Let’s talk about
Professional Standards
Our Nanny Placement clients entrust us with the important task of finding the highest quality nanny candidates from Lansing all the way to the Lakeshore. So our extensive application and screening process helps families and nannies find the perfect match.
Nannies that meet our professional standards are invited to begin the application process by submitting a brief preliminary online application. Nannies must meet our professional standards to be considered for a position, and we are not able to place every nanny that applies.
- Must be at least 21 years old, must speak English, and must be legal to work in the United States.
- Must have a minimum of 3 years of professional childcare experience. We consider “professional childcare experience” to be any part-time or full-time childcare position that a candidate has from age 18 forward. This is often nanny experience or daycare experience, but also includes teaching, coaching, and other positions where a commitment is made to the same children on a long-term basis. Babysitting experience does not count, but families you’ve babysat for can make excellent references, so keep that in mind!
- Must have at least three recent childcare references. These must be three people unrelated to the nanny that have worked with the nanny directly to observe their past work with children, whether they be previous nanny or babysitting families, coworkers at daycare or school, or anyone else who observed them with children on a regular basis.
- Must have their own safe and reliable transportation, a valid drivers license, auto insurance, a clean driving record, and must be willing to drive their vehicle to transport children as required by her job.
- Must have current Adult, Infant and Toddler CPR/First aid certification or agree to complete a class within 90 days of start-date if hired.
- Must be able to pass a thorough criminal background check and drug test.
- Must have a high school diploma. Preference is given to applicants with a degree in education, child development, or family studies.
Application Process
Our extensive application and screening process gives professional nannies the spotlight! Nannies that meet our Professional Standards are invited to begin the application process by submitting a brief online application. Nannies must meet our Professional Standards to be considered for a position, and we are not able to consider every nanny that applies.
Complete the Brief Introductory Application
You can apply for a specific position we have posted, or just tell us the type of job you’re looking for and a bit about your childcare experience. You will be asked to submit your childcare resume in .doc or .pdf format, and you can attach any letters of reference you have and an optional letter of interest. The letter of interest will be shared with clients, so be sure to highlight your strengths!
01
Complete the online Nanny Placement Questionnaire
If we think you meet our professional standards based on the information you provide on your preliminary application, we will send you a link to login to your online Nanny Profile to complete our Nanny Placement Questionnaire. This web-based form will ask more detailed information about your work history, qualifications, and ideal nanny position, as well as a number of scenario-based questions that will allow your strengths and colorful experience to shine. You will need to complete the questionnaire before you can be invited to interview, and we recommend allowing yourself at least an hour and a half to complete it in order to give us the thoughtful and thorough answers we are looking for.
02
Schedule an Interview
After we review your completed Nanny Placement Questionnaire, we will contact you to schedule a live face-to-face interview. Interviews are conducted via Zoom, and daytime, evening, and weekend interview times are available. Prepare to spend at least 60 minutes with us at the interview, talking over your experience, qualifications, the nanny position(s) you applied for, and what happens next as you prepare to interview with our clients.
03
We contact your references
After your interview, we will be verifying past employment and contacting the childcare references you provided, so be sure your references are prepared to hear from us! If you have any letters of reference from past employers, teachers, coaches, or babysitting clients, you can provide those with your preliminary online application or upload them in your Nanny Profile in the Resources section under “Letters of Recommendation.”
04
Meet our parent clients
Nannies that best meet the qualifications of an available position are invited to interview with our parent clients! The first interview with the family will be via Zoom, hosted by us. You are able to highlight your strengths, talk about your experiences, and ask questions to make sure that the family and the job expectations are a good fit for YOUR wants and needs. If the Zoom interview goes well, the family will invite you over for a paid Work Interview so you have an opportunity to meet them in person and get a feel for your work environment, and so the family has a chance to see you in action with their children!
Whether you go on one interview or a dozen before you find your perfect fit, we will be advocating for you every step of the way!
05
Featured Job Postings
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply to be a nanny through the Michigan Nanny Solutions?
Our extensive application and screening process gives professional nannies the spotlight! Nannies that meet our Professional Standards are invited to begin the application process by submitting a brief online application and sharing your childcare-specific resume with us. Nannies must meet our Professional Standards to be considered for a position, and we are not able to consider every nanny that applies.
What is a childcare resume?
All job-searching nannies should create a childcare resume that is specific to this industry. A childcare-specific resume will focus on a candidate’s professional work history working with children, including past childcare work positions held from age 18 forward, applicable trainings and certifications, volunteer work with children, and childcare-related skill sets.
The childcare resume is one of the very first requirements an applicant must fulfill in order to become a candidate within our Nanny Placement Service. We look for specific experience, education, and skills to qualify nannies to be represented by our agency, and a detailed childcare resume will tell us much of what we need to know about an applicant right away!
Don’t have a childcare-specific resume yet? Read more about Creating a Childcare Resume.
What kind of childcare references are you looking for?
