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Hiring a Nanny for a Child with Food Allergies

2/19/2019

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     For a parent of a child with even a mild food allergy, it can be extremely daunting to leave your child with a new person, one who may slip and forget what snacks have hidden ingredients, or to double check with the kitchen staff at a new restaurant.  For your peace of mind, here are some great tips to help ensure that you and your nanny are on the same page when it comes to how to feed your children. 
Parent of a child with a food allergy

Create a Work Agreement

     Here at Kith & Kin, we're huge believers in work agreements! Putting details in writing allows both parents and nannies much greater peace of mind, so that uncertainties and misunderstandings don't arise down the road and all expectations are clear.
            If you are the parent of a child with a food allergy, or if you just want to make sure your nanny is preparing a similar diet to what you already have in place for your child, putting the details in a contract can be extremely helpful. If there are certain food items or ingredients that your child must not eat, then lay those out in writing.  If you only let your child have a sweet snack on certain special occasions, explain this in the contract.
         While this might seem overbearing, remember that your nanny is not a mind-reader, and it always helps to have something to refer back to! Every family is a little different, and the way you approach your child's diet will not necessarily be the same as the family they have worked with before. Laying out all the specifics for your child's diet, will help avoid uncertainty for your nanny. Be sure to give your nanny a copy of the contract, and/or put it up somewhere in the kitchen where they can use it for reference if ever they have a question. 

Give your Nanny a Sample Menu

       If you are the parent of a child with a food allergy, you might have learned to prepare specific dishes in order to avoid certain ingredients. You also will be aware of which prepared foods have hidden ingredients that could be dangerous for your child's food allergy.
        In order to ease your nanny into the food norms of your family, write out a sample menu for a week or two, and give it to them to refer or add to. Include the dishes that your child is used to, and you would normally prepare for them, along with ingredients and instructions for your nanny.
         Providing a menu for the first few weeks will ease your nanny into your lifestyle and food preferences, and get them acquainted with the types of dishes and ingredients your child is used to. Eventually, these dishes and ingredients will become second nature to your nanny. Include suggestions for snacks and prepared foods that are OK with you. Also include a detailed list of foods and snacks that are not okay to feed your child with a food allergy. 
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Parent of a child with a food allergy

Avoid Eating Out

        The experience of eating a meal out a restaurant can be so stressful and tedious. Even the most well-meaning kitchen staff might not be aware of every ingredient in their dishes. While it can be easy for a nanny to grab a quick lunch in the middle of their day out with your child, if you are the parent of a child with a food allergy you know that sometimes it's best to avoid eating out all-together.
      Explain this to your nanny, and make sure you always have meals or ingredients to prepare a quick and easy meal for your child on hand. If you know for certain of specific restaurants or dishes that are safe for your child to eat, write out a list of those and include it in your nanny's work agreement. After all, when it comes to having a child with a food allergy, you can't be too specific with your requests or requirements.

Post Emergency Information

       Before the first day of work, make sure your child's nanny knows the specific protocol should they have an allergic reaction. Write down for your nanny the specific instructions that they should follow if your child shows signs of a reaction (and even talk about what those signs are).
       If your child needs to be administered an epileptic-pen, make sure your nanny always carries one on their person and knows exactly how to use it - The Red Cross has special trainings for this, and it's prudent to pay for your nanny to attend.
     Be sure to write down the contact information for which doctor to call, or which hospital to go to, in the case of an emergency, and have a copy of this in their diaper bag, backpack, and stored in a Note on your nanny's phone - anywhere that is easily accessible.
Parent of a child with a food allergy

Remain Prepared

      As with any case of a child with a special need or care, the most important piece of advice is to be, and constantly remain, as prepared as possible, while also preparing others in case Plan A falls through.  By following these tips and strategies, your nanny will be ready and knowledgeable about what is safe and what is not. When in doubt, your nanny can pass on an item and substitute it for something else. If you have time to prepare your child's food, do. If not, provide your nanny with clear instructions on what to prepare for your child's meals. Leave many ready-to-go snacks for your nanny to give your child, if they're out for the day. 
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       All of these tips will help set you up for success and ensure there are no misunderstandings or missteps in the event of an allergic reaction!

If you are the parent of a child with a food allergy, do you have any tips or advice of your own? Do you have any advice on how to get your new nanny on board with your family's dietary routine? Let us know in the comments section below!
- KITH & KIN
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Why You Should Insist to be Paid "On-the-Books"

11/27/2018

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Please note: this blogpost covers domestic employees in New York State. It is intended to educate nannies and housekeepers on the benefits of accepting legally paid salaries; it is not to replace the advice of a lawyer, as the laws that are constantly changing. Please consult a reputable payroll company such as HomeWork Solutions for more information on your specific state's domestic employment laws and procedures.

       We here at KITH & KIN often hear candidates state that they only want to be paid in cash, despite being able to accept legal pay, for many understandable reasons. While admittedly, it is the norm for many domestic workers to be paid illegally in cash (an estimated 75%!), there are a myriad of benefits and protections household employees lose out on by being paid in cash, and when accepting cash only for a nanny job, you are also assuming all risks for you and your family's future financial and health situation, especially should you find yourself out of work for a period of time -- a heavy and costly burden to bear! 
 

      With the advent of laws like Lulu and Leo's Law and many advocacy groups like the NDWA calling for better protections for both families and workers, the trend will be for more and more domestic workers to be paid in a legal manner. For this reason, we have compiled the benefits of legal pay. Here are our top 10 reasons why nannies and housekeepers should insist on being paid "on the books" right now. 

​1.  "Professional pay" translates to "professional treatment", and further legitimizes your work as a professional career. 

      When you are being paid in a manner  that is fully legal, you are far more likely to be viewed and treated with respect as a professional. That means you are far more likely to receive benefits such as guaranteed hours/minimum reliable salary per week, legal overtime, vacation and sick days, holiday pay, bonuses, and a contract that are a part of a total hiring package, much like professionals in other fields.

