist. This method means that they can quickly and easily gather the CVs of many nannies and don't need to pay exorbitant fees for posting their ads. Nannies who choose to apply for such positions should be sure to follow the instructions in the ad, for example sending their CV in the body of an email instead of an attachment or only calling the listed phone number between the times advertised. Nannies should also take suitable precautions when meeting parents contacted via the Internet, for example interviewing in a public place if at all possible.

Local Community Papers

Much like their online counterparts, the community advertisements section of a local paper can be a wonderful place for nannies to look for work. One added advantage is that the ads are practically guaranteed to be from a limited geographical area so nannies looking to work in a particular town or area of a city are more likely to find employers through these papers. Again, nannies should follow the printed instructions regarding sending in their applications and use their common sense when it comes to meeting potential employers.

Childcare Recruitment Agencies

Recruitment agencies exist to serve many professions and nannies are lucky enough to be able to submit their CV to agencies specifically dedicated to nannies as well as broader agencies dedicated to all childcare professionals. Nannies who choose to use these agencies will enjoy the benefit that there is usually no cost to them and they are introduced to an existing pool of interested employers. However, nannies may be asked to take agency run courses such as first aid certification classes, and they are only able to select positions from those advertised with the specific agencies. Each nanny will need to decide for him or herself if they are interested in working with a recruitment agency while looking for work.

Posting an Ad

Some nannies, particularly those looking for quick and/or local work, prefer to post their own ads rather than wade through the vacancies advertised at various locations. If a nanny chooses to advertise their own services they should include an exact description of the type of work they are looking for, the hours they are willing to work and expected rates of pay. Including clear contact information such as an email address or mobile phone number will help potential clients get in touch, but nannies should never reveal personal information such as their home address.

Nannies are in luck when it comes to looking for a vacancy: there are many potential outlets from which they can find work. Online notice boards, community newspapers and childcare recruitment agencies are just a few of the options that nannies can take advantage of while looking for a new positions. Posting an ad themselves is also an alternative that nannies seeking work could explore.