Nanny Sad at loosing "Dream" Job + Nanny Horror Story

Fellow Nannies-

I know we are living in critical times, but I have been unemployed since one week before the 19th of Nov '08. I always had good luck finding a job in CL; I am not commenting on the families, but u all know what the chances are of finding both really nice and annoying families.

I am now desperate, and not just because talking about myself, but I think I am a good "normal" nanny that takes pride in her job and has really great references. I feel I am getting stuck! Either parents want to pay way to low for what they ask or the position offers very little hours like 12 Hrs (Not mentioning # of children). Does anybody feel like me???

I am also trying for sittercity.com, but it's the same just like CL, parents are barely posting and Not replying at all, not to at least saying “no thanks.” I recently went on an interview for a couple in Murray Hill with one child who first said they needed 3 full dys then 4 dys. They said they own their own business. Then they asked for my rate I said $15/Hr to see what I could get out of them. Then, saw their huge reaction! and I said it could be negotiable (saying to myself 12/Hr bottom line, because there is housework involved, and no benefits). They called me back as they promised, but just to say that they r still interviewing. That the child is now in school and would only need 1pm to 6pm 3 or 4 dys. Mom asked if I was still interested bc they really liked me ... and that they would call next week with a final answer. That was my ONE interview since I am unemployed.

Does anybody know about other childcare websites, agencies???

I really don’t care at this point paying a fee to an agency, as for now, my concern is to find a good family that pays "fairly" and offers Stability.

Oh and one last thing! I was with one Indian (wannabes rich) family for 1 full year without any benefits did whatever they wanted with me because I am "young" to them. I last there only because of the 2 kids that I now miss terribly... only got paid $13/Hr for 24 hrs a week, (that started at 30 hrs/week). Whenever they didn't feel they needed me she would not pay for the dy. Days didn’t need me were told with short notice of 1 dy before. No sick dys, luckily I did not get sick for 1 full year. No Holidays paid! and asked to work on some of them for same rate. Obviously it was my first looooong-term job I learned from. I never knew about benefits, vacations, bonus etc. I was let go because the little one I took care of most of the time, started school during the day. Plus, we were 2 nannies all the time working for them (the other one was working for the family 6 yrs).

After that "experience" I found another family on CL...my dream came true!!!. Wonderful family (respectful, generous, funny, nice).They offered a contract along with reasonable benefits (paid 6 holidays, no sick dys, and paid off-duty, 2 week vacation) and the pay was fair!! After working for about 2 moths bragging about my perfect job, I was let go bc they are photographers freelancers and the mom who just needed me P/T to begin with, stayed home bc she had no weddings to shoot until July '09 and recently purchased a Loft. So I know find myself writing this......

Any info would be greatly appreciated, thanks for reading.