Are you a
CNA, caregiver, babysitter, nanny or pet sitter? Are you looking for
something that will get you out of the house and not stuck behind a
computer? Are you looking for something flexible that can be part-time or
full-time? Then Sittercity might be the company that makes this happen for
you.
Today, we
have a review of Sittercity that will hopefully help you decide whether or not
to sign up.
What Exactly is Sittercity?
Founded in
2001 and headquartered in Chicago, Sittercity is an online
company that connects both parents and guardians with sitters of all types.
Over the years, they have been featured in or on:
·
NBC
·
Today
·
Huffpost
·
The New York Times
·
The Wall Street Journal
·
Working Mother
·
Real Simple
In
addition to their website, they also have a blog with numerous articles for
both sitters and families looking for sitters.
There is
also a Trust and Safety Center with resources and helpful tips to keep everyone
safe and secure. Additionally, Sittercity has their own app, which is used to
communicate and monitor communication as to how assignments are going.
Sittercity
makes a point of stating how seriously they take safety and security for all
involved in the sitting experience—especially children and the elderly.
If you
have ever used Care.com, you'll find
Sittercity is similar to that. With the ability to set your own hours and rates
as well as have a variety of duties and tasks, individuals from all walks of
life—both students and professionals—are drawn to the sitting profession.
Once you
sign up at Sittercity and create your own profile, you will have an opportunity
to find jobs in your area for:
·
Babysitter
·
Nanny
or Manny (male nanny)
·
Child
Care
·
Special
Needs Care
·
Companion
Care
·
Pet
Sitter
While most
people understand the terms “babysitter” and “pet sitter“, the other terms
may need a little more clarification or understanding of what the scope of care
includes.
Babysitters
and pet sitters require no special certifications, although some metropolitan
areas offer a 2-day training and certification for babysitting. However, it's
generally not required.
Many
people think of Downton Abbey or Mary Poppins when
they hear the term “nanny”. There is sometimes a stigma of wealth associated
with having a nanny. However, a nanny is really just a professional child care
giver.
Depending
on training and certifications, some nannies tend to be expensive and some do
not. There are nannies that will even participate in the education and the
social upbringing of the children.
This
brings us to the next term – “child care.” This differs from simple babysitting
due to the increased responsibilities. Child care might include getting
children dressed and ready for school, driving them to appointments, and
helping with their homework.
Overall,
“child care” is more hands on with additional responsibilities and longer hours
than babysitting tends to require.
Special
needs care involves caring for children with, but not limited to:
·
ADD
(Attention Deficit Disorder)
·
ADHD
(Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder)
·
OCD
(Obsessive-Compulsion Disorder)
·
Autism
·
Diabetes
·
Down
syndrome
·
Epilepsy
·
Hearing
impaired
·
Sight
impaired
Companion
care involves caring for the elderly, which may include those still living at
home, but in need of a licensed caregiver or CNA to assist with the role of:
·
Rehabilitation
care
·
Respite
care
·
Hospice
care
·
Drop-in
care
·
Medication
assistance
What Are the Requirements to Be a Sitter for Sittercity?
Once
you sign up for an
account and create a profile, you will be screened by Sittercity via
the Family Watchdog Database. This applies not only to the potential sitters,
but also to the families looking for those sitters.
Most of
you probably already know this, but the Family Watchdog Database is the
national database of known sex offenders. They will also do an ID check to
verify identities of both parties.
When
corresponding with potential clients or with Sittercity, you must use their app
or website so that the conversations are monitored for safety and security.
There are
also helpful references on Sittercity for best way to set up your profile and
profile picture.
Your
profile includes your photo and abbreviated name (no complete names for
security reasons). For example, my name would show up as “LeisaG.” Then, your
city, state, and zip code. Complete addresses aren't included.
Below your
name is a navigation bar, and this includes the following tabs:
·
Interview
·
Message
·
Availability
·
Run
background check
·
Write
review
·
Share
profile
The Interview tab
is there so potential clients can interview you. The Message tab
is used for corresponding once the assignment starts.
The Availability tab
serves the purpose of offering dates and times for your
availability. The Run background check tab is for
clients who want to run a basic or extensive background check on you. You may
also run those yourself and make the results available for clients.
Sittercity
claims that those sitters who go ahead and run their own background checks
(either basic or enhanced) generally receive five times more offers than those
who leave this to the prospective clients.
A basic
background check is $15 and an enhanced one is $60. There is a
description of each one, as to what type of information is checked.
None of them include a credit check. If the client runs the background check,
then they are the ones responsible for paying.
How Much Money Can You Expect to Make at Sittercity?
That will
really depend upon you, your geographic area, and what you want to charge and
how much in terms of service you are willing to offer. Some clients do request
cooking or light housekeeping.
Your fee
should also be enough to cover any travel costs. There is a handy travel button
on the app. Based on the profiles I've checked on Sittercity, most people seem
to charge between $15 and $22 per hour.
Sittercity
is not responsible for collecting payments, so you must make arrangements
yourself. Cash, check or PayPal seem to be the most popular methods of payment.
Even
though the company doesn't involve themselves in fee collection, they do allow
you to report someone who didn't pay as promised.
Is This Open Nationwide?
Unfortunately,
Sittercity may not be available in your area. The best thing to do is to check
your zip code on the site. It does not appear to be open outside the US.
What Do Others Have to Say About This Opportunity?
My three
favorite sites for checking reviews of work-at-home opportunities are Indeed,
Glassdoor, and SiteJabber. I always suggest that others do the same for their
own peace of mind. The links are included below, so please do feel free to
click on them and read the individual comments as well.
How Can An Interested Individual Start Working For Sittercity?
It seems
pretty simple. Just decide what type or types of sitting you want to do. Then,
go to their website and sign up as a sitter.
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