Anyone use C.are.com?

LuvWIfootball · June 2013

I just posted a job on C.are.com for a nanny for my boys starting this fall. I've gotten a couple responses already, but have no idea where to go from here. This may sound bad, but I find myself judging some of them based on their pictures.

If you used this service, do you have any suggestions for interview questions? I think I want to interview at a public place (ex. coffee shop) and then do 2nd interview at home with my boys if we find someone we like.

Also, how does it work with paying someone and taking out taxes? Even if you haven't used this specific site, I'd love advice from anyone who has been considered an "employer". I guess I thought I could just pay them and let them deal with the taxes, but maybe that's not the smartest route?

IBackBevo · June 2013

I used care dot com.

I totally judged people on their pics. If you don't have the sense to put a good pic of yourself up (i.e. not one where you look like you are posing for playboy or looking like you are some sort of gang banger), why am I going to trust your sense enough to leave my child with you?

I've hired 3 nannies off of care dot com. First was a bust, but the last two have been awesome. The only reason I had to find a third was because my second one moved. All three times I've looked through a ton of resumes (20-50) and interviewed 4-6. I interviewed in my home and did not have any problem.

My advice for interviews is to make your expectations clear and don't over promise. Better to only promise a few days of vacation or start the pay off lower and give a raise then to get in over your head. If you expect her to do housework, laundry, etc. let her know in detail. When interviewing, I was always able to cross off at least 1 applicant each time by the way they reacted to the idea of me suggesting they help with laundry. If they seem annoyed or like you are asking a lot of them in the interview, then you know that it is only going to get worse after they have the job. Also, let them know what your expectations are in terms of discipline, emergencies, being late, etc. I find it is good to ask them how they handle situations and their belief system with respect to child rearing--especially w/ respect to discipline--because at the end of the day their value system/belief system will bleed over into how they handle your child even no matter what...it is human nature. Also, let them know what your priorities are. My first nanny, was an amazing housekeeper. My house was immaculate. But I think in order to do that she was leaving my son in his crib or RNP or PNP for long periods of time. My priority wasn't my house -- it was my son -- and I wanted my nanny at all times to be making him the priority.

With respect to taxes - As an employer, you are supposed to take taxes out of their paycheck and not just let them handle it unless they are an independent contractor. But nannies really don't fit into the I/C definition. Or you could pay them cash under the table--but if you get caught you have to pay fines, etc. There are services you can use for taxes, too. We use one for DH's business. Or you can just figure out the percentages and take them out. The main thing that sucks is that you end up paying more (the employer is responsible for the employers portion of taxes) and your employee sees less. Also, in my state, we have unemployment taxes, too. In my state, it basically means that the employer pays about 7-10 percent more and the employee sees about 10-25 or more percent less (depending on tax bracket, state income taxes, etc.) as there take home. By way of example, if a nanny makes about $10 an hour, employer will pay roughly about $11 an hour and she only takes home about $8-9 an hour. These are very rough estimates as there are a ton of different variables, but you get the idea. At the same time, it is the law even though it sucks...especially if you are already stretching to afford a nanny and especially considering most nannies don't make a lot anyway so that extra money may mean a lot to them.

LuvWIfootball · June 2013

IBackBevo:

I used care dot com.

I totally judged people on their pics. If you don't have the sense to put a good pic of yourself up (i.e. not one where you look like you are posing for playboy or looking like you are some sort of gang banger), why am I going to trust your sense enough to leave my child with you?

I've hired 3 nannies off of care dot com. First was a bust, but the last two have been awesome. The only reason I had to find a third was because my second one moved. All three times I've looked through a ton of resumes (20-50) and interviewed 4-6. I interviewed in my home and did not have any problem.

My advice for interviews is to make your expectations clear and don't over promise. Better to only promise a few days of vacation or start the pay off lower and give a raise then to get in over your head. If you expect her to do housework, laundry, etc. let her know in detail. When interviewing, I was always able to cross off at least 1 applicant each time by the way they reacted to the idea of me suggesting they help with laundry. If they seem annoyed or like you are asking a lot of them in the interview, then you know that it is only going to get worse after they have the job. Also, let them know what your expectations are in terms of discipline, emergencies, being late, etc. I find it is good to ask them how they handle situations and their belief system with respect to child rearing--especially w/ respect to discipline--because at the end of the day their value system/belief system will bleed over into how they handle your child even no matter what...it is human nature. Also, let them know what your priorities are. My first nanny, was an amazing housekeeper. My house was immaculate. But I think in order to do that she was leaving my son in his crib or RNP or PNP for long periods of time. My priority wasn't my house -- it was my son -- and I wanted my nanny at all times to be making him the priority.

With respect to taxes - As an employer, you are supposed to take taxes out of their paycheck and not just let them handle it unless they are an independent contractor. But nannies really don't fit into the I/C definition. Or you could pay them cash under the table--but if you get caught you have to pay fines, etc. There are services you can use for taxes, too. We use one for DH's business. Or you can just figure out the percentages and take them out. The main thing that sucks is that you end up paying more (the employer is responsible for the employers portion of taxes) and your employee sees less. Also, in my state, we have unemployment taxes, too. In my state, it basically means that the employer pays about 7-10 percent more and the employee sees about 10-25 or more percent less (depending on tax bracket, state income taxes, etc.) as there take home. By way of example, if a nanny makes about $10 an hour, employer will pay roughly about $11 an hour and she only takes home about $8-9 an hour. These are very rough estimates as there are a ton of different variables, but you get the idea. At the same time, it is the law even though it sucks...especially if you are already stretching to afford a nanny and especially considering most nannies don't make a lot anyway so that extra money may mean a lot to them.

