Posting a Job

Posting a job is the easiest way to find a caregiver on Care.com. When you put an ad up on our site (which, by the way, you can do for free), you're broadcasting your needs to hundreds of thousands of babysitters, nannies, in-home senior caregivers, special needs caregivers, pet sitters, tutors and instructors, and housekeepers-whoever you need to find. Local caregivers will be able to search their ZIP codes, find your job posting, and contact you directly. From there, you'll be able to review their profiles, set up interviews, and find the help you need.

But it all starts with an attention-grabbing job post. We've put together a few tips for writing the best possible job posting. If you put out an ad that lists great details about your family and your needs, you're more likely to find the care you need quickly and easily. So if you're facing a little writer's block when you're posting a job, or if you just don't know what to say, check out this how-to guide for help!

Writing a Job Description

You should include enough information in your ad so that potential caregivers can tell if they would be a good fit for your needs. At the same time, don't include too much-they could get overwhelmed and not take the time to read the posting! A good rule is to keep your ad under 200 words. Make sure to disclose basic information like your children's ages, your transportation needs, general responsibilities or chores, and the dates and times you'll need the caregiver. Also, feel free to include how much experience you want your future caregiver to have and any specific requests for the interview or reference checks.

Responsibilities listed as bullet points work great for this. For example:

Responsibilities include:

• Daily homework help
• Light housework and meal preparation
• Driving kids to and from soccer practice twice a week

You can also write out a similar list of bullet points for your caregiver requirements or preferences, such as:

• Must be willing to submit to criminal background check
• Degree in child care or related field preferred
• Must provide own transportation
• Must be a non-smoker

Caregivers want to work for a family who take their children's needs seriously. If your ad is too brief or seems rushed, they may question whether you are someone they want to work for. If you can't decide whether or not to include something in your ad, it's probably best just to put it in. However, you don't need to include every specific child care or housekeeping duty expected of your care provider. You can save this for a more detailed job description, which you can write out for your nanny for her first day on the job, or for the telephone interview.

Talking About Your Family

You will soon be faced with the often difficult task of deciding whether or not a caregiver is a good fit for your family. First and foremost, however, the nanny, babysitter, or caregiver must decide whether your family matches her needs. The better you describe your family, the better your chances are of attracting the right person to help provide care.

Include the ages of your children. If you fail to mention your daughter is an infant, for example, you may get replies from nannies who don't have experience with this age group. Your ad should also include any pets you have, what language you speak in your home, and if your children have any significant special needs. There is nothing wrong with incorporating your family's or kids' positive qualities (e.g., active, fun-loving), but don't be misleading or over-exaggerate. You shouldn't write that your children "never fight with each other," or that you "keep your house spotless," if this isn't the case. (It's okay if it is-experienced nannies and sitters understand that no family is perfect!)

Here's an example:

"We have two energetic boys, ages 6 and 8, who love playing sports and being outdoors with our two dogs. Our home is located in a kid-friendly suburban neighborhood outside of Boston. We are looking for a part-time afternoon nanny who is also fluent in English and comfortable with animals."

Top-5 Do's and Don'ts

Don't:

• Be too vague in your description
• Describe your family as something it's not
• Write your ad in all caps or forget to check for grammar and spelling
• Be too brief
• Expect the first sitter who responds to your ad to be the best fit for your family. Even if you have a great job posting, remember that this process takes time.

Do:

• Write a catchy subject line
• Specify the days and hours you need care
• Say how long the job is (one week, one month, one year, etc.)
• Tell the general area in which you live
• Include contact information
• Try to differentiate yourself and show your personality