Each month we highlight one of our agency partners, and get to know a little more about them and their insights into the household employment industry. This month we spoke with Don Deville, co-owner of Georgia’s Dream Nannies.
Agency Vitals
- Founded in 2003
- Serves the greater Atlanta metro area
- Specializes in nannies, housekeepers, and special needs care
How did you get started?
My wife had been a nanny and had a desire to create an agency better than what was currently available in the Atlanta area. She worked in the agency part-time while she was still teaching, then she made the decision to take a chance and jump in full-time, and I came on board a few years later.
What is your biggest challenge?
Finding really good candidates has been our biggest challenge. We get plenty of applicants, but it’s difficult to sift through and pull out the truly qualified ones that we know will be a good fit with us; there are usually only a few that stand out.
What strategies do you use for recruiting candidates?
We rely heavily on word of mouth from our nannies. We get referrals from nannies for candidates that share the same values. We also use traditional means of recruiting, but I’ve found that referrals from other nannies work best.
What do you look for to make successful placements?
We try to make sure there’s a connection and that both parties share similar values and ideals. We do our best to ensure that the nanny has what the family is looking for in an employee. Personality matches are critical in this process; it’s a strong aspect that is often overlooked as this is not something that is on a resume.
How do you advertise/market your agency? / How do you find new families?
We use Google ads as well as putting lots of SEO work into our website to make sure that we show up on web searches when someone from the area needs child care. Client referrals are also a very large source for potential new clients.
How do you distinguish yourself from online job sites? / How do you show your value?
The biggest difference between us and online sites is the depth of experience that we can draw from to help families. There are many pitfalls to trying to hire a nanny online, and agencies like ours bridge that gap through our experience; we know what to look for in a candidate and help the family through the entire hiring process. Online sites can’t do that.
How do you help families understand paying their employee legally?
I’ve found this is always a good topic to bring up. We try to explain to families that while it may seem easier and cheaper to pay off the books, as soon as the nanny gets hurt on the job or leaves the position and files for unemployment, the floodgates open, investigations start, and it becomes a nightmare for both the family and the nanny. We stress the consequences of paying an employee illegally.
What changes have you seen over the years in the household employment industry?
The biggest change I’ve noticed over the years is that nannies are staying with families for a much shorter amount of time than in the past. I see on resumes that they change jobs much more frequently, moving on from one family to another more quickly than before. I can’t point to any specific reason – part of it is some families not needing help for as long as they used to, but it’s something I’ve noticed in the last several years.
How has GTM helped your agency and your families?
GTM has been a big help. Our families get advice on figuring out their financial requirements as a household employer, and GTM makes the payroll process easy. Families want a turnkey solution, and partnering with GTM makes it easy for us to get all the information that our families need. They offer guidance and resolve any issues our families have, which makes things easier on us as well.
What are some fun facts about you or your agency?
We have been fortunate enough to have been featured in many Atlanta-area newspapers and magazines, and my wife appeared on the Atlanta Live television show. We’ve also been in the Charlotte Observer, and we’ve won Best of the Best for Child Care from Kudzu in the Atlanta area four straight years.
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