      When you insist on being paid legally, this demonstrates to a family that you take your job seriously as a professional who needs to be compensated fairly and legally for your work. It shows that you are committed to your work supporting them, and that you are also relying on them to support you as you make a long-term living, just as you would in any other field. 
     When your employer agrees to pay legally, they are demonstrating their belief that you deserve legal protections and benefits, just as they receive in their work, too!  Even though they may be offering a lot of great benefits like guaranteed minimum hours and paid time-off, they also believe that ethically, you deserve an extra level of protection as individual and professional.  ​

2.   You have secure income available, even if laid off.

      Let’s say that on Sunday night, you get a text from your boss that tomorrow, you are no longer needed because a spot opened at daycare, and their child starts the next morning. Now, most parents would not leave you high and dry without notice, (especially if you have a solid work agreement in place before the job commences!), however you may never know your employer's private financial situation or debts. They may appear to have it all, and then the economy crashes overnight, or they find out they have lost every penny to a Ponzi scheme, and now they find themselves unable to pay you the $2500 buffer you were relying on. Stranger things have happened; you need to be protected from situations that are outside of your control. 
    While domestic employees in New York are hired “at-will”, meaning you may be terminated without notice or reason at any time, unemployment is there to provide you with a financial buffer while you search for a new job.  If you’re laid off due to no fault of your own, and you are able to work in some industry, you are eligible - even in some instances of justifiable firing, you may still be eligible. This is only available to people who are paid legally in their most recent long-term position.

3. Medical costs or loss of income covered via Workmans Compensation if you’re injured on the job (State-by-State).

       Employers are required to provide Workers Compensation in New York State, regardless of the manner of payment. Any injury that occurs "on the clock" and requires medical treatment, or results in a loss of income, will have some, or all costs reimbursed in part by the state.  
Even if you are outside of NYS, should you have an injury that leads to a long leave from work, you may be eligible to receive Disability coverage from the government as well. This would cover part of your income, and make sure that you are not in an even larger financial bind.  If you are out of work because of an injury, but don't have traceable or substantial income reported, the income coverage would be significantly lowered, if available at all.

4.  You are eligible for Paid Family-Leave.

New in 2018, paid family-leave was signed into law in New York State for workers in all industries. This covers some of your salary if you need to take a leave of absence from your job; it is for military families, maternity and paternity leave (shout-out to dads!), time to bond when adopting and/or  fostering a child, or medical leave for you as individual or a family member you're caring for. 

 ​The details and benefits will upgrade year to year, but beginning in 2019,  you would be eligible for 10 weeks paid leave per year, up to 55% of your weekly salary, with a maximum of roughly $746/week; By 2021, 67% of your salary may be covered for up to 12 weeks. This is separate from FMLA, and is specific to New York State. For more information, click here.

5.  Protection in the event you, or your bosses, get audited by the government.

      Any employer who chooses to pay their employee 'under the table' runs the risk of being audited, particularly if all parents are working full-time, and they can't prove payments made for childcare. An audit will have their finances called into question by the government, and if your employer is audited, you too may be at risk for your portion of employment taxes. If your employer doesn't remit taxes on your behalf, you may be asked to account for those taxes by the government. While it is not the law that the employers withhold your portion of taxes in New York for you (you must request that they do this, and the majority do when using a payroll service), it is the law that you pay your portion. If it is not withheld, we recommend setting aside a conservative percentage based on your state in a separate savings account so you have enough to pay at the end of the year.
       If you or your employers were to be audited, the government makes a habit of looking back several years, meaning you could be set up on a hefty payment plan to hand over whatever amount you would have owed in taxes from previous years. 

6.  Provides verifiable, traceable income to rent or buy a home, car or other big-ticket purchases.​

      Should the day come when you want to make a big "life-investment", be it purchasing a new home or car, or even renting a new apartment, you will often be required to provide proof of income; not just for present time, but also from the past two years! Lenders want to make sure you are a consistent earner and responsible spender, and you will need a paper trail to prove your track-record of financial credibility. Cash-employees will often have a difficult (likely impossible) time providing legitimate proof of income that would hold up to scrutiny. This can be a real hold-up, and potential block, if you are in the throes of purchasing a home. 
        Not buying a car, home, or renting an apartment now? Think two or three years ahead. Even if your credit is terrible, First Time Homebuyer Loans make this dream possible for more people, so as home prices continue to rise, now is a great time to get on the books and start accepting legal pay! 

7.  Easier mental leap to start your career with legal pay now, rather than years in.

The bottom line here is, at some point in your life, whether you stay in the domestic industry or not, you will need to be paying your taxes. The security benefits for your entire family, reducing your risk of audit, or simply the fact that it is required in all other industries will be too hard for you to continue on the cash-only path throughout your whole career. 
Take it from us, the people who interview many qualified, career candidates who have been paid cash for years: it is very challenging for nannies and housekeeper to leap from a high dollar cash take-home salary per week to a far lower net wage. When you are not used to this, it will require a large lifestyle adjustment for yourself and family, when that time comes.
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     Talking to your employer about transitioning from a cash-salary, to an "on the books" salary is going to take a big shift. Essentially your employer will have to make a drastic increase in your pre-taxed (gross) pay-rate in order for you to be taking home the same amount as you were before, and it's possible that financially, they simply cannot swing it, as they will be paying 12-25% more than they are used to, depending on where you live.

​       If your employer isn't able to increase your rate enough for you to be taking home a net-salary that is comparable to your cash salary,
 meet in the middle!  Start by taking a lower take-home wage, knowing that they are giving you a gross-wage raise. That being said, employees who are paid on the books, will also be eligible for a tax-return at the end of the fiscal year where you would get a portion of that back, so don't be too demanding of your employers if you really love your job in all other aspects.

8.  You’re building your Social Security fund, and making sure you’re eligible for disability benefits, too. ​

       Paying your taxes means that you are also paying into certain state and federal programs, which can benefit you directly down the road. Employees who are paid on-the-books are automatically paying a percentage of their paycheck into Social Security Disability and other retirement funds. 

