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Thread: Should I just give up wanting to be a Nanny because I stripped?

  1. #1
    Kaiyla
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    Default Should I just give up wanting to be a Nanny because I stripped?

    sorry for the rant ahead of time but...this really sucks.

    I retired dancing two months ago and just recently moved to L.A. Years ago, prior to dancing, I had extensive background as a nanny and teacher's assistant at a private school (off the books). Now I want to return to that, but the possibility of someone finding out I was a dancer is terrifying. I had a OUI/DUI in March and it says right on the police report that I was a dancer employed at so-and-so stripclub. I also pulled my credit report and found that when I financed my car six years ago, the fact I was a dancer ended up on my f*cking credit report. So if someone does do a background check on me, this will come up, correct? What information does come up in a background check? Also, until the day I die, will anyone with access be able to pull up my OUI police report that says STRIPPER all over it?

    This is so disheartening. L.A. feels like it is going to knock me on my ass. I've got a bachelors in english and it seems the only thing I am qualified to do here is to wait shitty tables -and I am not even qualified for that apparently as today I had two big-man restuarant owners interview me and then tell me they "weren't sure" if they needed anymore help..well WHY interview me then?!! After asking me a MILLION personal questions, "What do you need to make per week here? Who do you live with? What does your boyfriend do?" and on and on while writing it all down. This sucks. For the price of such high living here, you think they'd make getting JOBS a little bit easier. If anyone can hook me up with a decent job here I'd love ya for life..

    The truth is, the reason why I probably bombed the waitressing interviews is because I've waited tables before and I absolutely hate it. My heart is not in it but (aside from nannying) it is the only way to make what my bills require. The only thing that makes me feel motivated and happy has always been working with children, and now the chance of that ever happening does not seem to promising. Sometimes I wish before I started dancing, I had thought about what I was ruining for myself down the line.

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    God/dess fancygirl's Avatar
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    Default Re: Should I just give up wanting to be a Nanny because I stripped?

    talk to a lawyer, they might be able to contest your DUI (probably too late at this point but what the heck) and get it wiped out. As for your credit report...I don't know. Does it say on your credit report forever?

    If you really really want to be a nanny and a professional one at that, I don't know how you can get away with not doing a background check.

  3. #3
    Kaiyla
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    Default Re: Should I just give up wanting to be a Nanny because I stripped?

    well the thing is, I've already figured that it is not a good idea to apply with a nanny agency since as a business they can provide the most thorough background checks. ( Maybe?)
    I've decided to answer ads from independent families. The thing is, I'd have no problem admitting that I was a dancer if society wasn't so uptight about it. I never thought my ability to be an excellent caretaker for a child depended on whether or not I danced in my past.
    What kind of background check can the average person obtain?

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    God/dess fancygirl's Avatar
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    Default Re: Should I just give up wanting to be a Nanny because I stripped?

    maybe you can say the police and records screwed up and that you just waitressed at a strip joint?

  5. #5
    madmaxine
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    Default Re: Should I just give up wanting to be a Nanny because I stripped?

    Have you considered getting teaching credentials and teaching English to English As A Second Language students? LA is full of those.
    My assumption about the LA nanny market is that "domestic" (i.e. Latina) women are taking up the bulk of work.
    Keep your chin up. Try retail, especially jewelry sales or department stores. Good luck.

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    God/dess Deogol's Avatar
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    Default Re: Should I just give up wanting to be a Nanny because I stripped?

    I'm with MM, I think you are overlooking what your BA/S might be able to do for you.

    L.A. is probably full of advertising types - you might look at being a copy editor or something like that.

    Non-profits often have brochures and the like made - someone is writing the paragraphs in those things!

    Heck, I have even heard of people becoming speech writers for CEOs and the like - it isn't just politicians that need that sort of work done.

    You might even be able to write position papers and do research for political organizations out there. I mean, it is not like California doesn't have it's politics.

    You might explore technical writing and software documentation. I mean California is full of software and hardware companies - as well a growing biotech industry.

    I would also start a blog - and mention NOTHING about dancing in it. I would also make it about the industry you are trying to tickle.

    Heck - podcasts are hot right now - one may even become somewhat of a script writer for those.

    I think you are really underestimating where you can go with that degree.

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    God/dess MrChristopher's Avatar
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    Default Re: Should I just give up wanting to be a Nanny because I stripped?

    I would think the DUI would be a much bigger dealbreaker, honestly. Even independent families do background checks, at least I do. I am by no means passing judgement on you by saying this, I just think that would be harder for most parents to overlook than if you were once a stripper or not.
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    God/dess VenusGoddess's Avatar
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    Default Re: Should I just give up wanting to be a Nanny because I stripped?

    Yeah, I could deal with hiring a nanny who worked as a stripper...but I would NEVER hire a nanny who had a DUI. The reasoning always goes, "Usually if you get CAUGHT doing it, you've done it many more times before." No way would I trust the health and safety of my kids to someone who had a DUI (or like charge).

    I don't think it's the stripping that is going to trip you up...it's the DUI charge.

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    God/dess Lysondra's Avatar
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    Default Re: Should I just give up wanting to be a Nanny because I stripped?

    Ditto. I have a very low tolerance for drink driving. Very low. Miniscule. I've paid people I didn't know to take a taxi home (and was denied, wtf?!) because I didn't want them on the road.

    And most parents would think that you'd drink on the job. And drink drive on the job. And then crash. And pulling out pieces of your child from a wreckage is not what someone looks forward to when they get home from work.


