How to Get a Raise...if You're a Nanny

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Determination, Patience

Step 1

Remember the Special Occasions
When you first start your job with a family, make little notes of the important dates, occasions, memorable days etc. Think about it, an anniversary card (sent through the mail-bonus points) from the nanny! Or...something like: "Ahh...a year ago today was my first time to go with you to the kid's doctor's office. Oh yeah, remember we learned that they had grown two inches since I had started as their Nanny"?! Music to the ears...
Step 2

Volunteer at Something Really Cool
This may require extra time and a little less beauty sleep on the weekends but hey, it's for a good cause right? Also, any type of volunteering history looks great on a resume and just adds points to your "Nanny awesomeness"! You can volunteer at nursing homes, schools, local woman's shelter etc.
Step 3

Write an Article in the Local Parent Resource Magazine
Okay, this might call for some extra evening/weekend time but well worth the effort and bragging rights. Grab a local magazine (like the free ones they distribute to the schools and libraries) and submit an article related to children/childcare. If your article makes it to publication...you just opened up another job opportunity, so score one for you! Don't forget to show the family you work for (obvious, we know) the published article YOU wrote about childcare in the Magazine which they (and the other parents) read.
Step 4

Have a Special Week Day
Plan a day each week where you and the kids have a "do anything we want" day. Take the whole day (pack a lunch) and go somewhere unusual and extra fun! Go fishing, to the movies, or on a picnic next to other great places (with permission of course). This is nice break for the nannies that have "work from home" moms. "The kids and I would always do something extra special on Fridays when they were out of school. We would pack a lunch and spend all day in the city (Seattle) going to museums, plays at the theater and then go park hopping with other nannies and their kids"-Tiana (nanny from Bellevue Washington).
Step 5

Arrange Play-Dates with Mom's Friends
Yes, this is a big "ouch" if other moms intimidate you, but if you can manage to arrange play-dates with other kids who don't have a nanny (and we mean only the kids who's mom is friends with your kid's mom), this will shoot you to the top! This is vital too because you'll most likely have to be "parent social" anyways when you're whisked away on vacation with the family and their friends. Who knows, you might just even become friends and have another "ally".PS-Compliment the family you work and how much you LOVE working for them when on a play-date (remember they are friends and will talk about you). Your compliments will get back to your employers and make them feel all warm and cozy inside.
Step 6

Become Buddies with the Teacher
This is something you've probably accomplished on the first day, but if you haven't, you should. Why? Not only will you have an ally (something you need in case you end up working for the "impossible" family) but you will also gain valuable insight into the parent-teacher/caretaker relationship and how to handle those difficult "your child did this today" conversations.
Step 7

Do Something Extra!
Caution! If not done properly, whatever you do will become expected and will cost you dearly in the end! When we say "something extra," we mean things done that will woo them but not be expected to continue on a regular basis. We mean things that will be greatly appreciated and even rewarded without the expectation of regularity. For example, moms love it when you do a little housework but wait! Instead of vacuuming, dusting, or anything that CAN be asked of you on a regular basis...organize/label the art cabinet instead! See how that works? How often will you be expected to label all of the art bins? Don't clean out the refrigerator (trust me...they won't want that to stop)! Instead, sanitize the kid's toys (something you probably should be doing anyways). Catch our drift?
Step 8

Never take sick time!
What? You have got to be kidding me! Well, okay...that's a little unreasonable so we're going to rephrase that. Try really, really hard not to take sick time. Double up on your vitamins and get to work. This mighty act of reliability will be noticed! If not appreciated now, it will be when you end up really getting sick.
Step 9

Be on time!
Being punctual (and we mean daily) can earn you major points in two ways:
a. Parents love you for being so responsible and "eager" to work for them.
b. If you need to come in to work late (doctors visit etc.) they will notice and "miss" you even more!
Step 10

If you don't ask, you don't get!