Thanks for the info! The more I consider the tax issue and how much it may cost extra, the more sense it might make to take them to a daycare. Although, my lack of sanity from getting 3 kids ready in the morning and dropped off to daycare may not be worth the cost savings either, lol.

itsmevkb · June 2013

I've used them but only to hire babysitters, not a nanny. We had maybe four people come over to our home to meet the kids and out of those four there were two we really liked and felt comfortable with. As far as taxes go, I know that care dot com will handle that for if you want. Not sure how much they charge for that service though. I'd be willing to pay a little to have that all taken care of and I would definitely be willing to pay a little more than daycare if it saved me having to get the kids out the door every morning and then back home. I've got four of varying ages and it's hard so I can guess how hard three the same age would be.

MrsNukem · June 2013

I started out looking at care.com but was not impressed with some of the applicants. Yes I am judgey also. I had a lot of twenty year old college students apply and I just did not think they were mature enough to look after my twins. The ones I did like were charging 20 dollars and up an hour and that was for a singleton! I interviewed one at a Cafe Express near my house in regards to interviews at a coffee shop, etc. She wanted cash only and DH was not ok with that since we want our tax credit for child care. A second lady was a no show for an interview which was annoying since it's an effort for DH and I to pack up the twins for any outing. I had 30 applicants and only liked about four enough to interview. Finding the time to interview them was stressful.

We finally went with a local agency and did our nanny interviews yesterday. We told them our requirements and they selected five nannies for us to interview at their office. We got to interview them all in one trip which was a bonus. The nannies all had background checks already. We selected one we liked that had previous experience with twins. Good thing with the agency is we pay the agency and they take care of payroll and taxes. The nannies are also bonded and insured through the agency. Payrate for the nanny for twins was also a lot cheaper than what some were asking for on care.com for singletons.

Our nanny doesn't start till July so I can't testify to her quality but I felt the process for looking and hiring a nanny through an agency was a lot easier and less stressful than care.com. I'd ask your local board and friends for recommendations also. I found my agency through a friend who also has twins and used them.

Dstevens429 · June 2013

I used S.itter dot com. I have received a lot of emails so far.

IBackBevo · June 2013

LuvWIfootball:
IBackBevo:

I used care dot com.

I totally judged people on their pics. If you don't have the sense to put a good pic of yourself up (i.e. not one where you look like you are posing for playboy or looking like you are some sort of gang banger), why am I going to trust your sense enough to leave my child with you?

I've hired 3 nannies off of care dot com. First was a bust, but the last two have been awesome. The only reason I had to find a third was because my second one moved. All three times I've looked through a ton of resumes (20-50) and interviewed 4-6. I interviewed in my home and did not have any problem.

My advice for interviews is to make your expectations clear and don't over promise. Better to only promise a few days of vacation or start the pay off lower and give a raise then to get in over your head. If you expect her to do housework, laundry, etc. let her know in detail. When interviewing, I was always able to cross off at least 1 applicant each time by the way they reacted to the idea of me suggesting they help with laundry. If they seem annoyed or like you are asking a lot of them in the interview, then you know that it is only going to get worse after they have the job. Also, let them know what your expectations are in terms of discipline, emergencies, being late, etc. I find it is good to ask them how they handle situations and their belief system with respect to child rearing--especially w/ respect to discipline--because at the end of the day their value system/belief system will bleed over into how they handle your child even no matter what...it is human nature. Also, let them know what your priorities are. My first nanny, was an amazing housekeeper. My house was immaculate. But I think in order to do that she was leaving my son in his crib or RNP or PNP for long periods of time. My priority wasn't my house -- it was my son -- and I wanted my nanny at all times to be making him the priority.

With respect to taxes - As an employer, you are supposed to take taxes out of their paycheck and not just let them handle it unless they are an independent contractor. But nannies really don't fit into the I/C definition. Or you could pay them cash under the table--but if you get caught you have to pay fines, etc. There are services you can use for taxes, too. We use one for DH's business. Or you can just figure out the percentages and take them out. The main thing that sucks is that you end up paying more (the employer is responsible for the employers portion of taxes) and your employee sees less. Also, in my state, we have unemployment taxes, too. In my state, it basically means that the employer pays about 7-10 percent more and the employee sees about 10-25 or more percent less (depending on tax bracket, state income taxes, etc.) as there take home. By way of example, if a nanny makes about $10 an hour, employer will pay roughly about $11 an hour and she only takes home about $8-9 an hour. These are very rough estimates as there are a ton of different variables, but you get the idea. At the same time, it is the law even though it sucks...especially if you are already stretching to afford a nanny and especially considering most nannies don't make a lot anyway so that extra money may mean a lot to them.

Thanks for the info! The more I consider the tax issue and how much it may cost extra, the more sense it might make to take them to a daycare. Although, my lack of sanity from getting 3 kids ready in the morning and dropped off to daycare may not be worth the cost savings either, lol.

Yeah, I think that is why a lot of people pay under the table.

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