Before we present nanny candidates to our clients, we contact at least three recent childcare references. These must be three people unrelated to you that have worked with you directly in a professional work environment or long-term volunteer placement. These should be people who have observed your ongoing interactions with the children in your care, who can both validate your past employment and talk to us more about your personal and professional character and their past experiences working with you. These references are often previous nanny or babysitting families, employers or coworkers at daycare or school, or anyone else who observed you working with children on a regular basis.
What does Michigan Nanny Solutions consider to be professional childcare experience?
We define Professional Childcare Experience as any paid part-time or full-time childcare position that a candidate has from age 18 forward. This is often nanny experience or daycare experience, but also includes teaching, coaching, and other positions where the person works as an employee and a commitment is made to the same children on a long-term basis. Babysitting experience and volunteering with children does not count, but families you’ve babysat for and volunteer positions can make excellent references!
If you are new to the childcare industry, we encourage you to build up your resume with daycare positions and/or nanny positions. Keep in mind that the longer a position is held, the better it looks for future families who are hoping to hire a person to stay with their family for 5+ years! You can find nanny positions on many online venues or through word of mouth, but remember–even an entry-level nanny must be paid legally, so be wary of families offering lower-than-average pay (nannies with fewer than two years of experience should be making no less than $15-16 per hour) and never accept a cash-only position or a position without paid time off and benefits. You’re worth a fair and legal wage!
Where do I find the open positions?
We list all of our currently available positions on our job postings page. Don’t see a position that you’re interested in? You can still apply today to get immediate consideration for any future positions we have available! Currently-registered nannies get notified first of all new positions, and are our priority when choosing nannies to introduce to families.
What kind of qualifications does Michigan Nanny Solutions require from nannies?
Our extensive application and screening process gives professional nannies the spotlight! Nannies that meet our professional standards are invited to begin the application process by submitting a brief preliminary online application. Nannies must meet our professional standards to be considered for a position, and we are not able to place every nanny that applies.
Our Professional Standards for Nannies are as follows:
- Must be at least 21 years old, must speak English, and must be legal to work in the United States.
- Must have a minimum of 3 years of professional childcare experience. We consider “professional childcare experience” to be any part-time or full-time childcare position that a candidate has from age 18 forward.
- Must have at least three recent childcare references. These must be three people unrelated to the nanny that have worked with the nanny directly to observe their past work with children, whether they be previous nanny or babysitting families, coworkers at daycare or school, or anyone else who observed them with children on a regular basis.
- Must have their own safe and reliable transportation, a valid driver’s license, auto insurance, a clean driving record, and must be willing to drive their vehicle to transport children as required by their job.
- Must have current Adult, Infant and Toddler CPR/First aid certification or agree to complete a class within 90 days of start-date if hired.
- Must be able to pass a thorough criminal background check and drug test.
- Must have a high school diploma. Preference is given to applicants with a degree in education, child development, or family studies.
How are the rates set for the open nanny positions?
Nannies placed by Michigan Nanny Solutions make an average of $20-25 per hour for up to 40 hours in a week, and are paid time-and-a-half for all overtime hours beyond 40.
The final hourly rate for each position will depend in part on the hours needed (part-time generally pays $1-2 more per hour), the job description and ages of the child(ren), the location of the family, and on the nanny’s experience and education. Other household positions, such as Private Educators, Household Managers, Night Nannies, and Newborn Care Specialists, will require a higher hourly rate.
We help families determine the appropriate pay range and total compensation package for each position, and we help negotiate with their chosen nanny candidate as needed.
I prefer to be paid under the table; is that an option?
Being paid cash under the table or being paid via a 1099 are both illegal and may open the families you work with up to tax fraud or felony tax evasion. Nannies are, by federal law, non-exempt hourly employees, which means you must be paid via W-2/W-4 with taxes and fees withheld. You can learn more about this federal law here: IRS Publication 926 (2022), Household Employer’s Tax Guide
We require that all families that we work with pay their nanny legally, and we recommend that they hire a payroll service that will pay you biweekly via direct deposit with taxes and fees withheld and paid quarterly. While there are many great household-specific payroll companies, we refer all our clients to our Premier Payroll Partner, GTM Payroll, Inc. Contact them today to learn more about fair and legal pay by visiting https://gtm.com/household/michigan-nanny-solutions/
What benefits can I expect when placed through Michigan Nanny Solutions?
These are the required minimum benefits that families must offer their nanny if represented by our agency.
- Guaranteed Pay: Families must guarantee their nanny’s pay 52 weeks per year in exchange for your guaranteeing the family your availability and loyalty. For example, if you are hired for 40 hours per week, you will be paid 40 hours per week, even if the family needs you for fewer hours. If the family is traveling and gives you a week off, or even just Thursday and Friday off, you will still be paid all for the hours you would normally work on these days. In return, you must guarantee the family your availability for the days and times they are scheduled to work. You MUST make the family your top priority during those times.
- Paid Time Off: PTO hours are used when you choose to take a day or several days off for your own needs. This covers vacation days, personal days, jury duty, bereavement, etc. Nannies will start with two weeks of PTO–if their schedule is 5 days/40 hours, their PTO will be equal to 10 days/50 hours. Generally, families will need to find alternate coverage when you use PTO hours.
