When seeking employment in today's economy, you cannot leave it up to an Agency simply hoping that they will choose you among so many jobless employees. While agencies are still the primary place to go to connect with employers, you must be proactive and reach out to every single resource available to you. With the internet, job listing services have become available to both employers and employees making matches daily. In addition, there are other ways to market yourself. Here are some tips: - Seek the sites that are reputable in have the highest rankings: http://www.sittercity.com, http://www.care.com to name a few. Prepare you bio carefully discussing your skills and describing your job history.
- Get a good picture of yourself and place it on there (make sure you are dressed appropriately and look professionally).
- Order a background check so that it is already available to prospective employers. (These sites offer this option for a fee.)
- Get your own URL - domain name and create a one page web site that turns into a resume on line.
- Get business cards and pass them out to anyone you meet during networking groups, while shopping, and anywhere you see an opportunity to sell your services.
- Gather an email contact list and send newsletters talking about issues pertaining to your professional while reminding others of your services.
- Continue your training in your field by taking courses to enhance your knowledge and provide you with certificates of training - "The Professional Housekeeper" as an example.
- Have your resume updated and create an outstanding portfolio with everything to illustrate your expertise, references, education, background and skills.
- Have an interview outfit in your closet clean and ready to go for any given opportunity.
- Get a good night's rest, exercise and stay healthy....you are no good to anyone if you appear run down, stressed out and not in good shape.
This is not a time to mope around because you are unemployed. This is a time to push the envelope and wake up every day saying "today is another opportunity for me to market and improve myself so that I can offer my expertise to someone in need."
Working as a nanny is challenging but it is especially difficult work when you have to incorporate full charge cleaning. A full charge Nanny/Housekeeper is something most employers prefer hiring so that they do not have to have a separate housekeeper. It is more cost effective this way for the employer. However, is it realistic? It clearly depends on the situation. - If the parent is "non-working" and has the time to care for the children, then there is time enough for the nanny/housekeeper to devote to cleaning, cooking, laundry and organization as needed.
- If the the parent is a stay-at-home-mom or dad who works from home, then there may be a way of allocating work hours for the mother in her home office and devoting the rest of the time where she is with the children while the nanny/housekeeper attends to the chores.
- If the parent(s) are both working out of the house with school age children who come home in the afternoons, then there is enough time to do all the work prior to their arrival.
- If the parent(s) are both working out of the house and the children are age newborn-4 and none are attending pre-school yet, the housekeeping will need to fall under the category of "Light Housekeeping" and be very defined.
The question is "what does Light Housekeeping" actually entail? - Cleaning of everything pertaining to the children only: cleaning and maintaining organized their bedroom(s) and bathroom(s), organizing their clothes in closets, cabinets and drawers.
- Laundry as it relates to the children only: washing, hand-washing, drying and even ironing as needed. Understanding how to care for baby clothes is necessary.
- Cooking meals for the children: making home-made baby food, and other light healthy basic meals for older children.
The other chores are as follows:- Child Development Skills applied to all ages from newborn to school.
- Homework assistance and tutoring as needed.
- Driving to and from school and after-school activities
The only way for the nanny and the household employer to be absolutely clear as to the actual responsibilities and expectations of the job is to have all of these clearly spelled out on paper in a Job Description attached to an Employment Agreement. A nanny needs to be capable in light cleaning because 9 out of 10 times, they will be asked to perform light housekeeping chores.
Interviewing for a Housekeeping Position requires more than one interview to cover all the necessary topics and solidify the impression you will need to make to get that job.
First Interview
*The initial impression is the most important when you meet anyone. An employer will look at the clock to see if the candidate arrived on time. There should be little to no excuse for arriving late. We have enough resources to find addresses between the internet, GPS/navigation in our cars and phones to prevent us from getting lost. We even know the time that it will take from destination to destination, so there shouldn't be any lateness due to not knowing how long it would take to get there. Traffic is another great excuse, but if you are traveling during the peak hours of traffic, then the candidate should allow for extra time. This all makes logical sense. Bottom line, it is better to be early and wait outside for your designated hour to step to the door, then to be late with excuses.