        The amount of taxable income which you report to the government each year makes up your 'covered income' and directly affects the amount of money you may receive each month when you retire. In other words, if you pay in for 45 years instead of 10, you will have far more to retire on. Therefore, for your future, it's better to start paying income taxes sooner rather than later! ​

9.  Helps better protect you from “bad-apple” bosses.

      Finding a boss who is willing to pay you on-the-books, means that your boss is more likely to view you as an employee with certain inalienable rights.  A working agreement that is based on a clear contract and a taxed salary can protect you from various instances of employee discrimination, wrongful termination, harassment in the workplace, withholding of overtime, and various other workplace injustices.
        Many employers who pay cash may hesitate to put anything in writing to avoid a paper trail of employment in the event they were to be audited -- this translates to no work agreement for you or contract for you to fall back on or reference.

10.  Plainly, it’s the right thing to do!

      Last of all, paying your taxes is the right thing to do! The money you pay in taxes goes to many places. In addition to paying the salaries of government workers, your tax dollars also help to support common resources that we all utilize, such as safe and well-maintained roads, police and fire departments, post-offices, public libraries and parks, as well as caring for your fellow neighbors and children who presently may not be able to care for themselves.  



        In conclusion, starting a job with mutual professional respect is the best foot to start on. By you and your employer insisting to operate according to the law affirms that this is a true, professional career, with the commitment to integrity and respect toward both parties. 
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But aren't nannies 1099 workers?  On the family/employer side of things, there is sometimes confusion about the classification of domestic employees and who is responsible for their taxes. However, make no mistake: by law, nannies and housekeepers are classified as household employees of the family, unless they are hired through a company who is paying them as an employee; nannies and housekeepers are not contractors. Families must provide you a W-2 at the end of the year.
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Have a question about being paid or hiring "on-the-books" versus in cash? Send us an email and we will do our best to direct you to where you may find your answer. 
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'Lulu & Leo's Law': Navigating the Potential Consequences for Providing Fake References

8/14/2018

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Earlier this summer, New York Senator Andrew Lanza and Assemblyman Steve Otis together announced a new piece of legislature which could have a profound effect on the childcare industry. The bill which they have proposed to Governor Cuomo essentially serves to criminalize the misrepresentation of a caregiver's qualifications or experience. If this bill is passed into law, not only will it provide much more concrete reassurance for parents who are seeking qualified childcare, it will also serve to legitimize the job market for nannies themselves who could have a greater precedent to demand better working rights as domestic employees.   

This new passage of legislation will hold legally accountable anyone who is applying for an in-home childcare position, or providing a reference on behalf of the individual being considered. In either instance, an individual who is found to have provided a false written statement in support of oneself, or another person, for purposes of securing employment as a caregiver to children in the home, could now be found guilty of a Class A Misdemeanor and face up to 6 months imprisonment. The bill would target those who make false statements about the applicant’s background related to their ability to safely provide care. 

To many, the introduction of such a bill might seem extraneous, something of a given. Unfortunately, this is far from the case. The supplying of false references, and mis-information by nanny candidates is rampant, common practice by applicants who lack actual experience or qualification in the field. For busy parents who do not have the time or resources to conduct thorough background checks and employment verification, these discrepancies fall quietly through the cracks. What is further, however, is that up until this point, there is no legal ramification holding nanny candidates, or fictitious references, accountable for providing false information in pursuit of employment. 

Essentially, right now a nanny who you have hired based on false information, cannot be held accountable for misrepresenting their qualifications in a court of law. The consequences of these distortions of the truth become tragic when, as in the epithetic case of Lulu and Leo Krim, parents hire an unqualified and improperly vetted nanny based on false accounts of experience by the candidate and others. It is the Krim parents themselves who have worked tirelessly in the years since the deaths of their two young children to bring this new piece of legislation into reality. The 2012 murder of their children Lulu and Leo Krim at the hands of their caregiver who had no previous experience caring for children highlighted the need for greater scrutiny of those who seek these positions. 

Assemblyman Otis, stated, "With this legislation, New York law will be clear that misrepresentation of qualifications for caregivers for children is against the law. With accurate information, the safety of families and children will be safeguarded.” Future parents can rest a little easier, when leaving their child in the hands of a hired caretaker, that the individual is who they say they are, and actually has the experience stated on their resume. 

Additionally, this new bill provides that “caregiver” be defined as someone hired to provide fifteen or more hours of care per week in the home of such children or in the home of the caregiver, with the exception of those entities licensed under the social services law. For nannies, the definitional provisions of this new bill could actually be a professional asset. By giving a clear and explicit interpretation to the definition of domestic work, this law could lay a foundation for future legislation regarding caregiver and other in-home roles. Until 2010, when New York became the first state to enact a Domestic Workers Bill of Rights, domestic workers existed largely starved of any state-sanctioned workers rights. Even now, the rights for in-home employees are much less comprehensive than for workers of most other sectors. While Lulu and Leo's Law, on the one hand, aims to increase accountability by domestic workers by obliging them to provide factual resumes and references, this increased legitimacy for domestic workers will, in turn, give a greater precedent for these workers to demand certain legal rights from their employers and from the law. Every step to legitimize the scope of domestic work, is a step in the right direction! 


​Unfamiliar with Lulu and Leo's story? Read up on their organization here.

Are you a nanny here in NYC and wondering how the enactment of Lulu and Leo's law will affect you? Get in touch with us and ask us any questions and we're happy to try and answer them! 

Are you ready to redo your professional nanny resume, and make sure its up to par? Check out our previous blog-post on How to Write a Nanny Resume Like a Champ 
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Prepare your Nanny-Family for Back-to-School Season like a PRO

8/5/2018

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Summer, glorious summer is coming to an end, and for us nannies that means one thing: getting the kids ready for back to school!

The coming of the new school year brings with it a wave of panic to parents who are being inundated with back-to-school lists, shopping reminders, activity sign-ups, new schedules, and more. Here's where you, the nanny expert can chime in!

