Charlotte Collis Bio

Staff Interview with Charlotte Collis - Positions Coordinator

Charlotte Collis studied law and has lived in Italy for many years. She is bilingual and can also speak some French. She has traveled extensively. Juggling a career with bringing up her two children has not left her much time, but when she does have some spare time, she loves anything connected to the law, traveling, the theatre, and she is a bit of a foodie.

What inspired you to join and continue with Totalnannies since its founding?

I worked in this sector in Italy and really enjoyed this type of work. I enjoyed the challenge of finding the right candidate for clients. When I moved to the UK I wanted to do something similar, so Totalnannies was the perfect opportunity. I was able to bring my knowledge of Italy—the culture and language—to the table, and the fact that Totalnannies started by placing candidates in Italy was ideal.

Woman standing with chef at a restaurant — Traveling

Can you tell us about your role as Positions Coordinator?

I mainly deal with clients from when they register right through to when the candidate joins their family. I try to understand their needs and get a perfect match. It is sometimes challenging but that is half the fun! When I get the job brief then it is my job to find the candidate that would fit in well with that family’s lifestyle and objectives, and vice-versa. CVs are important but we don’t only base our selection on what would seem a good fit on paper. Personality is just as important and we try and find a candidate that will connect to that particular family.

What is your favorite part of your job?

Liaising with clients from all over the world. I am also lucky that I travel quite a bit and often meet clients in person in their home. Meeting the family and seeing where they live permits me to give a personal touch when interviewing candidates. I love it when I get positive feedback once a candidate has been in her host family for a while or when I get a postcard from a nanny from a far flung destination she has traveled to with her host family.

How do you work to ensure nannies are placed with ideal positions?

Getting a detailed brief so I can manage expectations. As long as both the nannies and clients are up front with what they want and we get all details before the position starts, I find that avoids problems after arrival. The interview candidates conduct with the host family is also really important. Sometimes a host family will invite a candidate to spend the weekend with them (all expenses paid) so they can meet before making a final decision.

What challenges do you face in your work and how do you overcome them?

Unreasonable expectations. However, patience, working through the problems, and finding the positive in any situation can work wonders. With good communication we find that most problems can be solved.

Why do you think nannying is a good means for meaningful travel?

It is a great way to see another country. With more young (and not so young) people traveling for an extended period of time, it is the perfect way to do this. Some of our candidates then decide to move permanently to the country once they have taken one of our placements. That is a great testimony on how these types of experiences can really change lives.

Why do you think employing a nanny from overseas is benifical?

It is a great way to for a child to open their horizons and get to know a different culture and way of life. With the world becoming more and more global it can spark that interest and curiosity in a child to get them to want to learn a new language or travel themselves when they are older. Some candidates keep in touch with the chldren they cared for even after they have left and families sometimes go and visit ex nannies in their home country and keep a friendship for years. There is no better testimony on how an experience of this kind can have a lasting positive impact on a child.

What does meaningful travel mean to you?

If you focus on making your life better by learning a new skill set and discovering a new culture you will learn a lot about yourself and the world. This will rub off on other people and enrich the lives of people you meet and the communities you encounter. I found that the more I learn about the world and different cultures the more it enriches my life. If it enriches one aspect of your life, it is meaningful!

Woman working at computer in an office — In the office

You have 29 years of experience in this field. How has it changed over time?

When I started there was no internet and we did everything by fax! Many more people embrace this experience from all different backgrounds. I have found that more “mature” candidates try this experience, maybe after having brought up their own children and wanting to embark on a new path in life.

Why is it important to travel and experience new cultures?

When you travel you can really broaden your horizons. You may embark on a career you never thought about. Traveling builds confidence. As you embrace the challenges of a new language and culture you are learning how to adapt to unknown situations. If you can succeed, you will find that you will be less intimidated when you have to start a new job or move to a different part of the country.

What hopes do you have for the future of Totalnannies?

To grow and embrace new countries and industries. We would also love to start training programs and run courses. We are hoping to expand our team and have more members of staff from different countries. We are looking to expand with franchise opportunities to get the Totalnannies ethos in different local offices across the globe.