*Dressing appropriately for an interview means that you wear clothes that fit the role you are seeking. A nanny/housekeeper should be professional looking with black pants or skirt and a white blouse or shirt, closed toe shoes, little to no jewelry, perfume, aftershave or make-up, nails short, well-manicured and clean and hair pulled up or back away from the face. Anything short of this will not leave the proper impression on an interview.
*Bring the proper identification and portfolio that represents your qualifications, references and certifications. Arrive with a 3-hole binder that has everything in it to show your background and why you are qualified for the position. On a first interview, you may make copies of these items to leave with the employer (less your ID) or you may wait until the employer shows interest with a follow-up interview or call.
*Be pleasant, engaging and focused. The candidate must put on her/his best attitude and personality to warm up the chemistry with the employer. Even if you are nervous, you must snap out of it, breathe deeply and put your best foot forward. Listen carefully to the questions and have your own list of questions about the job, the children, the house and the responsibilities. The first interview is not about the benefits and salary; you should first focus on the job and what is required of you. Ask sufficient amount of questions to understand the schedule, expectations and needs.
*Make an effort to meet the family members, especially the children if the job requires childcare. Engage with the animals and see if you and everyone will get along. Obviously, a good relationship takes some cultivation, but you want to at least meet everyone and get a feel for each member of the family.
*At the end of the interview, express your interest, or not, in the job so the prospective employer knows where you stand. Ask when the employer plans to make a decision. If you really like the job, offer to leave your information. (If you are coming from an Agency, most of this will be handled by them.)
Second Interview
*This is when you might be one of several candidates that the employer has narrowed down. This is where it will require you to really step up to the plate and do your best to grab the employer's attention. All of the first interview requirements are the same, but now is when you should be discussing the nitty gritty issues.
*Cover the responsibilities carefully so that you are fully aware of what is required in terms of childcare, housekeeping, cooking, driving, errands, etc. Take notes and show a true interest in noting everything. Ask if the employer will provide you a household manual in order to know what is required day to day.
*Discuss the schedule, need for flexibility and overtime. What is the earliest and latest hour you are needed and will you be required to work nights or weekends.
*Discuss the salary - how you will be paid. Preferably it will be through payroll. Discuss the gross versus net salary so that everyone is clear of what you are being paid per hour, per week and per year. Also discuss whether you will be paid weekly or bi-weekly or monthly.
*Discuss the benefits: find out if they are providing vacation time, sick days, holidays, personal days and/or medical and dental insurance. In most states, there are no mandatory laws for providing these holidays. Recently in New York, the law for domestic workers has changed providing greater benefits. Check your state to see what is standard. Check with other workers in the area to see what the industry seems to be providing in your part of town.
*Discuss what will happen when the family travels: will you be paid for the time off or not. Find out if they travel frequently and need you to go with them. Are the trips international requiring a passport or domestic only.
*Discuss issues with the family members that are important: philosophies for raising the children, methods of discipline for the children, how to handle an emergency, what is the best way to contact everyone. Find out if there is anything that you need to know before starting a job.
*Discuss cooking needs: what does the family like, how extensive do you need to know how to cook. Perhaps, they are expecting a better cook than you are comfortable providing. You may need to learn more and improve those skills. Get some recipes down so that you can begin practicing those dishes.
*Discuss when the family actually plans on hiring you. Will they make a final decision soon so that you know exactly when to expect an answer.
Once you have been selected for the position, come back for the final meeting to get all of these particulars in an Employment Agreement so that there are no misunderstandings.
http://www.martaperrone.com
For the last several years, economic times have been a bit strange and job opportunities are simply not what they used to be in better days. This brings to mind how important it is for those of us who are employed to find ways to maintain a good relationship with our employers so that we do not lose our jobs. This year alone, I saw 2 individuals who were well-paid lose their jobs for simply crossing boundaries and not maintaining a professional relationship. This was heart-breaking for me and disturbing for their employers. Here are some thoughts on how to avoid such problems.