Here are some tips of how to offer your nanny-family a helping hand in taking on some of the many responsibilities that are sure to arise in this busy planning season. Offering to tackle the stress together will be an invaluable help to your nanny-family!
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1.  Securing the Back-to-School Supplies

It is likely the child's school has already provided a detailed list of school supplies that will be necessary for the following year. If you're dealing with multiple school-aged children, print out those lists for side-by-side comparison. That way, you can make a comprehensive checklist of what needs to be bought or ordered. Make note of anything that you will need to buy two of, and do a quick sweep of the children's supplies to see what they already have. Once the list is compiled, head to the stores together to buy the materials (always fun for the kids!) and make notes of anything that will need to be ordered specially from somewhere else.

Don't forget: be sure to check with the parent's before making any purchases for the kids! Have them give everything a once-over first. 
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2.  Cleaning out the Closets 

Back to school season often signals to parents that it's time to switch out some of their child's old or outgrown clothes, and replace them with new clothes for the new school year.
       Give your nanny-family a hand, by offering to go through the child's closet or wardrobe. Chances are you know pretty well which items of clothing are getting too small, or have been worn beyond the point of return. If you're on the fence about certain items, have the children put on a fun fashion show and make sure they actually still fit. 

Don't forget: Put all of the small, outgoing clothes neatly in a labeled bag, and make sure that to give the parent's a chance to go through it, if they prefer. Offer to take any clothes which are still in good condition to a local second-hand store! 

3.  Alleviating the Back-to-School Blues

Often times, heading back to school, or beginning school for the first time, can be a stressful period of transition for your child. Help alleviate some of their anxiety by preparing them early! Bring up the start of the school year now, so they can begin to adjust to the idea. Reassure and remind them how much fun school is, and how great it will be to be reunited with their peers. The week before school, ease the children back into a school-like schedule, if you let things get a little looser for the summer months. Making sure to have meal-times back on track, and some afternoon time devoted to reading or other quiet learning activities will help the children mentally prepare to go back to school season. 

Don't forget:  If you're planning to slowly get the schedule back on track, make sure your bosses are on board as well! If calm afternoons and early bed time is only enforced on your watch, it may be counter-productive. Make sure you are all on the same page about the timing of the phase in.


​We hope these tips help you and your nanny family prepare for the back to school season ahead! 

Have some advice of your own on how to help prepare your charge for the school year ahead? We'd love to hear it! 

Are you a parent looking for a new full-time or after-school nanny for the school year ahead? Get in touch with us! 

​- KITH & KIN
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KITH & KIN featured on Yoga | Birth | Babies Podcast!

7/24/2018

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Last month, our founder, Christa, sat down for a conversation with the founder of the Prenatal Yoga Center, Deb Flashenberg, on her podcast Yoga | Birth | Babies. The episode is called NANNY 101. ​ Shared within it are tips and tricks for hiring and employing a nanny or babysitter, whether temporarily or long-term. It's completely appropriate and helpful for nannies, too! 
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​Have a listen here and catch some helpful gems!


Are you overwhelmed by the thought of how to hire a nanny in NYC?
Have you started the nanny search on your own, but need to run a nanny background check?
We are here to help you.
​Send us an email and tell us about your family's needs - we'd love to help you hire a nanny in NYC, or help you vet your own candidates properly! 
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How to Write a Nanny Resume Like a Champ

4/2/2018

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          We here at KITH & KIN often get some very well qualified nannies, but their resumes are either incomplete, or not up to date. But what if you've never written a superb and professional nanny or housekeeper resume before? We're here to help! 
How to Write a Nanny Resume
          Finding a new nanny job in NYC can be a daunting endeavor. There will be a lot of highly experienced, ready-for-anything nannies vying for that amazing position. When you’re up against dozens of other competent nanny candidates, families and agencies will often not even consider candidates who don’t have a professional nanny resume. Having a polished, professional nanny resume is the very best way to ensure that you will get your foot in the door past that first hurdle, and onto an interview.
         When working with kids, it’s okay to have a little more fun on your resume than you might in other job fields - but you want to make sure that you’re still keeping it professional and always including a few key pieces of information.


​Here are our tips to help you create the best professional nanny resume to help you stand out!

STEP ONE:  Begin with a Clear Layout.

          A good resume is visually straightforward. Your name should always be at the top of the page, in a clear easy-to-read font. Underneath should always follow whatever contact info you feel comfortable sharing. We recommend listing only your current home city and state and your preferred email address. Some candidates will include a job title directly beneath their name, which read something like “Childcare Professional” or a jazzier “Modern Day Mary Poppins”. Totally up to you! Think of your résumé more like a CV (curriculum vitae) - one page may not be enough to cover your experience, so feel free to scrap that old "one page only" rule.  
  • Do you have more experience beyond a nanny or housekeeping positions? Don't be afraid to have two or three separate headings, if need be.
  • "Nanny Experience" for nanny-specific positions, and "Other Childcare Experience," or, "Teaching Experience," is appropriate for childcare settings, teaching experience, or volunteer positions.
  • If you have other work experience that is unrelated, say in retail or food service, you can create another heading that says, "Additional Work Experience," to make up for any gaps in your employment, just know that these will be verified.

       Beneath each subsection you will want to outline each position. Here, indentation is key. Your layout should be visually clear, making use of whitespace and implementing a clear font. Bullet points and differently weighted font will make all the difference.

STEP TWO:   Who are You?

​Start off your resume with a brief description of your skillset. Here is your opportunity to let yourself shine!
  1. Create a heading that says something like, "Introduction," or, "Background". Place under this heading a one or two sentence introduction where you can briefly state what your qualifications and personal values are, what you are seeking in a position (temporary, long-term, part or full time, etc.).
  2. You can create a second heading that says "Special Skills," if you have anything that sets you apart. Are you skilled in baby sign language? Do you know how to prepare specialty meals? Have you studied, lived, or worked abroad? Do you have a high-level of schedule flexibility? Put it here!
  3. Make a third heading that states something similar to, "Education," or, "Education and Trainings," if you have additional specializations. This may also be put at the bottom on the résumé.  Here you may list your achievements such as degrees or coursework, CPR/First Aid certifications, INA Basic Skills Assessment, and any additional trainings or further education in childhood development.  NOTE: If you don't have a full degree, do not state that you do! Instead, write, "Coursework toward xyz degree" and the date.
How to Write a Nanny Resume

STEP THREE:   Position Details - Clear and Complete.

