Should My Family Initiate a Search with Multiple Nanny Agencies?
While some families may think that working with multiple nanny agencies increases their chances of finding the very best caregiver, it can actually lead to a variety of unique challenges and complications. We fully understand the desire to “cast a wide net” in your search, and on the surface, it might seem like hiring several agencies will allow you to be more successful.
However, we’re here to highlight why this approach can ultimately prove to be counterproductive for your family, for the agencies, and for the nannies themselves:
Communication difficulties:
Having a single point of contact simplifies communication. Our agency process hinges upon timely, consistent, thoughtful feedback and communication. We truly can’t do this work successfully without it. Sooo much happens behind the scenes to curate a seamless process and to keep everyone on track, and when families are working with multiple agencies, timely communication can become quite difficult (understandably so!). It’s hard to keep track of three different email threads and ensure you’re responding quickly and thoughtfully, especially when you also are juggling work and kids and LIFE. Plus, different agencies have different processes and recruiting practices, which can result in confusion and difficulty adhering to timelines and expectations.
LOSING OUT ON STRONG CANDIDATES:
If communication is slow, patchy, or sparse, we risk losing out on the best candidates. It’s as simple as that. Stellar career candidates do not last in this market, and if we are waiting several days to receive feedback or to decide on next moves, there’s a good chance we’ll lose our top contender(s) to other opportunities.
Duplicate Efforts:
Working with multiple agencies results in duplicate efforts as each agency searches for suitable candidates. This redundancy can waste the family's time and resources as the same information is provided to different agencies, and it also will end up wasting at least one agency’s time, energy, and resources. Additionally, families may receive the same nanny candidate from different agencies, leading to unnecessary repetition in the selection process.
unnecessary overwhelm:
A great referral agency is supposed to take the legwork and extensive time commitment out of the process for you by providing you with a small number of highly-qualified candidates who could be a wonderful fit for your family and for your position. When you elicit the help of multiple agencies, suddenly you have 8-10+ candidates to interview and consider, instead of 2-3. In a nanny search, “the more, the merrier” doesn’t really apply. All in all, it can lead to a lot of confusion, difficulty keeping track of which candidates have been sent from where, etc.
Compromised Reputation:
Overlapping engagements with several agencies can potentially be a yellow (or even red) flag to nanny candidates. Top-tier nannies may be hesitant to work with families when they notice they’ve been collaborating with multiple agencies as it may signal a lack of commitment or prove to be indicative of indecision on the part of the family.
Lack of Trust:
Just as this is a process that hinges upon strong communication, this is also a process that needs to be rooted in mutual trust. We do our best work when we’re entrusted with it, especially with work as personal and relationship-focused as this. Building a relationship with one agency fosters loyalty and trust. By working exclusively with one agency, families can develop a deeper understanding of the agency's processes and offerings, leading to a more streamlined and efficient experience.
While the idea of casting a wider net in your search may seem appealing, the potential drawbacks in terms of efficiency, communication, and service quality are important considerations for families seeking childcare solutions. By choosing to work with just one agency, families can get the most out of their experience and increase the likelihood of finding the right nanny for their needs.
To streamline the nanny search process and ensure a smoother recruitment experience, we always advise our families to choose one reputable agency that they connect with and trust—one that aligns with their needs and values. This might involve interviewing a number of agencies before deciding on “the one.” And that’s OKAY!
At Nanny Harmony, we too are selective in our vetting process for families and in limiting the number of families we work with at one time. We understand how important it is to be fully PRESENT in these searches—available for frequent communication, thoughtful in our relationship-building with your family, in tune with your family’s goals and priorities, having the space to touch base for feedback and course correct where needed.
For us, this is about quality over quantity; that is at the heart of our work and our ethos. We can only truly optimize the search experience when our families are also present in the search process, trusting us to guide them on this important journey.