Crossing Boundaries - refers to many things within an employment relationship such as:
a) Forming unnecessary opinions about personal, religious, and political views. These are subjects that should be kept private. It is also advisable to not be over-bearing on your personal choices in for example child-rearing. If a mother chooses to "not breastfeed", this is a personal decision and completely up to the mother. Showing disdain to the mother will only make her feel bad and uncomfortable with her decision.
b) Gossiping about the family's lifestyle to others such as household workers. What your boss does in the house is private and should remain there. Telling others of your perception or observation, whether it is true of false is harmful and disrespectful. It truly isn't your place as an employee to discuss the family's activities unless the cause for concern is serious, in which case, you might consider leaving the job and notifying the authorities.
c) Taking advantage as it relates to time and responsibilities. If you are entrusted with a list of duties that you agree to perform for the salary provided, it is your job to fulfill every duty to the best of your ability and to arrive on time and work the hours agreed to. Employers are also capable of taking advantage and should realize that this could cause an employee to quit.
d) Forgetfulness and Lack of Attention to Details - It is not easy to remember everything that you must do, but that is why man invented "paper and pen" so that you could utilize both to record anything and everything necessary. I recommend that all employees form a "household working manual" describing everything that is required by the employer. This can be something that is updated on a regular basis. You can review this daily, weekly and even monthly as needed to stay on top of your job. A great way to be sure that no one is forgetting important details regarding employment, it is suggested that an employment agreement be in place.
e)Review Sessions - It is mandatory that problems and issues do not fester between the employer and employee. Decide on how often is best for you to sit down together and discuss anything that might be of concern. This is a great time to get a performance evaluation to ensure that everyone is happy.
Every attempt to keep an open line of communication and stay on top of your responsibilities will help you maintain the job you worked so hard to get
Now that the holidays are over, it is time to get back to the business of finding a job. Here are tips on how to get the process going: 1) Take a look at your resume and be sure that it is updated. Review it carefully to ensure that it reflects your job experience, education, objective, talents and skills clearly. A resume will be reviewed within 1-2 minutes, so you need to make that one page impressive. Have additional copies available and put it on a hard drive/computer so it can be sent electronically. 2) Call your previous references, wishing them a good new year and advising them that you will be searching for work. Let them know that they might be receiving calls, but you will only give their numbers out to employers that you are serious about engaging. While you have them on the phone, ask them to put the word out to their friends that you are looking for employment. 3) Go on line and look at various job listing sites that specialize in your field. Some of the more popular ones are: sittercity.com, care.com, nannies4hire.com, elderlycare.com. Go into each site and get your resume up and registered. Be very descriptive about your experience. This is a resume on line so every word counts. 4) Go on line and look up agencies in your area. Some you may have already registered with and need to send an updated resume. Make contact with a specific person and keep a record of who you spoke to and when. Make appointments to visit the agency and reconnect with them so they are reminded of you. Be sure to take with you copies of your complete portfolio. 5) Check your local newspapers for ads seeking employees in your field. Cut the ads out, tape them to individual sheets of paper and make notes concerning each job and information you received by phone. Even if the job is taken, call back in a week or so to see the status since many times new employees do not work out for one reason or another. 6) Get business cards made with your name and skill. Pass them to people that you meet and tell them about yourself. Consider doing an email blast to your contacts to spread the word. 7) Have your "interview outfit" clean, pressed and ready to go so that you can respond to a call at any moment. Even take it with you in your car in case you get a random call and need to get to the interview quickly. 8) Check your certifications to be sure they are current. Consider classes that might improve your skills. Enroll so that you are constantly improving yourself in your field. This will also be impressive within an interview. Stay positive, upbeat and focused. Be persistent and the right job will come your way. BEST OF LUCK ALWAYS! Marta Perrone http://www.martaperrone.com
Inviting people over for the holidays is a wonderful way to end the year. It gives all friends and family an opportunity to see each other and catch up. If you are concerned about what the house might look like and see this as a deterrent, here are some tips on how to get the house in order so that you can have these get together nights throughout the holidays.
1. Choose the room(s) that everyone will spend the most time and focus on these: Living Room, Family Room, Kitchen, Dining Room and Powder Bath.