 ​                                             Household Experience
For each and every Nanny or Housekeeper position you have held we always recommend listing your relevant positions in reverse chronological order (most recent at the top). When listing your childcare experience be sure to include:
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  1. On one line, state only the last name of the family, if permitted (no first names), and the city and state job was located
  2. Month and year of start and end of position: be specific to give a clear picture
  3. Specify whether full or part time; long-term, or temporary
  4. ​The number and  ages of children when you started (ex: "3 month old and 4 year old at start of position")
  5. Bulleted list of duties, with between 2 to 5 bullet points, condensing where necessary (avoid the paragraphs - one sentence per bullet will do)
​                       •  Use the bullet points or indentation to give a quick description of each childcare position, for instance “Responsible for the full-care of their infant son including: bottle feeding, naps, diapers, tummy time, and laundry” or “Assisted with after-school care for two children ranging from travel between activities, homework help, dinner preparation, and bedtime routine”.
​                       •  Be specific without writing an essay. If you were taking on tasks such as arranging playdates, or scheduling for the gardeners to come, this can be described as “Activity planning” or “Arranging household maintenance”. No task is too small to consider, it’s just a matter of presenting it as an employable skill! 
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                                                       Other Experience
​For positions outside of nanny or housekeeping, feel free to follow to same basic structure. Some parents will appreciate seeing that you’re a fully rounded human, with professional experience outside of your nanny background.
     While we don’t recommend including every part-time hostess job you’ve ever worked, it could be to your benefit to include certain outside experiences. For instance, summer camp positions with kids can show a sense of your ability to be active, and manage a group. Even retail and hospitality positions can give evidence to your personable disposition and people-skills.

      And this goes without saying, but these likely be verified by an employer as well, so be truthful, as always.

STEP FOUR:   Discretion! 

  • Especially when applying to a position through Craigslist or some other mass sourcing location, you do not know to whom you are actually giving your name, phone number or full address. Leave that off - you can simply put your city and state. 
  • For references, hold your past employers' privacy in high-regard: write, "References available upon request." Do not put their full name, full address, phone number, or email anywhere on your résumé if they have not given you permission to distribute that.​

STEP FIVE:  Save an Editable Resume

The biggest mistake we see is when a candidate has a resume, but needs to add, remove, or edit experience on the document, but has no way to do it, and has to start all over. Beware of companies promising to build you a resume if it is not yours to edit forever. What's the point in spending all this time making an awesome resume if it's going to be invalid in a year? 
​

There are two places from where we recommend building resumes:

1. CANVA, for some fancy, visually stunning goodness
2. Good ol' Google Docs using their template builders (see our example we built below)
      You need to have an account with each of these services, but first, it's free, and second, you can save it forever and edit it whenever you want over the years! Once you finish your degree, you can change "in progress" to "graduated". If your boss moves away and you just finished your position, change "currently employed" to the month and year it ended. The bottom line is, 
​keep your resume editable and accessible. ​

Here is a sample resume we have built. Note how have a visually clear and detailed resume works wonders - the viewer actually wants to review it. 
How to Make a Nanny Resume
How to Make a Nanny Resume

We hope this helps you in your quest to presenting yourself as a professional, polished, and competent caregiver. Happy job hunting!

How to Write a Nanny Resume
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Insider Tips for Screening your New Nanny Hire

2/20/2018

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To safely hire a new nanny (or even an assistant, or housekeeper!) is a serious undertaking, and should be handled with a certain extent of scrutiny and attention to detail. Your new hire will be working intimately in your home and with your children - so it's important to make sure that you have verified peace of mind before you bring someone on.

      You may have heard a recent horror story, in which a New York City family returned home to find their new hire had systematically robbed their home of various furniture and possessions while the family were at work and school, after calling in sick and hiring movers to empty the house. While this story is extremely rare, there are lessons to be learned from this, and certain precautions that we would always recommend in order to screen your new nanny or any in-home personnel. While working with our nanny agency, there are certain built-in verification standards to which we hold all of our candidates. However if you are undertaking your search for a new employee on your own...

        Here are a few insider tips on how to safely hire a nanny to ensure that your new hire has been properly vetted and can become a trusted role in your home. 
​ 
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1.  Validate Candidate's Identity

​    First, validating identity is essential. We would highly, highly recommend using a legitimate background check company to do this. An identity verification can often still be run with a foreign passport. In the case above, all the IDs provided by the nanny were fake, but this was only realized after the crime was committed. With today's technology, telling a real from a fake ID can be harder than you'd imagine for the untrained eye. Hiring an outside company to assist you with a background verification will ensure peace of mind.
       Our nanny agency offers nanny candidate background checks a la carte for clients all the time, as do several other NYC nanny agencies, to best help you safely hire a nanny. Even if you aren't using the agency's services for your recruitment search, they often will still offer background verification as a standalone service, at a relatively inexpensive cost.  
​

2.  Verify the References' Personas and Get (a bit!) Nosy

       Second, verify references and get in depth with them. Always try a Facebook, Google and LinkedIn search of a reference provided: does absolutely nothing come up? Search their phone number or email into Facebook and Google, and see what name (if anything) corresponds. A fake reference is always a friend or family member of the person themselves, and will likely show up among their Facebook friends. [Though as a note: some high-net worth individuals will not show up in a Google search, so if possible try to get the partner or spouse's name as well when requesting references from the candidate].
      When you do get a hold of a reference, take note of the person's tone and cadence. How do they sound? A real reference will state the facts and have specific examples; a fake reference will sound like a salesperson speaking in very general, broad, and overly positive terms.
       Also, have your candidate's resume in front of you on the call, and get nosey, as if you know nothing. Ask what the details of the position were, and how old their children are presently (a real parent will know this information automatically without having to quickly do math). Ask what neighborhood they live in and cross reference with the resume. Ask why the position ended and see if it lines up. Not every reference will be open to discussing a ton of details, especially if it ended due to the family's personal matters. We recommend trying to speak to a minimum of 3 people, which will give you a chance to notice any patterns that might emerge.
​​

