Government Grants for All

Top Tips For Hiring a Freelance Grant Writer for Your Organization

For most nonprofit agencies, grants are a must. Without them, these agencies will not be able to pay their employees or pay for the programs they create. As a result, they would have to close their doors and no longer help those in need. In order to guarantee their doors stay open, many choose to hire a freelance grant writer.

There are numerous reasons to hire a freelance grant writer, with the most important reason being experience. A freelance grant writer has written dozens, perhaps hundreds, of proposals. As such, this type of writer has a pretty solid idea of what it takes to receive a grant. Writing these types of proposals can be tricky and, if you don’t know the ins and outs of it, you can easily make a simple mistake that will put your business out of the running.

For the most part, grant applications are quite picky. If you fail to follow the directions precisely, your application will be thrown out. Even writing the application in the wrong font can be enough to ruin your chances. Since a freelance grant writer has written so many of these, he or she knows how to write them in the manner that will improve your chances.

Hiring a freelance grant writer is also beneficial because it creates a fresh perspective. When you work closely with your business, it can become difficult to recognize all of the positive things you do that can be used in the application in order to improve your chances of winning the grant. For example, you may have a number of community partnerships that you have had for years. As a result, you might not think to present this information in your proposal. A grant writer has a fresh set of eyes that can look over your operation in order to pull out the best aspects of your business and present them in the most favorable light.

When selecting a freelance grant writer, you want to find a person with a proven record for other organizations. So, you should ask the writer to list the grants he or she has successfully won and for what organizations. Then, contact some of these organizations to ask them what it was like to work with the writer.

In addition to finding a freelance writer that has successfully won grants in the past, it is also beneficial to find one that has written proposals for other organizations such as yours. If you are looking for a grant to start a new business, for example, this type of style of writing might differ somewhat than a grant to pay the operating costs of a shelter for the homeless. The more experience the writer has that are relevant to your organization, the more likely he or she will be to ask the right questions and to write a proposal that is likely to be a success.

There are companies that specialize in grant writing. But, to help keep your costs down, you might want to consider posting an ad for a freelance grant writer. Rather than working with a company, you can work directly with the writer. You can find a freelance grant writer by posting an ad on a freelance site or, you can post your project on a bid board.

About the Author

Find a freelance grant writer at RentAGhostWriter.Com, where you can outsource projects to ghostwriters. All sorts of writing jobs are accepted including: business writing, proposal writing, academic writing, creative writing and more. Check us out now: http://www.rentaghostwriter.com

Article Source: Content for Reprint

Full text business | financing | grants articles – Content for Reprint

Tags: Freelance, Grant, Hiring, Organization, Tips, Writer

Returning to Work: What New Moms Need to Know about Hiring a Nanny

New moms who work outside of the home will likely find that during their pregnancy and maternity leave, they will need to begin looking into hiring a nanny for their return to the job. Nannies have several advantages over daycare, but the idea of hiring a nanny may also bring with it a great deal of anxiety and concern for the new mother. However, hiring a nanny does not need to be traumatic, and in fact can mean expanding one’s family to include a loving caregiver for a new baby.

Common Fears

One of the most common fears a new mother is likely to have about nannies is that this person they have brought into their home will run away with the baby or will harm the baby in some way. This is simply not the case. While there have been notable high-profile cases in years past of problematic caregivers, the truth is that the overwhelming majority of nannies are kind, caring people who will treat their charges as if they were their own children.

Another fear that new mothers may have about nannies is that their children will grow more attached to the nanny than to the mother herself. While it is true that a nanny for the child of a mother who works full time may spend a great deal of time with the child, she will never take the place of the mother. In fact, it is a sign of a good nanny if the children come to care for her greatly – the alternative, a nanny that the children do not like at all, is hardly ideal.

