Employers
There are approximately 970,800 child care workers employed in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Approximately 23 percent are self-employed. Mid- to upper-income parents who seek in-home child care for their children usually employ nannies. These opportunities are generally available across the country in large cities and affluent suburbs. Most nannies are placed in homes by placement agencies, by employment agencies, or through government authorized programs.
Starting Out
Most schools that train nannies offer placement services. In addition, it is possible to register with an employment agency that places child care workers. Many agencies specialize in placing nannies. Some agencies conduct recruitment drives or fairs to find applicants. Online agencies and newspaper classified ads also list job openings for nannies.
Prospective nannies should carefully screen potential employers. Applicants should ask for references from previous nannies, particularly if a family has had many prior nannies, and talk with one or more of them, if possible. There are many horror stories in nanny circles about past employers, and the prospective worker should not assume that every employer is exactly as he or she appears to be at first. Nannies also need to make sure that the specific duties and terms of the job are explicitly specified in a contract. Most agencies will supply sample contracts.