3.  Have a security camera.

       Our last bit of advice is to install at least one visible security camera in the apartment or on the outside of your home before you leave your in-home caretaker for the first time. We highly recommend that it is visible so that your employee knows of it's presence. While voice recording is illegal in some states without express two-party consent, a soundless video camera is acceptable. because informing the caregiver about the camera first  
        Alerting the caregiver to it in advance will build a relationship of openness and trust, and will break any possible tension or hurt they may feel if they had found it on their own. Imagine your partner was spying on you, and what emotions that would bring up. A nanny may similarly feel the same, as this person is, in a way, a partner and co-parent in your family. 
         Telling your employee upon hire about any cameras you have in your home also allows you the opportunity to put it back on yourself: "We have it for our apartment's security, but also because I just miss my baby in the day!" Most caregivers understand that to many families, safely hiring a nanny means a "nanny-cam;" and they may be completely fine with the presence of a camera if it's not secretive, and because they also know it can protect them in the event they are accused of something. The majority of nannies only really take issue with a camera when it is used to micromanage and critique their practice in real-time.
​
Are you looking for background verification services to make sure you hire a nanny safely? 
Check out our services on our website.

Have any wisdom of your own for how to verify a new nanny hire? 
Let us know in the comments below!
​- KITH & KIN
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The Top 3 Ways to Instill Values Into Children

1/15/2018

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The word "Values" gets tossed around a lot. Our values are our deeply held beliefs, but more than that, they are the way in which we respond to others, ourselves, and the place from which we strive to operate in this world. 
​   We as an agency also take our values seriously, seeing if our candidates will be a great reflection of our core values to our clients. We often ask this exact question in our interviews with our candidates and clients:
instill values into children
What would you say are the top 3-5 values you hope to instill in a child so that they may carry them into adulthood?

Here are three simple rules to live by to help instill values into children in your care.

1.  Toss out the old adage, "Do As I Say, Not As I Do".
        Be aware that your child sees everything you do (scary!), the good and the not-so-good. You may tell them to be patient, kind, and understanding, but if they don't see this, they won't practice it. For example... 
  • How do you react when someone messes up your order?
  • What subtle shifts in your behavior happen when walking behind a person who is distractedly text-messaging?
  • How do you speak about other people in front of them, and what does your tone, judgments, and assumptions about the other person indirectly tell your child is an acceptable way to approach a situation?
  • Do your children regularly see you taking care of yourself, exercising, eating with decent nutrition, reading a book, or working hard in your job?
2.  Extend your values to them as well.
       A lot of parents and nannies would say that they want to teach a child to respect others, forgetting that the child is also someone who needs to be shown patience, kindness, understanding, and forgiveness and respect, too! The best way to instill values into children is simply by letting them experience what it feels like to receive these things.
  • Demonstrate your respect for their individuality by giving them warnings before transition times, or letting them pick the order of activities they like, or tasks that must be done. Make sure they have space in the home where they may continually work on a project, like their figurines, Legos or block building, without having to clean it up every time. (Ex: "We need to get ready for swimming in 15 minutes, so I will give you one five minute warning when it's time to put down your book.")
  • Show them understanding by listening and responding to their cries, even when you are firm about your demand. (Ex: "I hear that you don't want to put on your shoes. It is hard sometimes to get ready in the morning! But times is up now, and we need to get moving together.") This isn't to say don't exercise a boundary or enforce what you need them to do -- just to say that you understand they are upset. Sometimes being understood is all a child needs to feel your love and cope with discomfort.
3.  Admit your mistakes.
       Don't be afraid to own up to a misstep. No one is perfect, and to not admit when you've done wrong may lead to your child feeling that they have to hide their mistakes from you for fear that you may reject their error. 
  • If you snapped at them and lost your patience as we all do, apologize for it, and say that even grown ups make mistakes. You can always restate that you still expect them to listen to what you say, but that next time there may be a consequence without you losing your temper.
  • If they feel disrespected because you need to rush them out the door, explain why -- maybe you overslept or weren't feeling well, or maybe they just didn't listen to your "Time's up" warnings, and the consequence was that they had to stop at an inconvenient moment. 
  • Model "openness" in an appropriate manner: it's so much easier for a child to be open with you about their struggles if you are also modeling that openness, too. 

Values look different to each family and caregiver.
      Of course we all want our children to be high achievers, and have fun in life. We of course want them to be forgiving and kind, and we want them to also be assertive and stand their ground when it's time. We all want them to be respectful, and we want them to also recognize their right to being respected.
The trick for us to successfully instill values into children is finding where the balance lies within in each family.
​You want to make sure your caregiver is aligned with these values, and give them wiggle room to do things a little differently than you would. This is where great communication comes in handy!

Are you unsure about what your family's values are, or think you may need a tune up?
Here are some great resources you may want to investigate.
- "The New Family Values"
- Priceless Parenting
- Roots of Action
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Babysitting for a New Family: Safety Tips!

12/5/2017

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This is the time of year where nannies are booked frequently for date-night sittings: lots of holiday parties, in-laws in town, and nights out for busy parents!  I'd like to share a cautionary tale I read recently, and give you some tips based off of this situation, as well as others we have personally encountered.