The Hiring Process – Where to Begin

The best way to abate any fears such as these is to make sure that all nannies are carefully screened throughout the hiring process. Whether the new mom is going through a nanny agency, which will handle the screening for her, or is investigating nannies on her own, this step is critical. When hiring a nanny for a newborn, look for a candidate that has worked with newborns or infants in the past. Nannies with experience with older children may be acceptable candidates, but hiring a nanny with more specific experience with a baby can be helpful. Nannies with newborn experience also are more likely to come prepared with the endless calm and patience that is required to get through many hours with a baby.

Interviewing the Nannies

Once the pool of nannies has been narrowed down to a select few candidates, the parents of the child should interview each nanny multiple times. If possible, the parents should bring the newborn or baby to at least one interview to see how the nanny interacts with him or her. If the mom is still pregnant at the time of the interviews, this will of course not be possible. In such a case, checking references will be even more critical.

Checking Nanny References

Checking references of nannies is a step that many people may be tempted to skip because it can be time consuming. However, by checking a nanny’s references, a new mom may feel more at ease about hiring the candidate. Bear in mind that a nanny’s references will nearly always be other moms, so the new mom can feel comfortable asking questions and feeling out the answers mother to mother.

Before You Make the Final Decision

Finally, before hiring any nanny, you should make sure she has the proper legal documentation as required by Federal I-9 guidelines. You can also request that any nannies you are considering provide documentation of a negative TB test (or take a test if she hasn’t done so already) as well as any other medical tests or immunizations recommended by your family doctor.

Once You Have Hired the Nanny

After the hiring process is complete and a nanny has been selected, the new mom can still take further precautions to protect herself and her child. One of the best things to do, if scheduling allows, is to have the nanny start before the mom goes back to work. Getting to know the nanny in this manner can do wonders for making the new mom feel at ease and can also help ease the transition for the baby.

Once the mom is back at work, she might want to stop by at home unannounced a few times in the first few weeks to see what is really going on. She will almost certainly be greeted by a happy nanny and baby, but she can also catch any problems before they worsen. For a more concerned mother, a nanny cam can be installed in the home (without telling the nanny) to catch any misbehavior.

Above all, it is important for the new mom to try to relax. This can be difficult, but the truth is that a relaxed mom will make both the children and the nanny feel relaxed, which can ensure a pleasant relationship between everyone.

Conclusion

Returning back to work can be difficult for a new mom as she will have to leave her child with someone else for the first time. However, by carefully searching through a pool of nannies to find the best candidate for her family – through interviews, reference checking, and other procedures – the mom can feel comfortable with the person she has chosen to watch her baby. Remember that most nannies are very honest and reputable and that a great nanny can become a loving member of your extended family.

About the Author

Steve Lampert is the president of eNanny Source, an online nanny agency that brings together families and nannies. Lampert previously ran a successful, award-winning nanny agency in a major city for over 10 years, during which time he worked with thousands of families and nanny candidates. Through this experience, he became familiar with the important steps in a nanny search, which he continues to apply to his business today.

Tags: About, Hiring, Know, Moms, Nanny, Need, Returning, Work

Hiring the Right Graphic Designer for Your Small Business

Enlarge Image

Hiring The RIGHT Graphic Designer

Every small business needs it, but not many have it. I am not talking about cash flow, clients or even your product or services to sell. Yes, all of these things are absolutely necessary. But, what I am talking about is something most small business owners overlook. It is the need to hire an expert graphic designer.

In a highly competitive marketplace, hiring an expert graphic designer can mean the difference in whether your product or service stands out and gets noticed or in having it lost in the fanfare generated by your business rivals.

Now, more than ever, hiring an expert to create your marketing and communication materials (also called collateral materials) is one of the most vital ingredients in the success of your small business.

Hiring the right graphic designer—a true expert—is a bit more involved than just randomly choosing someone from the Yellow Pages or hiring your third cousin because he is creative and owns a new computer.

If you are not careful, you may find yourself hiring the wrong person for the wrong reasons, which may cause more harm than good to your small business.

This is a big deal. After all, this person will be creating the look and identity of your small business seen by all of your prospects and customers. It is essential that you don’t just hire anyone.

Here are five things you need to do in hiring the RIGHT graphic designer for your small business.

