Babysitter Jobs
By Eric Hammer
Believe it or not, babysitter jobs are no longer the exclusive
province of teenage kids who are making pocket change on the
side. Today, babysitting jobs and babysitters come in all shapes
and sizes and are increasingly seen a legitimate option for those
searching for a job in these tough economic times. Here's what
you need to know:
First of all, babysitter jobs are becoming more prevalent
and more professional. With today's generation of so called "helicopter
parents" wanting to be even more careful about whom they
entrust their children to, it's not unusual for parents to demand
references and to look specifically for an adult rather than
a teenager.
Another phenomenon leading to the adoption of babysitter as
a job for adults is the sheer prevalence of single parents looking
for someone to take care of their children while they go out
on a date. This fact alone means that you can easily find babysitter
jobs in every major city as long as you are a responsible adult.
How Much Can You Make?
Babysitter jobs vary greatly in the amount paid for them.
Some people still pay just $4-$5 per hour for a babysitter, though
that amount is usually paid to older children to take care of
younger children. Adult babysitters with references can easily
find jobs for as much as $15 per hour or more, if they work in
wealthier areas where parents have enough disposable income to
pay for an adult babysitter (note that for that kind of money,
you may also be asked to help with other chores, such as tutoring,
carting the kids to events or even helping with doing the laundry
and or dishes).
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Keep in mind that some people still think babysitter jobs
should be the exclusive province of teenagers and will pay an
amount commensurate with that expectation. However, if you can
find parents who want a more mature babysitter, it's much easier
to command better money, if you can provide references. If you've
never held any babysitter jobs in the past, it's a good idea
to consider getting some references by doing the job for friends,
family or neighbors so that you can see what it's like and get
those all important references.
For those looking to work with children full time, consider
looking into working as a full time day care worker rather than
just looking at babysitter jobs. While babysitting often can
pay more per child than day care, day care typically allows you
to take in multiple children from different parents whereas babysitting
means only taking care of the children the individual parent
or parents have.
You may also want to consider offering special rates for last
minute babysitter jobs. Parents are always complaining about
a babysitter canceling at the last minute and this can be a good
way to earn more money than you might otherwise earn.
Qualifications / Requirements
While there are generally no legal requirements for babysitting,
those wishing to get the best babysitter jobs should be prepared
to work hard and to get good references. You need to be extremely
responsible and you need to be able to show up on time and stay
up for as long as is needed until the parents come home.
First Steps
Start by advertising your services in your local community.
Create some flyers and ask people to post them for you in places
frequented by parents, such as supermarkets and day care centers.
Be sure to have references ready as well so that parents know
who they are leaving their children with.
Resources
Check out these helpful resources to learn more about babysitter
jobs:
Indeed:
Babysitter Jobs - A jobs board where you can find babysitter
jobs all over the country from parents looking for a long term
relationship with a babysitter.
About.com: Babysitter Jobs - While the rates
are a bit unrealistic for some situations, this is a good general
guideline to how much you can expect to earn as a babysitter.
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