A professional resume is one of the best tools you can use to market yourself as a career nanny. Nannies who take themselves and their profession seriously, and who have the resume to match, are extremely attractive to prospective families. Here are a few tips to make your resume stand out from the rest:
- Include a photo. This photo should be professional, warm, and welcoming. Remember, you’re marketing yourself as a career nanny, so you want the families to know you’re an expert in your field. However, keep in mind that they are ultimately looking for someone who will take good care of their children. If the parents haven’t met you yet, a nice-looking nanny photo is the best way to showcase what a kind, nurturing caregiver you would be.
- Begin with an objective. This section should be concise and clear, and it should include a short list of your qualities, achievements, qualifications, and years’ experience. This is a great place to include any extra things that might make you stand out—for instance, languages spoken, cooking skills, or teaching experience.
- Education. These days, many families are seeking well-educated nannies. Any completed degrees and certifications should go here. If there is additional pertinent information about your degree (for instance, a special education component or concentration), include that too.
- The largest section of your resume should be your nanny work experience. Make sure that in each section, you include the family name, location, dates of employment, and the age and sex of the children when you started. You should also include your general duties and any direct responsibilities you had with each family.
- Childcare work experience. If you’re lacking years of nanny experience, you can include an additional childcare work experience section. This should only include related jobs: teaching, nurseries, daycares or preschools.
- Finally, list your interests. Remember, only include interests that would increase your chance of being hired. These could be activities such as swimming, painting, going to museums, hiking, or cooking—the kinds of things you might be able to do with the children. You want to show the family that you’re more than a babysitter, and that you’re deeply invested in both the growth and well-being of their children. After all, a good nanny position is a long-term commitment.
At the Nanny Authority, we get a great deal of job inquires seeking nannies with certain qualifications. A nanny who is also fluent in French, Mandarin, or Spanish is highly sought after; so are nannies with college degrees or teaching backgrounds. Families often want nannies who are good swimmers, drivers, and who have CPR and first aid certification. If you have those skills or similar ones, make sure to highlight them on your resume.
And finally, the Nanny Authority’s most important piece of resume advice? After you set up your resume, remember to proofread it! It won’t reflect well on you, no matter your qualifications or education, if it looks like you didn’t take the time to spellcheck your resume before sending it out.