Number 1: Understand that graphic design is an investment, not an expense

This investment will pay huge dividends for the image of your business and in determining its future success. You need to be willing to invest in hiring a qualified, experienced professional, rather than hiring the cheapest person you can find. The old adage that…you get what you pay for…is genuinely true.

Naturally, your budget is an important issue in choosing a designer. I am not saying you need to fork over thousands upon thousands of dollars to the person you hire. But, if you hire the cheapest you can find and shop on price alone, I promise, you will get exactly what you pay for.

Number 2: Not all graphic designers are created equal

Just because someone says that he/she is a graphic designer doesn’t mean that the person is necessarily worth his/her salt. The key here is to examine that person’s portfolio of work.

Graphic design is more than pretty pictures or cool graphics. It is a visual means of solving complex business problems by communicating the essence of your business message and personality. Therefore, when you are looking at the designer’s portfolio don’t just take a quick look. Dig in and ask many questions about the work.

What was the design problem? How was it solved? What was the concept behind the design solution? Why were the colors chosen? Why was the format chosen? What were the results? Was the client satisfied?

If the designer can’t answer these questions or answers with “I did it this way because it looks cool…” or “I used yellow because it is my favorite color…” move on.

Number 3: Hire a designer with experience

Someone fresh out of design school may be enthusiastic about working for you, but may not be the best investment you can make.

You should hire a designer who has, at the very least, three or more years of real world experience under his/her belt.

The more experience a designer offers, the better he/she will be able to steer you away from potential headaches and pitfalls. An experienced designer can suggest ways to handle your project that you may never have thought of before.

A seasoned designer will also have a good idea of what works and what doesn’t work, such as the best way to format a direct mail piece or which colors and fonts work best in conveying the message and feeling you are trying to communicate.

Experience relates back to the first point I made. Hiring an experienced designer is a better investment of your marketing dollars.

You probably wouldn’t feel comfortable hiring someone with little experience in medicine to perform surgery on you…the same can be said for hiring a designer. Essentially a designer is performing surgery on your business by constructing the look and feel of your design project.

Bottom line: real world experience is priceless.

Number 4: Check references

If the designer you are considering has done a stellar job for previous and/or current clients, that professional should not hesitate in giving you names of people that attest to that fact. No references should be taken as a big red flag.

When contacting references, which you should, ask questions about the overall experience with the designer.

Is the designer a professional? Would you use the designer again? Do you feel you got your money’s worth? Did he/she deliver the project within the timeframe and the budget upon which was originally agreed? Does the finished piece solve your problem? Ask, as many questions as you think will apply to your particular situation.

Number 5: Honestly discuss your budget

Budget is usually the proverbial 800-lb gorilla in the middle of the room. Most everyone has a budget in mind, but not many want to discuss it.

If you have done steps one through four, you will be close to hiring someone that is not a trained sales killer and is not just interested in taking all of your money, so you can be open and honest with them.

Having a candid discussion with the designer about what you can practically afford is vital, because:

First: It lets both of you know, right off the bat, whether you can work together. You won’t waste time wondering…how much is this going to cost me or do I have the money to hire this person?

Second: It will allow for a discussion of what you can expect in exchange for the money you will spend.

Obviously, the key is to hire a designer that can work within your budget.

To do that, you MUST have an honest and open discussion about money. No one wants a last minute surprise about what it will cost to work together.

One last thing…

You should view the graphic designer you hire as your strategic business partner and an invaluable member of your team. Sure, you can hire a pro just once to create only one specific design solution, but hiring a graphic designer with a rich breadth of capabilities and experience that you can tap into repeatedly is a much wiser investment.

As a small business owner, you have a vision, opportunity and direction for your business. The designer’s job is to come along side you and develop the best visual solution to fulfill that vision, opportunity and direction.

It is your brand. It is your image. It is your business message that the designer will be communicating visually. Make sure whomever you hire aligns with these key points discussed.

Hiring the RIGHT graphic designer really is THAT important.