- Paid Sick Days: Nannies will start with one week of Sick Days–if their schedule is 5 days/40 hours, their Sick Days will be equal to 5 days/40 hours. Nannies are generally expected to work regardless of their own minor illness or injury (and regardless of any illness in the family), but sometimes, especially with COVID as a constant risk, major illnesses and injuries may occur, and nannies will need to use their Sick Days to quarantine, rest, and recover.
- Paid holidays: If you are scheduled to work on a holiday and the family does not need you, you will be paid your normal hours that day. These paid holidays are generally Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Years Day. Some families also offer Good Friday, Day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, New Years Eve, or other holidays they know nanny will not be needed. Any other days a nanny is scheduled to work and is not needed are also covered by Guaranteed Pay (see above)
- Federal Mileage Reimbursement: Mileage for all miles driven with the family’s children in your personal vehicle will be reimbursed at the current 2022 IRS Mileage Reimbursement rate of $0.585 per mile, in accordance with the current federal mileage reimbursement amount (changing each January 1st). It is your responsibility to track your mileage—using whatever means you prefer—and to report all miles driven with children in the car to your employers once per month. Federal Mileage Reimbursement is NON-taxable, so you can be reimbursed using cash, electronic transfer, or a personal check. It does not go through payroll. It is also your responsibility to keep your vehicle maintained and clean, and you must get and maintain a business rider on your car insurance as per Michigan law. The mileage reimbursement is intended to help you cover these costs.
- CPR/First Aid: Family pays for CPR/First Aid certification and/or renewal when it comes due. Nannies must stay up to date with this life-saving information. If your certification has expired, you will have 90 days to renew it upon receiving a job offer. However, it does reflect better during the interview process (and helps you be competitive!) if you are currently certified while job searching.
- Vaccinations: Family pays for any vaccines they require (most commonly flu shot and TDaP) if they are not covered under nanny’s insurance.
Does the Michigan Nanny Solutions take any money from me at any time during the placement process?
Nannies NEVER pay Michigan Nanny Solutions for any aspect of the placement process, nor do we ever take funds from the nanny’s paycheck going forward. The families who hire us pay a Nanny Placement Fee that covers 100% of the costs to search, screen, interview, background check, and place the nannies we work with.
At times, we offer our community of nannies the opportunity to participate in professional development trainings, courses, classes, and other childcare-related events, and these optional opportunities may come with a cost for registration or participation. We recommend that families cover these costs for their nanny, especially if they are opportunities they want their nanny to participate in! You may choose to invest in your own future by paying for professional development yourself, but these would be the only potential future costs that you as a nanny would pay to our agency.
Who is my employer—the family I work for or the Michigan Nanny Solutions?
Your legal employer is the family you work for, not Michigan Nanny Solutions. Once you are hired, the family will work with a payroll company to pay you directly every two weeks. Families are legally considered Household Employers, and will establish themselves as such with the IRS to make sure they are legally compliant with taxes, fees, FICA, Workman’s Compensation Insurance, and Unemployment Insurance.
Michigan Nanny Solutions is a referral-based placement agency. We represent both the families we work with and the nannies we work with during the placement process with the end goal of helping the family hire the very best nanny for their family. At no time are we the employer or employee of any party involved. You can consider us your highly-specialized match maker instead!
When do you conduct background checks, and what does the background screening include?
Background checks are initiated AFTER a formal job offer is extended and accepted by the nanny the family wants to hire. As part of our preliminary screening, we will ask you to disclose traffic tickets and criminal convictions on your first application, and we decline working with nannies who disclose excessive traffic tickets or infractions or a criminal history.
Our comprehensive background screenings include the following:
- Social Security Number trace & verification
- Screen of the candidate’s United States criminal records, covering county and national records
- Screen of the United States’ sex offender database
- A copy of the candidate’s current motor vehicle report
- Lab-based 5-panel drug test that screens for use of marijuana, PCP, cocaine, methamphetamine, and opiates
Our Background Screening Services are also available to any individual or family.
What happens if I’m hired through the Michigan Nanny Solutions but I’m not happy with my placement?
All of our Full-Time and Part-Time Nanny Placement Services are backed by a 90 Day Happy Nanny/Happy Family Guarantee. If you or the family are unhappy with the placement, and we are unable to mediate to improve the situation, we will help you dissolve your employment relationship with the family according to the terms in the work agreement provided at hire.
We will stay in touch with you and the family you work for to make sure things are going well during the trial period, and if there is anything happening you want to discuss with us, please don’t hesitate to reach out!
We take great pride in doing everything we can to make sure the nanny/family employment relationship starts on a firm, respectful, professional foundation, and we will remain available throughout the duration of your placement to help advise on any issues related to your employment. Since we aren’t your employers, we can’t immediately affect change, but we can help you have productive conversations with your employers any time the need arises! Ongoing support and advice for our nannies is offered at no cost to you–all you have to do is ask!
So nannies, ready to take the next step?
Start by filling out the brief Introductory Application