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    Veteran Member DJ_Duane's Avatar
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    Default Re: Should I just give up wanting to be a Nanny because I stripped?

    A former stripper becoming a nanny would, most likely, be viewed as your leaving that part of your life behind and starting anew. However, I have to agree with the previous posts. The DUI will be viewed by most prospective employers as an insurmountable obstacle to hring you.

    If you did it once, they'll think that you will do it again. Plus, there would be serious concerns about your drinking on-the-job while you are supposed to be watching the children whose welfare you are hired to protect.

    Talk to an attorney about trying to get the DUI expunged from your record. If it can be done, then go for it.

    If not, then you will need to explore other options.

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    God/dess Mastridonicus's Avatar
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    Default Re: Should I just give up wanting to be a Nanny because I stripped?

    The DUI is really the biggest deal. But to be honest, I'd seriously be prepared for a long arduous journey if you are looking to employ in this field. You can do it, and all you need to do is get your foot in the door.

    Correct me if I am wrong, but the only thing to dispell a DUI that can't be taken off your record is a resume of glorified testimonials since the dui. But that means getting job #1. I'm sure after that it should be less difficult.

    Good luck!
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  12. #12
    God/dess Deogol's Avatar
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    Default Re: Should I just give up wanting to be a Nanny because I stripped?

    Well, it doesn't surprise me the people on this forum don't see you being a stripper in your past as being a problem on the nanny front.

    I suggest asking the question in another forum and seeing what the answer would be. Something along the lines of "I need a nanny and this girl showed up who's an ex-stripper with a DUI - what do you think?"

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    God/dess Jenny's Avatar
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    Default Re: Should I just give up wanting to be a Nanny because I stripped?

    Yeah, nobody is going to want to hire a nanny who might be driving their kids while drunk. And unlike stripping, you can't say that it was something you needed money for, or anything. Like in an interview, as long as you are well groomed, conservative etc., saying that stripping was in your past might not be such a big deal (although it is still a negative, don't get me wrong).

    I think you might be erring here anyway. I mean, WHY do you want to be a nanny? That is like the worst possible job. There is a reason they need to import them - because people here would far rather wait tables or work in freaking fast food than take that kind of job. You can probably type - try admin or reception. As a temporary job it will pay way more than nannying.
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  14. #14
    Kaiyla
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    Default Re: Should I just give up wanting to be a Nanny because I stripped?

    I understand what everyone is saying. I know I made an awful, horrible mistake, driving intoxicated (a 0.9, but nevertheless still one point over the legal limit). The thing is, that was my ONE mistake, and the worst one I could have made, but it still is not is not indicative of my ability to be an excellent nanny for a child. I don't drink, smoke, or do drugs. I'd submit to DAILY alcohol and drug testing if it would reassure a mother that her child would never be in danger in my car, but I can't. All I can do is hope to God that there is somebody out there who will see past that mistake and give me a chance. It will not be my first nannying job, and I have a ton of great experience. The nannies in CA make GREAT money and I loved nannying. My heart isn't in waitressing, retail, or temp work. However those will be avenues I will be forced to explore if nobody wants to hire me.
    Deogol, the jobs you listed could possibly be of interest to me, I just would not know how to go about finding them and getting my foot in the door. I guess my college had some pretty lousy job counselors, lol.
    Still, does anyone know, when someone does a background check, what do they see? Police reports? Past employers? Your credit history?

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    God/dess Bridgette's Avatar
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    Default Re: Should I just give up wanting to be a Nanny because I stripped?

    If ANYONE pulls a background check on you for a job, they must have your permission. ANYONE who pulls a background check can, as part of that, get a criminal, education verification and credit check. Maybe more. I know they can also call your past employers, references, etc if you give permission.

    Many employers who pull credit reports are doing so to help verify past employment - it is the easiest way to see if there's some truth to your claims that you worked at Job X for __ years.

    They can include an education verification - to confirm you have the degree you claim you do, when you graduated and with what GPA.

    They can pull a local, state and/or national criminal file on you.

    It may be a little less likely that a private family hiring a nanny would run ALL those checks, but I would assume they would at least run a criminal. And considering your criminal includes a DUI AND comments that you were a stripper, I'd say you are shit out of luck. Unless you can get the DUI expunged. But even then, you'll be limited to those jobs where they don't run credit checks because I say that past stripping WILL be a mark against you, with or without the DUI. All of us know all too well what bullshit we go through over the stripper stereotype, etc.

    I think I would look for ads and avenues to some of the jobs Deogol mentioned.

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    God/dess VenusGoddess's Avatar
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    Default Re: Should I just give up wanting to be a Nanny because I stripped?

    Well, I think that if you want to be a nanny, work on getting the DUI expunged. There are still a lot of open-minded people out there who would hire an ex-stripper...especially if you have some good references from other nanny positions. While for some people, stripping would be a deal-breaker...I think the DUI would be MORE of a deal-breaker. Work on the DUI...pursue the nanny position...if it doesn't work out, go to something else...but don't give up on it completely because you THINK no one will hire you...there will always be that one family who really likes you...is open-minded. Good luck.

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    God/dess krchab99's Avatar
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    Default Re: Should I just give up wanting to be a Nanny because I stripped?

    wow degol was harsh but honstley he has a point. I would like to think that the world is as forgiving as we are on this bord but in truth it is not good luck on your journy i hope you do well keep us updated.

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