Tags: Business, Designer, Graphic, Hiring, Right, Small

Moving Service – Tips in Hiring the Best

One of the hardest parts of relocation is the transportation of your household possessions. With so many stuff at home, it is possible that you cannot do the move on your own. Although some would just like to rent a moving truck and drive their stuff to their new homes, the rest would prefer hiring a moving company. Doing so just eases up the burden involved in relocating.

The only trouble is, people have a hard time hiring a moving company. This is because not many of them can provide the best services at the right price. Hiring someone to do the lifting and transporting for you will definitely cost you money. This becomes more expensive if you have tons of stuff and if you have to travel further.

But at any rate, it is possible to hire a good moving company. It may not be achievable with a simple guess but it can really happen. With few researches and some investigation on your part, you can land with a mover that can provide quality service at an affordable price.

To make this possible, here are some tips in hiring them:

1. Beginning the search. You probably have an idea of the kind of movers you want to hire but you just don’t know where to begin the search. So here’s the best tip, ask your friends and families for referrals. If you get little information from these people, try opening the yellow pages of the phone book. If not, use the internet for your convenience. Try using various search engines and search for the websites.

2. Once you have several names of companies on your hand already, you can start doing background checks. Investigate more about the company through reading their websites. If they do not have one, you can the BBB or the Better Business Bureau about their performance. Verifying them this way would also assure you that they are legitimately operating. Hence, this eliminates the fact that they are a scam company.

3. After doing a small background check, try to pick out 2 to 3 movers with the best records. After, pay the company a visit and continue your investigation. By this time, you have already filtered the company of your choice. There are three things that you should ask them. First is their charging. Second, check their accreditation and their licenses. And third, ask them how they operate.

4. Do not forget to check how they insure your possessions. Every moving company should have some kind of liability when they transport your stuff. The amount they should insure should meet the standards set by the government. Check with your state rules on how much should be insured.

5. Take note of one thing: It is not mandatory for the customer to pay for the down payment. According to First Motor Safety Carrier Administration, the customer should not pay anything until the service has been rendered. He or she can give a good faith estimate but should never pay a large amount just for the service to commence. If they force you to make payment, it is time to look for another company. It could be scam.

Find more real estate tips when you visit Luxury Property in Arizona.

Tags: Best, Hiring, Moving, Service, Tips

Returning to Work: What New Moms Need to Know about Hiring a Nanny

New moms who work outside of the home will likely find that during their pregnancy and maternity leave, they will need to begin looking into hiring a nanny for their return to the job. Nannies have several advantages over daycare, but the idea of hiring a nanny may also bring with it a great deal of anxiety and concern for the new mother. However, hiring a nanny does not need to be traumatic, and in fact can mean expanding one’s family to include a loving caregiver for a new baby.

Common Fears

One of the most common fears a new mother is likely to have about nannies is that this person they have brought into their home will run away with the baby or will harm the baby in some way. This is simply not the case. While there have been notable high-profile cases in years past of problematic caregivers, the truth is that the overwhelming majority of nannies are kind, caring people who will treat their charges as if they were their own children.

Another fear that new mothers may have about nannies is that their children will grow more attached to the nanny than to the mother herself. While it is true that a nanny for the child of a mother who works full time may spend a great deal of time with the child, she will never take the place of the mother. In fact, it is a sign of a good nanny if the children come to care for her greatly – the alternative, a nanny that the children do not like at all, is hardly ideal.

The Hiring Process – Where to Begin

The best way to abate any fears such as these is to make sure that all nannies are carefully screened throughout the hiring process. Whether the new mom is going through a nanny agency, which will handle the screening for her, or is investigating nannies on her own, this step is critical. When hiring a nanny for a newborn, look for a candidate that has worked with newborns or infants in the past. Nannies with experience with older children may be acceptable candidates, but hiring a nanny with more specific experience with a baby can be helpful. Nannies with newborn experience also are more likely to come prepared with the endless calm and patience that is required to get through many hours with a baby.

