For expatriates who have moved to Russia, one of the most pressing and immediate needs that must be met for their families is finding safe, affordable, and reliable childcare. Complicating the situation is the fact that most expatriates do not arrive with every family member being proficient, much less fluent, in Russian. In order to make the adjustment to a new life and a new culture a less uncomfortable process, many families are searching for English-speaking nannies in Russia.
Russian nannies who speak English are not that easy to find. First, Russian women who have fluent English are often highly educated, and therefore do not tend to go into professional childcare for a living. Second, of the few English-speaking nannies in Russia that are available, they are in high demand in the marketplace, so they are frequently unavailable for work. And finally, finding a Russian nanny at all, particularly one who speaks English, can be daunting for the newly-arrived expatriate whose Russian language skills are not sufficient to handle writing advertisements, holding interviews, or negotiating contracts.
While there are some traditional €brick and mortar€ nanny agencies based in Russia, most of these are located in large cities and do not necessarily serve the more obscure outposts that English speaking expatriates can find themselves in. Additionally, these agencies can be very expensive and also have contracts written in favor of the agency, rather than in favor of the client or of the nanny.
It is because of these challenges that many expatriates in Russia are choosing to find their English-speaking nannies in Russia by using online nanny agencies. Using these agencies is simple. First, the expatriate parent does a little online research to see which agency is reliable, established, and has good consumer reviews. There are several reputable online nanny agencies that deal with international placements of nannies.
After the parent has chosen to do business with a particular online agency, they usually pay a small fee to the agency in order to directly search for, and contact, nannies whose experience and profiles meet the requirements of the family. Parents can also post their own online €want ad€ with the agency, and receive messages and contact details from candidates interested in interviewing for the job. After that, the parent can proceed with interviewing the candidates by telephone or by video call, negotiate and sign a contract, and arrange for the nanny to arrive and begin work.
Of course, both parents and nannies need to observe the appropriate national and local Russian laws when employing an English-speaking nanny in Russia, but oftentimes the parent's employer can assist with this or direct the parent to appropriate resources such as lawyers or local administrations. However, despite the complexities of hiring an English-speaking nanny in Russia, after the initial effort is expended, having someone in your home who can speak English with you and your children will be more than worth it. The children can get used to speaking in English and therefore not lose their English language skills through lack of use, and the nanny may even improve her own English by living with native English speakers.
When interviewing a prospective English-speaking nanny for a job in Russia, be sure to ask her if she herself speaks Russian. This will help enormously on a day-to-day basis, as she can shepherd the children through the Russian environment, and also assist parents in reading documents, dealing with phone calls, visitors, and service calls, and in generally adjusting to life in Russia altogether. An English-speaking nanny can help your stay in Russia not only be productive, but also very enjoyable and educational.
Russian nannies who speak English are not that easy to find. First, Russian women who have fluent English are often highly educated, and therefore do not tend to go into professional childcare for a living. Second, of the few English-speaking nannies in Russia that are available, they are in high demand in the marketplace, so they are frequently unavailable for work. And finally, finding a Russian nanny at all, particularly one who speaks English, can be daunting for the newly-arrived expatriate whose Russian language skills are not sufficient to handle writing advertisements, holding interviews, or negotiating contracts.
While there are some traditional €brick and mortar€ nanny agencies based in Russia, most of these are located in large cities and do not necessarily serve the more obscure outposts that English speaking expatriates can find themselves in. Additionally, these agencies can be very expensive and also have contracts written in favor of the agency, rather than in favor of the client or of the nanny.
It is because of these challenges that many expatriates in Russia are choosing to find their English-speaking nannies in Russia by using online nanny agencies. Using these agencies is simple. First, the expatriate parent does a little online research to see which agency is reliable, established, and has good consumer reviews. There are several reputable online nanny agencies that deal with international placements of nannies.
After the parent has chosen to do business with a particular online agency, they usually pay a small fee to the agency in order to directly search for, and contact, nannies whose experience and profiles meet the requirements of the family. Parents can also post their own online €want ad€ with the agency, and receive messages and contact details from candidates interested in interviewing for the job. After that, the parent can proceed with interviewing the candidates by telephone or by video call, negotiate and sign a contract, and arrange for the nanny to arrive and begin work.
Of course, both parents and nannies need to observe the appropriate national and local Russian laws when employing an English-speaking nanny in Russia, but oftentimes the parent's employer can assist with this or direct the parent to appropriate resources such as lawyers or local administrations. However, despite the complexities of hiring an English-speaking nanny in Russia, after the initial effort is expended, having someone in your home who can speak English with you and your children will be more than worth it. The children can get used to speaking in English and therefore not lose their English language skills through lack of use, and the nanny may even improve her own English by living with native English speakers.
When interviewing a prospective English-speaking nanny for a job in Russia, be sure to ask her if she herself speaks Russian. This will help enormously on a day-to-day basis, as she can shepherd the children through the Russian environment, and also assist parents in reading documents, dealing with phone calls, visitors, and service calls, and in generally adjusting to life in Russia altogether. An English-speaking nanny can help your stay in Russia not only be productive, but also very enjoyable and educational.