2. Living Room/Family Room: a) check the fireplace for fresh wood, clean the mantel and wipe down the artifacts on the mantel, check the flute is open if you are going to put the fireplace on, b) vacuum the rug or sweep/mop the floor and wipe down the baseboards, c) fluff the pillows up on the living room couch, d) dust the coffee table, end tables and other furniture pieces and put things back neatly, e) fluff up the pillows on the couches and sofa chairs, f) check the ceiling lights, corners for cob webs.
3. Kitchen: a) wipe down the stove and vent, b) take everything off the counters and wipe them down putting things back neatly (take away any unnecessary stuff that has been sitting there waiting for you to put away), c) wipe down the refrigerator taking expired items away and cleaning the shelves and drawers, d) empty out the dishwasher and sink of dishes so you have room for new ones, e) sweep/mop the kitchen floor, and f) be sure the kitchen garbage is emptied.
4. Powder Bath: a) wipe down and clean the sink and counter, b) clean the mirrors, door and switch-plates of any smudges, c) clean the toilet and leave a new roll of TP, d) sweep/mop the bathroom floor and wipe down the baseboard, e) empty the trash, and f) lay out guest towels for the guests.
5. Final touches: a) Light a candle, b) lay out some nuts and candy, c) be sure to have coasters and/or cocktail napkins available, d) create a light cheese/cracker/fresh fruit platter, and e) light the fireplace and put on some good music.
A quick clean-up of 4 major rooms of the house where the guests will most likely visit may take you a matter of 1 hour or so if you work quickly and efficiently. Don't let the mess in your home prevent you from inviting people over to share in the joy of the holiday season.
http://www.martaperrone.com
There is so much excess in most of our homes. If you don't think so, then open a closet and begin to look at everything carefully. When was the last time you used it, wore it or even remembered you had it. The likelihood is that most of the things we keep are rarely used on a regular basis. There are however many people in need, especially now with present times so difficult. Here are some thoughts on how you can make cleaning your closet a charitable act during this holiday season: - Begin with your clothing closet - try on every garment and see if it even still looks good on you. Does it fit? Maybe it is not stylish. Perhaps, it would look better on someone else. Start a pile of things that you really won't ever wear again.
- Go through your handbags and see if any of these have been take out?
- Go through your shoes...have they all been out for a walk recently.
- Check out the entry closet where you might keep jackets. This is most needed at winter time.
- Now move on to the linen closet where you keep blankets and towels. Are there any that could be shared with someone needy?
- Check your pantry for food that could be taken to the Mission or soup kitchens in town.
- Go through your child's room and see if there are toys that have not been touched for months. Perhaps your child is growing up and no longer needs those legos or barbie dolls. Surely there is a child you could make smile.
- Step into your garage and see if there is sports equipment or other things no longer used.
There is so much that can be recycled to a family or institution in need. Just put aside one hour and gather what you can so that you can make someone's Holiday bright. Happy Holidays!
 Cleaning up after a party is not the best part of the evening. You have just worked hard in the kitchen to prepare and serve a beautiful meal, entertained your guests so that they are attended to at every moment, and maybe enjoyed a glass of wine or two in the interim. What you really want to do now as you close the door behind your guests is to simply retire for the evening.
Here are some tips on how you can make the clean up part of the evening go smoothly without too much effort. But before you get started, be sure to have plenty of paper towels handy and dry hand towels available.
1) As you handle the preparation of the meal, all dishes that you used for this should be cleaned prior to your guests arriving. The only dishes left should be those that you are about to use for cooking.
2) Once your guests have arrived, if there are any pots or pans that you are using for cooking and now finished with them, place them in the sink with water in preparation for washing. Do not start washing the dishes once your guests arrive since it may seem rude and distracting. However, if you have dishes you can slip into the dishwasher, do so quickly so that the counters and sink are freed up.
3) When you are ready to serve dinner, take away the appetizers and quickly wrap up the cheese or leftovers and place in refrigerator. Take the trays and dishes used and rinse them - getting them out of the way. Again, only wash what you can quickly.
4) As you remove the dishes from the first course, rinse them in the sink and stack them according to size. By rinsing them quickly, you hasten the challenge of getting them cleaned later. If these dishes can be placed in the dishwasher, do so quickly without making too much noise or taking too much time without so that it doesn't become obvious that you are doing so. Taking a minute of time to do this also helps give your guests time in between courses. Rushing courses out is never good. At least 3-5 minutes in between is appropriate.