Interviewing the Nannies

Once the pool of nannies has been narrowed down to a select few candidates, the parents of the child should interview each nanny multiple times. If possible, the parents should bring the newborn or baby to at least one interview to see how the nanny interacts with him or her. If the mom is still pregnant at the time of the interviews, this will of course not be possible. In such a case, checking references will be even more critical.

Checking Nanny References

Checking references of nannies is a step that many people may be tempted to skip because it can be time consuming. However, by checking a nanny’s references, a new mom may feel more at ease about hiring the candidate. Bear in mind that a nanny’s references will nearly always be other moms, so the new mom can feel comfortable asking questions and feeling out the answers mother to mother.

Before You Make the Final Decision

Finally, before hiring any nanny, you should make sure she has the proper legal documentation as required by Federal I-9 guidelines. You can also request that any nannies you are considering provide documentation of a negative TB test (or take a test if she hasn’t done so already) as well as any other medical tests or immunizations recommended by your family doctor.

Once You Have Hired the Nanny

After the hiring process is complete and a nanny has been selected, the new mom can still take further precautions to protect herself and her child. One of the best things to do, if scheduling allows, is to have the nanny start before the mom goes back to work. Getting to know the nanny in this manner can do wonders for making the new mom feel at ease and can also help ease the transition for the baby.

Once the mom is back at work, she might want to stop by at home unannounced a few times in the first few weeks to see what is really going on. She will almost certainly be greeted by a happy nanny and baby, but she can also catch any problems before they worsen. For a more concerned mother, a nanny cam can be installed in the home (without telling the nanny) to catch any misbehavior.

Above all, it is important for the new mom to try to relax. This can be difficult, but the truth is that a relaxed mom will make both the children and the nanny feel relaxed, which can ensure a pleasant relationship between everyone.

Conclusion

Returning back to work can be difficult for a new mom as she will have to leave her child with someone else for the first time. However, by carefully searching through a pool of nannies to find the best candidate for her family – through interviews, reference checking, and other procedures – the mom can feel comfortable with the person she has chosen to watch her baby. Remember that most nannies are very honest and reputable and that a great nanny can become a loving member of your extended family.

About the Author

Steve Lampert is the president of eNanny Source, an online nanny agency that brings together families and nannies. Lampert previously ran a successful, award-winning nanny agency in a major city for over 10 years, during which time he worked with thousands of families and nanny candidates. Through this experience, he became familiar with the important steps in a nanny search, which he continues to apply to his business today.

Tags: About, Hiring, Know, Moms, Nanny, Need, Returning, Work

Returning to Work: What New Moms Need to Know about Hiring a Nanny

New moms who work outside of the home will likely find that during their pregnancy and maternity leave, they will need to begin looking into hiring a nanny for their return to the job. Nannies have several advantages over daycare, but the idea of hiring a nanny may also bring with it a great deal of anxiety and concern for the new mother. However, hiring a nanny does not need to be traumatic, and in fact can mean expanding one’s family to include a loving caregiver for a new baby.

Common Fears

One of the most common fears a new mother is likely to have about nannies is that this person they have brought into their home will run away with the baby or will harm the baby in some way. This is simply not the case. While there have been notable high-profile cases in years past of problematic caregivers, the truth is that the overwhelming majority of nannies are kind, caring people who will treat their charges as if they were their own children.

Another fear that new mothers may have about nannies is that their children will grow more attached to the nanny than to the mother herself. While it is true that a nanny for the child of a mother who works full time may spend a great deal of time with the child, she will never take the place of the mother. In fact, it is a sign of a good nanny if the children come to care for her greatly – the alternative, a nanny that the children do not like at all, is hardly ideal.

The Hiring Process – Where to Begin

The best way to abate any fears such as these is to make sure that all nannies are carefully screened throughout the hiring process. Whether the new mom is going through a nanny agency, which will handle the screening for her, or is investigating nannies on her own, this step is critical. When hiring a nanny for a newborn, look for a candidate that has worked with newborns or infants in the past. Nannies with experience with older children may be acceptable candidates, but hiring a nanny with more specific experience with a baby can be helpful. Nannies with newborn experience also are more likely to come prepared with the endless calm and patience that is required to get through many hours with a baby.