        Recently in a nanny support group I am apart of, a caregiver had been booked on a popular app by a family to babysit for their family in hotel, as they were coming into New York for the weekend. She offered to talk to them on the phone beforehand to give a mini interview, but they declined and said it was fine - they would provide details when she showed up. She had great reviews, so she assumed they were just trusting the references, which is why the reviews exist in the first place. Exercising safety when babysitting is not just for the parents but for the nannies, too!
        When she showed up to the hotel 
on the evening of the sit, she received a text message that said they were running an hour late. After she waited over an hour, sent a check-in text and gave a phone call, both of which went unanswered.  At this point, she checked with the front desk attendants just to make sure they actually had a reservation, but in doing so, she learned that there was no one staying there by the name that was given on the booking. This isn't totally unheard of - some people want their privacy - so she didn't think much of it. However, there other signs that gave her pause, and she ultimately left the hotel after fearing for her safety. These warning signs were what inspired this blog.

Here are our best tips on how to keep  safety when babysitting in the forefront of your mind when you've been booked through a babysitting app, instead of a mutual connection or agency.

Nanny Agency NYC

​1.  Make verbal contact with the parents before you meet, if possible.

     Trust me, I don't like talking on the phone as much as the next person, but sometimes just hearing their voice, their tone and cadence, will reassure you this is a parent and not a creep. Ask them a couple questions about their kids, and ask them if there is any specialized care for their child for which you would be responsible.
      For the sitter above who was booked, she thought it was odd that when she would call that day, and over the previous five days before the scheduled day, no one would answer, nor return her call, and there was no formal voicemail. The "family" would only follow up via text. This may not have been a big deal, as she had reviews, and this is common for families to book with minimal effort. Lack of verbal contact before isn't a deal breaker, however coupled with the things below, you can quickly see where there was a problem.

2.  Always tell someone close to you before meeting a family for the first time! 

      Let a friend or family member know the address where you plan to meet and the time you plan to leave by. Keep in touch via text once you arrive to say all is well, and if you are going to be late. Do this even when you are leaving the job to return to your house.  Safety when babysitting mostly comes down to covering your bases, and keeping others informed.

3.  Look up the names of the parents on Facebook, LinkedIn or Google.

​       Most parents will have family photos or telltale signs that they are who they say they are. Make sure the story adds up! 
       The sitter above was caught off guard when no one was reserved in the hotel under the name on her booking. The lack of a voicemail was strike two.  They also gave her very common names, so it was impossible to verify who they were via Google.
      A way to combat this is to search for them on Google using their names, email addresses, and phone numbers. Something is bound to come up to proves they're a real person. 

4.   Ask one of the parents to come meet you at the door, or in the lobby.

      If you are working at a hotel, ask that they come and meet you, if you have any doubts that they are real people in need of babysitting.
      If you are working at an apartment in a building with a door attendant, ask the person if the family has children. They may be taken a back by it, but you can explain it is your first time meeting them.  If it is a private house and with no door attendant, what do you hear when you come up to the house? Is there laughter? Are there shoes, scooters, or bikes visible outdoors? Is there a large vehicle in the driveway, or a friendly welcome mat?
      You can always insist that they meet you halfway in your requests for a personal escort before entering their home - say its a tip for your safety when babysitting that you picked up - no parent will argue with that, and if they are the type to get annoyed or give an attitude, you don't have to work with them again!  Your  safety when babysitting is just as important as theirs and their children's. 

5.  Be aware of your surroundings - where are the children?

      When you show up, do you hear children laughing, talking, yelling, etc. outside of the room in the hallway, or out in the street? And if not, when the parent opens the door and there are no children present, is there evidence of children in the room, such as children's cups, clothing, shoes, stroller, and toys? If not, do not enter.
       Feel no need to be overly polite in this situation - even if your hesitations are wrong and there really is a family (maybe they just checked in and the kids are in the pool), they will absolutely respect you more for being so safety conscious - which will likely lead to you having a better review!  Simply say, "I'm sorry, I was told this booking was for x# of children, but I don't see them...  Oh, they are downstairs? No problem! I can meet them down there, or just wait out here in the hall or lobby. I insist." 
        The sitter in the story above was incredibly forward thinking to think about her personal  safety when babysitting. The third strike that ultimately lead to her leaving (quickly!) was when she was alert for the entire two hours waiting for them in the lobby to show up (after they kept texting, "10 more minutes"), she noticed no children walking through the lobby and up to the elevator. That, coupled with their unwillingness to escort her up, led her to walk right out. She made the right decision when considering her own safety when babysitting for this new family.

​So by now you may be wondering how did the family receive the news that their sitter played hardball and left after they would not call back or come and get her from the lobby... Well, after she texted and explained why she would wait 10 more minutes and if she didn't hear back, she would be leaving after waiting nearly 2.5 hours, they never wrote back to confirm, criticize, or say they understood and respected her reasons. 
​
Had she listened and just went upstairs as they insisted, I'm not sure what, if anything, would have happened to her, though given the high possibility this was not a family, she absolutely did the right thing.
​Very few of these tips above are "Deal-breakers," however when they are all coupled together, it can spell trouble. Be aware, and keep yourself safe. 
If you have any other safety tips to add below, please do! We can all protect each other.



HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

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Our Nanny Gift Guide

12/5/2017

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It's that time of year again! 

At the end of each year, it's pretty typical of families to provide some type of year-end bonus as a way to say thank you. (If this is new to you, check out our blogpost from last year here, detailing some of the "norms" in NYC.) In addition to a cash bonus, some families like to give a little gift to show the appreciation, too! While I don't recommend reducing the cash bonus much if at all, some families do choose heartfelt gifts for nannies as a little extra something.  
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​Needing a little inspiration?