5) So now if all is going well, the appetizer dishes are put away, the dishes for each course are rinsed or in the dishwasher and all that is left is the dessert plates, water/wine glasses and cooking pots. - When your guests leave the table, someone may offer to help take the last plates on the table to the kitchen. If you are inclined to have them assist, then let them. This makes it easy for you to get the table cleared. Don't spend too much time there cleaning while your guests there. Just get the dishes in the kitchen and rinsed and stacked.
6)Once everyone leaves, attend to the dishes that you have to wash by hand. Use hot water with gloves so that they clean quickly and efficiently. Use a dish dryer to place them so they dry faster. Ask your partner (if one is available) to help dry while you wash. Next do the pots and pans. If you used any crystal, maybe rinse those glasses out and leave them for the next morning. Wipe all your counters clean and tend to the stove. Collect the napkins and placemats/tablecloth. Wipe the table down with a very damp cloth and follow with a dry cloth.
All of this should take no more than 30 minutes if you are organized and work at a good pace. Don't let the "clean up" aspect of having a dinner party deter you from entertaining. You will be pleased when people call or write you nice notes thanking you for the wonderful evening they shared in your home.
So after you have just served a beautiful meal and your guests seem quite satisfied, you are now preparing to lay another course on them. They can't possibly be rude and say "NO" to dessert, but they are secretly praying that it isn't too filling and also begging that you cut a very small piece. At this dinner party, it happened to be my husband's birthday, so a cake was in order. However, I always like to serve cookies on the side for those who have a token slice for celebration purposes. If you do decide to serve a cake or tart, make your portions small and try to get something that has fruit in it to lighten it up. Custards, puddings, mouse and souffles are always ostensibly lighter desserts from a texture standpoint.
Otherwise, here is a traditional favorite that I love to give my guests. It is light, easy to make and never turned down. Take any vanilla ice cream (preferably one that is light in calories), fresh berries (strawberries, blueberries and raspberries), Grand Marnier, Cointreau, or any other liquor. Serve 1-2 scoops of ice cream and put it in a nice decorative small bowl made of ceramic or use a glass ice cream dish. Lay the fresh berries over it (slice up the strawberries and leave the raspberries and blueberries whole). Add the liquor on top. You can also add a dash of low cal cool whip or fresh whipped cream on top. Put two cookies on the side. Remember any dessert served in a bowl or glass needs a plate underneath. Keep cups of tea and coffee warm and filled. Have cream, sugar, and sweetners on the table. Someone may be inclined to have seconds....so be a gracious host/hostess and offer more.
 Entertaining guests means being a gracious host or hostess from the moment your guests enter the door throughout the evening. You want them to feel as though they are at home. Before they arrive, check your lighting and perhaps the fireplace lit to add ambiance and warmth to the room. After a warm greeting and offering to take their handbag and/or remove coats so that they feel comfortable, you then offer them a drink. This is why it is important to know in advance what your guests drink so that you have exactly what they enjoy. Let them know where the powder bath is and place guest towels in it for their use. As your hors d'oevres are laid out bring your guests to a comfortable seating area where everyone can enjoy the cocktail hour. Keep the cocktail hour exactly as it is referred to - 1 hour - prior to serving dinner. You never want to rush guests from the door to the table. As cooking has its timing so does entertaining. When it is time for serving dinner, bring your guests to the table assisting where they should be seated. You may have prearranged named place cards if you prefer certain people together or decide to let your guests sit wherever they feel comfortable. It is my preference to announce where my husband and I are seated and then invite my guests to sit where they would like in between. If you see hesitation on their part, then guide them. While seated, remember to always check for refills with water, wine and bread. If there is an opportunity to serve seconds, then offer this to your guests. Remember to remove plates only when all your guests are finished with that particular course. Pass the butter if you think they need it; offer the salt and pepper; pass the bread if their bread plate is empty. Muster conversation that includes everyone. Your attentiveness to your guests' every need is the most important part to "entertaining" properly.
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