I am trying to apply for these types of jobs again: nanny or housekeeper. This time with more reputable agencies. Does anyone have any tips?
Should I tell the family that I have Asperger's?
I am trying to apply for these types of jobs again: nanny or housekeeper. This time with more reputable agencies. Does anyone have any tips?
Should I tell the family that I have Asperger's?
I don't know about the disclosing people can be odd & I think where you live can have a different response.
How would you feel about working for a family who have an AS / autistic child?
Hum... if something is going to be bad (misunderstandings and such) I would tell early, if all goes well I would tell later on (to get the picture straight).
I am also worried about hidden cameras. I don't really care if people have them but I would want to know if they were going to have them or not. I would not goof off -- but really could I sit and read a book sometimes and not be frantically cleaning all day? I never have people in or talk on the phone too much or watch television when babysitting. I would just be worried about them having a camera in a bathroom or room where I got changed.
I would not mind working with a kid who had asperger's. More depends on the personalities.
I am also worried about hidden cameras. I don't really care if people have them but I would want to know if they were going to have them or not. I would not goof off -- but really could I sit and read a book sometimes and not be frantically cleaning all day? I never have people in or talk on the phone too much or watch television when babysitting. I would just be worried about them having a camera in a bathroom or room where I got changed.
If you are doing nothing wrong, cameras shouldn't be a problem ,but personal privacy would be a concern & unfortunately parents these days do have the technology to use cameras to protect their children. I would think that to record a person dressing or in the bathroom would be a crime, but I'm not certain.
I would think that a reputable agency would understand & support this concern.
I would not mind working with a kid who had asperger's. More depends on the personalities.
I was thinking more on the lines of a parent of an AS child, would ( I hope ) be more amenable to having an AS person caring for the child.
I don't know much about nannying, but I would have thought that a caring parent would want to interview the carer & in the same way, the carer sees the parents & child in the home setting.
forget that job. I got an email back from the agency saying that my resume does not match their requirements. So I suppose people are only interesting in hiring immigrant women with poor English skills and a 3 months course on childcare with no experience (or whatever they can make up because how are people going to check their references in a foreign country).
forget that job. I got an email back from the agency saying that my resume does not match their requirements. So I suppose people are only interesting in hiring immigrant women with poor English skills and a 3 months course on childcare with no experience (or whatever they can make up because how are people going to check their references in a foreign country).
I'm very sorry.
No better agencies where you live?
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The parents deserve what they get, unfortunately the children don't
no. I don't want to work for a weird family either.
The last agency I applied to and got an interview. She told me that the job was 30-40 hours per week. When I met the family, they told me that it was 15 hrs per week and I was supposed to drive their kids everywhere, clean, do laundry, shop and cook. The mother was saying "come in and put in a load of laundry, pick up the kids, come back for 20 minutes, wash the floor, drive the kids to lessons etc." They had me come at night and I had no car... they didn't even offer to drive me home (5 minutes) or to the bus stop. The next interview, I took my husband so he could get all this straight plus know that I was really trying to get a job. I just ended up saying no because I had a temp job by then anyway. I couldn't stand the mother and thought she was mean to her kids. The agency never bothered to check my references or for a police record and they charge families over $500 for a placement.
Maybe I should just apply to all the nanny agencies in town. It makes me really angry that I can't find a job. I would like babysitting and cleaning more than most jobs. I know I could do it. I can't understand that I have no previous experience as being a problem.
no. I don't want to work for a weird family either.
The last agency I applied to and got an interview. She told me that the job was 30-40 hours per week. When I met the family, they told me that it was 15 hrs per week and I was supposed to drive their kids everywhere, clean, do laundry, shop and cook. The mother was saying "come in and put in a load of laundry, pick up the kids, come back for 20 minutes, wash the floor, drive the kids to lessons etc." They had me come at night and I had no car... they didn't even offer to drive me home (5 minutes) or to the bus stop. The next interview, I took my husband so he could get all this straight plus know that I was really trying to get a job. I just ended up saying no because I had a temp job by then anyway. I couldn't stand the mother and thought she was mean to her kids. The agency never bothered to check my references or for a police record and they charge families over $500 for a placement.
Maybe I should just apply to all the nanny agencies in town. It makes me really angry that I can't find a job. I would like babysitting and cleaning more than most jobs. I know I could do it. I can't understand that I have no previous experience as being a problem.
I really dislike this sort of thing it is nothing short of slavery.
I've had similar experiences with nursing agencies re the not checking references, over charging clients & paying the least they could to the slave !
The nanny agencies might be better, I hope.
If we were looking for a nanny I would most definitely like to have an Aspie. There have been so many threads about employment and a part of me just doesn't get it. It seems that there are some profound benefits to hiring an aspie --- there should actually be a clearinghouse website like the monster board "Hire an Aspy." C'mon --- meticulous, honest, focused, no politics. Whatev.
When I was suddenly on my own, I needed someone to look after my son to enable me to make a living.
The young woman, who looked after him, was known to me, she wasn't the cleverest person, but what she had in abundance was love, & a willingness to care, she wasn't AS, but if she had I would have been more than pleased.
Kindness, love , reliability & she didn't mind me working stupid hours, I paid her accordingly.
Years later, she still cares for him ( not physically) & always asks after him.
M -
Aren't there childcare positions posted separately in paper as well where you are? We have them here in US. No agency required. How about homecare agencies where you serve as a companion (not for medical but other purposes) to an elderly person(s)? We have those here as well. You might even look into working as a school aide or "therapist" for autistic children as assigned through an MH-MR agency.
Mom
I know one website where I can put up my own nanny ad and people did call me before from it. I put asperger's too but no one asked about it. It is just because that site charges $50 to the family and does not check references or police. The family can do that themselves. Other agencies charge $500 to $1500 to the family for placing a nanny. The agency does not work for the nanny; they work for the family. (which is pathetic considering that one agency never bothered to check my references before sending me out on interviews). I just need to know what types of questions that I should ask people or what answers I need to give.
I have done elder care and I hate it. The people usually are demented and wear diapers. They want to watch shows like Jerry Springer all day in a dark and musty room. I would prefer someone who is sharp mentally and just needs a driver or someone to cook, do laundry. I tried that once and the woman was somewhat bossy but had me going to the store to buy her ice cream and candles and all things she was not allowed to have. (I just don't have good judgement sometimes) Usually these people will misplace items and claim that you stole them too.
People insist that I don't have experience or training (which really is not much when people do have it) for the better jobs that hire from agencies. I will even work for less than the going rate for an easy job (not slavery cleaning all day).
Ok, so kids it is. Relative to what a family would want to know.... did you fill out a questionaire for the Nanny agency? If so, same information. Relative to what you need to know, let me see what I can find... maybe something to PM you. You may even find a book on hiring a nanny/babysitter at your local library. Lord knows they have "how to" books on everything out there these days.
And don't undercut yourself on pay, especially with an autistic or AS child, you may actually be far better qualified than a neurotypical person because you see things and think in a way they don't. You might make a great school aide for an Aspie or a special ed classroom for instance. Check with your local District. I think the girl who worked with Hrick early on was paid about $14. an hour and they were very grateful to have her. No special education needed beyond high school degree.
Mom