Interviewing the Nannies

Once the pool of nannies has been narrowed down to a select few candidates, the parents of the child should interview each nanny multiple times. If possible, the parents should bring the newborn or baby to at least one interview to see how the nanny interacts with him or her. If the mom is still pregnant at the time of the interviews, this will of course not be possible. In such a case, checking references will be even more critical.

Checking Nanny References

Checking references of nannies is a step that many people may be tempted to skip because it can be time consuming. However, by checking a nanny’s references, a new mom may feel more at ease about hiring the candidate. Bear in mind that a nanny’s references will nearly always be other moms, so the new mom can feel comfortable asking questions and feeling out the answers mother to mother.

Before You Make the Final Decision

Finally, before hiring any nanny, you should make sure she has the proper legal documentation as required by Federal I-9 guidelines. You can also request that any nannies you are considering provide documentation of a negative TB test (or take a test if she hasn’t done so already) as well as any other medical tests or immunizations recommended by your family doctor.

Once You Have Hired the Nanny

After the hiring process is complete and a nanny has been selected, the new mom can still take further precautions to protect herself and her child. One of the best things to do, if scheduling allows, is to have the nanny start before the mom goes back to work. Getting to know the nanny in this manner can do wonders for making the new mom feel at ease and can also help ease the transition for the baby.

Once the mom is back at work, she might want to stop by at home unannounced a few times in the first few weeks to see what is really going on. She will almost certainly be greeted by a happy nanny and baby, but she can also catch any problems before they worsen. For a more concerned mother, a nanny cam can be installed in the home (without telling the nanny) to catch any misbehavior.

Above all, it is important for the new mom to try to relax. This can be difficult, but the truth is that a relaxed mom will make both the children and the nanny feel relaxed, which can ensure a pleasant relationship between everyone.

Conclusion

Returning back to work can be difficult for a new mom as she will have to leave her child with someone else for the first time. However, by carefully searching through a pool of nannies to find the best candidate for her family – through interviews, reference checking, and other procedures – the mom can feel comfortable with the person she has chosen to watch her baby. Remember that most nannies are very honest and reputable and that a great nanny can become a loving member of your extended family.

About the Author

Steve Lampert is the president of eNanny Source, an online nanny agency that brings together families and nannies. Lampert previously ran a successful, award-winning nanny agency in a major city for over 10 years, during which time he worked with thousands of families and nanny candidates. Through this experience, he became familiar with the important steps in a nanny search, which he continues to apply to his business today.

Tags: About, Hiring, Know, Moms, Nanny, Need, Returning, Work

Hiring a Reputable Credit Repair Business

There are far too many controversies about the credit repair business to ignore it. In fact, the reason that most people who need credit repair help hesitate to avail of these services, is the shady reputation this industry has gathered in the recent past.

At the same time, it would be unfair to say that all those who work in this line are fraudulent. You will also find professionals of high repute ready to intervene on your behalf to repair your credit score and credit report. The question is, how to identify the reputable companies and how to stay safe from the traps the fraudulent credit repair business agents lay for you.

Contrary to common belief, identifying a fraudulent credit repair business is not that difficult. The first sign of danger is when any such company offers to repair your bad credit “quickly.”

Since your credit score is calculated on the basis of your financial history, it’s next to impossible to hurry along the process in your favor. The moment any credit repair business promises you the impossible, you need to back off, because they are definitely fraudulent!

There are other simple telltale signs that will point out a fraudulent company in no time. The fraudulent companies, in most cases, will ask for their entire fees up front.

Federal law demands that the fees charged by any credit agency be charged only after the services have been rendered. No matter how bad your credit report is, you need not pay the complete fees in advance.

A fraudulent credit repair business will not think twice about recommending illegal means to improve bad credit. In fact, they will suggest that you adopt such ways while convincing you that there is nothing wrong in doing so, since they have somebody on the “inside” in the credit bureaus who can cover up for them and you.