Here below are 12 fun ideas and gifts for nannies for all budgets and all occasions!
​



1.  "Bad" weather gear
​      •  As the saying goes, "There is no bad weather; only bad clothing."  When I was a nanny, I had clothing that simply could not brave the Upper West Side, Riverside Drive winds, and every spring, my rain boots would somehow tear, rendering them worthless. Quite frankly, I couldn't afford the awesome gear that my bosses had, even though I knew it was worth the investment!
      Nice boots, a rain or winter coat, or mittens make wonderful gifts for nannies, along with a note that says, "We appreciate your willingness to get out there and get the job done! Hope this makes your life a little easier!"  
Gifts for Nannies

2.  Nanny's Day Out:  self-care and pampering to the max!
     •   Getting a massage is wonderful! Your nanny may appreciate a gift certificate to a spa, but the crème de la crème is doing this while getting an extra paid half-day off!  What a nice treat.  If you have the ability to come home from work around noon to relieve your nanny, it will truly be a “Nanny's Day Out”. Book the appointment slot, and make it into a whole afternoon planned for their relaxation and rejuvenation. It doesn't have to be the highest end package! A simple massage plus the gesture of the whole "event" is incredibly touching.
      But, are they not much of a massage/pedicure/manicure person, or is that on the higher end of your budget? Get them a movie theater gift card instead, and put a date in the calendar to them off just a few hours early instead of a half day. 
Gifts for Nannies

3.  Nanny Swag!
     •   One of our favorite small businesses, Nanny Tees, has some cute gear that nanny's love - trust us! Coffee mugs, bags, hoodies, t-shirts... What more could a nanny want for a relaxed day off?
Gifts for Nannies
Gifts for Nannies

4.  INA membership
      •  Your nanny is a professional, and you respect that person as a vital part of your family. As such, providing them opportunities to develop as a professional is key! The mission of the International Nanny Association is to serve as the umbrella association for the in-home child care industry by providing information, education and guidance to the public and to industry professionals. By giving your nanny a membership, you're making a statement that you respect them as a professional and desire them to keep growing in their work! 
Gifts for Nannies

5.  Handmade goods from your kiddos
     •  Ok, I know this is a bit more traditional, but frankly, nannies are really touched by heartfelt, handmade goods that are memorable. When first nanny position in NYC ended, the children made me a flower pot, and it sits in my kitchen holding one of my favorite plants in it to this day. A picture frame is also nice with a photo of your nanny and children, too. Anything that is extra special will go a long way! There are some cool places in Brooklyn and Manhattan where you can spend the morning making memories with your children, and then pass along the crafts as a gift. Not just great gifts for nannies, but also great for grandparents, too!
Gifts for nannies

6.  Host a family dinner together with taste of their home flavor
     •  If your nanny isn't from your neck of the woods, research a regional dish or food item to give them a little taste of home. Don't wait long though - if it needs to be special ordered, do it now! You can even take it a step further and sit down together as a family with your nanny to show him or her your appreciation. Even if the dish doesn't taste 100% authentic, your nanny would be completely touched by the gesture and your efforts.

​7.  Matching socks!
      •  Want to make your nanny feel a part of the family? Get some fun socks for him or her, and also the kiddos! Your children will love matching with their best buddy. Just a little something cozy and fun to wear around the house. These are great gifts for nannies AND kids!
      We personally love Socks & Souls, a company that gives an additional free pair of socks to someone in need with each pair of socks purchased. Think Warby Parker and TOMS.
Gifts for Nannies

​8.  Gift card to get their car professionally detailed!
          •  Does your nanny drive your children around in their own car? Chances are, there has been some wear and tear. If you have a nanny or manny who is neat and orderly in other areas of their life, they may really appreciate having their car look brand-spankin' new!

​9.  Drinks for Days!
​     •  ​What drink does your nanny always have in her hand? (Or rather, wishes they had in their hand [if it's wine, you hopefully wouldn't see that on the job! ;)])  If it's coffee or a juice, get them a large gift card to their favorite place with a note that says, "Hope this will keep you warm through the winter (or healthy and strong through winter), as you push Kayden around town!" 
       If you'd really like to be an overachiever, stash the gift card inside a cute travel mug or to-go cup with a straw!
Gifts for Nannies

​
10.  "Tile" - a GPS gadget
     •   Has your nanny lost her keys before (and is this something they're able to laugh at yet? ;)) This cool little gadget comes in handy! It is a square little tile to clip on to a key ring, connect it with the app on a smart phone. When the keys are lost, pull up the app and it will tell you roughly where the item is located. Hooray! No keys lost again! 
Gifts for Nannies

11.  Something fancy!
     •   If your nanny has an eye for the finer things but doesn't treat themselves, a little spoiling never hurt anyone! Give him or her a nice designer handbag, or a gift card to a luxury store. Bloomingdales or Smythson, anyone?  These are really great gifts for nannies because they may not normally treat themselves to something so extravagant!

​12.  Out-of-NYC Wilderness Adventure 
     •  If you employ an adventurous, outdoorsy person, spring for a day-trip gift certificate for them (and maybe an extra gift certificate for them to bring a friend)! There are many hikes and overnight trips that leave right from Manhattan subways, with full transportation provided. Discover Outdoors or Destination Backcountry​ are two wonderful companies who sell gift cards.
Gifts for nannies


​We hope this guide helps! Remember that it's not what you give, but truly is the thought that counts. Your nanny will just appreciate you thinking of them, and as we all know, a job where you feel valued is a job you love to be at, and your all to. 
​

Happy Holidays, everyone!

Love, KITH & KIN
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Copyright, Kith and Kin NYC LLC, 2018.  Licensed and bonded by the NY State Department of Consumer Affairs, License #2038511-DCA. Kith & Kin Household Staffing Agency seeks to pair exceptional caregivers with vibrant families. Candidates who are legally authorized to work in the United States, and meet our requirements are encouraged to send us your résumé if you are seeking a position as a Nanny, Manny, Housekeeper, Governess, Mother's Helper, or a Baby Nurse / Newborn Care Specialist in New York City, New York State, New Jersey, or Connecticut. Kith & Kin Household Staffing Agency does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, age, height, weight, physical disabilities, veteran status, and marital status. We are a nanny agency in NYC that services the metro area.

Hours are by appointment only. Address: 195 Montague Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201 and 450 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10017 We make house calls! Call us at 929-445-2016.  Unfortunately, due to the high volume of interest, no calls regarding available jobs are accepted. Please check our job board here.
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