Don’t ever fall prey to such false promises! Do not encourage or accept any type of intervention to improve you credit score unless it’s 100% legal. No matter how bad you credit problems, they will become much worse if you’re caught trying to amend the situation illegally.

You are primarily responsible when your credit report is repaired through illegal means; therefore, you stand to be prosecuted for illegal activity when you are caught. In the end, it’s just not worth the trouble!

Another simple way to tell whether or not the credit repair business you chose is genuine, is to ask them to guide you in learning about repairing credit. A legal agency will be more than happy to provide you counseling and “hand holding” in your endeavor to learn more about credit repair.

A genuine agency will work as a facilitator, while a fraudulent company will be resentful and wary about sharing information related to fixing your credit.

Tags: Business, Credit, Hiring, Repair, Reputable

Returning to Work: What New Moms Need to Know about Hiring a Nanny

New moms who work outside of the home will likely find that during their pregnancy and maternity leave, they will need to begin looking into hiring a nanny for their return to the job. Nannies have several advantages over daycare, but the idea of hiring a nanny may also bring with it a great deal of anxiety and concern for the new mother. However, hiring a nanny does not need to be traumatic, and in fact can mean expanding one’s family to include a loving caregiver for a new baby.

Common Fears

One of the most common fears a new mother is likely to have about nannies is that this person they have brought into their home will run away with the baby or will harm the baby in some way. This is simply not the case. While there have been notable high-profile cases in years past of problematic caregivers, the truth is that the overwhelming majority of nannies are kind, caring people who will treat their charges as if they were their own children.

Another fear that new mothers may have about nannies is that their children will grow more attached to the nanny than to the mother herself. While it is true that a nanny for the child of a mother who works full time may spend a great deal of time with the child, she will never take the place of the mother. In fact, it is a sign of a good nanny if the children come to care for her greatly – the alternative, a nanny that the children do not like at all, is hardly ideal.

The Hiring Process – Where to Begin

The best way to abate any fears such as these is to make sure that all nannies are carefully screened throughout the hiring process. Whether the new mom is going through a nanny agency, which will handle the screening for her, or is investigating nannies on her own, this step is critical. When hiring a nanny for a newborn, look for a candidate that has worked with newborns or infants in the past. Nannies with experience with older children may be acceptable candidates, but hiring a nanny with more specific experience with a baby can be helpful. Nannies with newborn experience also are more likely to come prepared with the endless calm and patience that is required to get through many hours with a baby.

Interviewing the Nannies

Once the pool of nannies has been narrowed down to a select few candidates, the parents of the child should interview each nanny multiple times. If possible, the parents should bring the newborn or baby to at least one interview to see how the nanny interacts with him or her. If the mom is still pregnant at the time of the interviews, this will of course not be possible. In such a case, checking references will be even more critical.

Checking Nanny References

Checking references of nannies is a step that many people may be tempted to skip because it can be time consuming. However, by checking a nanny’s references, a new mom may feel more at ease about hiring the candidate. Bear in mind that a nanny’s references will nearly always be other moms, so the new mom can feel comfortable asking questions and feeling out the answers mother to mother.

Before You Make the Final Decision

Finally, before hiring any nanny, you should make sure she has the proper legal documentation as required by Federal I-9 guidelines. You can also request that any nannies you are considering provide documentation of a negative TB test (or take a test if she hasn’t done so already) as well as any other medical tests or immunizations recommended by your family doctor.

Once You Have Hired the Nanny

After the hiring process is complete and a nanny has been selected, the new mom can still take further precautions to protect herself and her child. One of the best things to do, if scheduling allows, is to have the nanny start before the mom goes back to work. Getting to know the nanny in this manner can do wonders for making the new mom feel at ease and can also help ease the transition for the baby.

Once the mom is back at work, she might want to stop by at home unannounced a few times in the first few weeks to see what is really going on. She will almost certainly be greeted by a happy nanny and baby, but she can also catch any problems before they worsen. For a more concerned mother, a nanny cam can be installed in the home (without telling the nanny) to catch any misbehavior.

Above all, it is important for the new mom to try to relax. This can be difficult, but the truth is that a relaxed mom will make both the children and the nanny feel relaxed, which can ensure a pleasant relationship between everyone.

Conclusion

Returning back to work can be difficult for a new mom as she will have to leave her child with someone else for the first time. However, by carefully searching through a pool of nannies to find the best candidate for her family – through interviews, reference checking, and other procedures – the mom can feel comfortable with the person she has chosen to watch her baby. Remember that most nannies are very honest and reputable and that a great nanny can become a loving member of your extended family.

About the Author

Steve Lampert is the president of eNanny Source, an online nanny agency that brings together families and nannies. Lampert previously ran a successful, award-winning nanny agency in a major city for over 10 years, during which time he worked with thousands of families and nanny candidates. Through this experience, he became familiar with the important steps in a nanny search, which he continues to apply to his business today.

Tags: About, Hiring, Know, Moms, Nanny, Need, Returning, Work

Hiring Good Employees – Put Effort into Selection

I. Find the right people

This is one of the most important things that a business owner or manager can do. The smaller the business the more important it is. It has been said that most of us choose our spouse with great care, and rear our children with compassionate attention. Yet we tend to select the people who will join our company on the basis of an interview or two, and once they have joined, they often find they must fend for themselves. Bad employees not only affect an employer by driving down sales, costing a company expense by negligence or simple lack of motivation, but they affect the customer as well.

II.Should the Customer come first?

If you want quality employees, and expect to be hiring someone who is as dedicated to the business as the owner or manager, without any consideration being given to the employee’s personal needs, thoughts and aspirations, think again! When a business puts its employees first, many things happen. The employee is happy and the service that the employee provides the customer, whether an internal or external customer, is far superior, and the business will succeed. Treat employees as people, not as robots. Treat them with respect, and their ideas, thoughts and suggestions with respect.

III. Work environment

An open friendly atmosphere, where employees are able to contribute and offer ideas and suggestions, without ridicule or negative response, sparks creativity and empowers them to contribute more to the business. If everyone feels as though they are part of the leadership process and not just an anonymous face they will have a satisfying feeling that can go a long way. Have they been made part of creating a Vision for the business, or in contributing to the Strategic Business Plan? It makes them feel more as though the business respects them and will put them first. If that consideration is instilled in an employee’s mind, they will put in the effort to show appreciation.

IV. Hiring people who will fit in

Experience and certificates are ways of measuring an applicant’s qualifications and potential, but are they good people? A person can be the most qualified, educated and experienced potential employee but if they don’t have a nice personality they will not do much for your business. And your other employees will not enjoy working with them either, bringing down morale and production drastically. A nice person can learn anything; they are pleasant to be around and are easy to teach. They learn quickly, so if they do not have the exact skill set you are looking for, consider the possibility of some training.

V. How do you find the right people?

Consider the unconventional when interviewing a potential employee. The more often you can set a scenario that a potential employee will not expect the better. It will give you a chance to see what the person is really capable of, as a person. During the interview process were they down to earth or were they focused solely on success, and more success? The success driven person may not be the best choice. Why should the hiring interview be conducted in a formal, stuffy atmosphere? Let them meet other staff, maybe on a social occasion, or as part of a competitive sporting situation, or part of a team. Are they the sort of person who is bent on winning at all costs and become angry, are they the type who talks only of themselves and boasts of things they have done? Do they converse at all? What is their attitude to honesty, safety, reliability, work ethics, workplace aggression, etc.? Apart from the standard questions on hours or shifts they prefer to work, or not work, find out their response to questions such as:

What’s the hardest job you’ve had and how long were you there? Have you ever been fired or asked to resign? Explain. Tell me about the times you have been given extra responsibilities, a promotion, an increase in pay or salary.

Most business owners or managers do their hiring on knowledge and skill, but terminate on personality and attitude. Also very few managers have had interview skills training. Selecting the right person is not a gut feel process – approach it that way and you and your customers will pay the price.

Tags: Effort, Employees, Good, Hiring, Into, Selection