Your Nanny Job Search
Working as a nanny can be a personally and professionally
rewarding career choice. If you find a position with the right family, you’ll make
a real difference in the life of that family and build relationships that will
last a lifetime. As you search for a nanny
position, keep in mind that all families and all positions are
different. For this reason, you must take all the necessary steps to ensure
that you choose the right family and nanny position for you.
Important Things to Consider When Searching for a Nanny Job
For you to successfully work as a nanny, it is essential that you
feel comfortable with your employers and with the children who will be placed
in your care. Unlike working in retail or even in a large corporation, your
customer service skills are not just for show, but have real meaning in terms
of the way you are able to communicate your worries, your intuition and your
hopes for the future of your charges. In short, working in the right situation
for you will be the determining factor in how well you are able to do your job
and how good you feel about doing it at the end of each day.
As you consider a career in in-home childcare, step back for a
moment and take into account a few important factors that may determine how well
a job as a nanny may suit you.
- Do you know yourself well?
- Do you value being part of an intimate team?
- Are you confident in providing child care without supervision?
It is true that knowing yourself well makes you better able to get
to know those around you. Parents look to fill openings for nanny jobs with caregivers
who are competent and reliable team players. Parents also want to hire someone
they feel comfortable being around. They want to be able to talk freely to
their caregivers and relate to them on a personal level. These things are important to nannies too. As
a nanny, if you know exactly what to look for in a family you are better able
to narrow down your potential employment matches.
Before starting your job search, consider making a list of things
to look for in a potential family. Review your prior caregiving experiences
and consider what worked for you and what didn’t. Consider what you loved about
the job and what you hated. Think about what your “must haves” are and what things
you are willing to be more flexible on. Understanding and learning from your
past experiences will make it much easier to find a nanny job that you love.
If you have never worked as a nanny before, you will have to do a
little research to find out what job situation may be best for you. Browse
through Internet listings of nanny jobs and find out what different families
are offering. Make a list of which situations sound appealing and which do not.
Also, ask other nannies what they think is important to look for in a potential
family. Making friends with other nannies and understanding first-hand what
they like and do not like about their nanny job will make it easier for you to
understand exactly what an ideal nanny job may involve.
When looking around for the best nanny job, consider some of the
following:
- Are you willing to relocate? If you are, consider physical changes such as climate, as well as social opportunities you will have in a new place. Some nannies find it hard to adjust to live-in situations far from their hometown, while others love to travel and experience new places.
- How many hours do you really want to work? Some nanny jobs involve long hours of intense supervision, while others are fairly relaxed. Think about what you normally do in your free time and how important that is for you.
- How directed do
you want your job to be? Some parents prefer to hire full-charge nannies
who have the authority to plan their own days while others prefer to
micromanage their children’s care and provide a specific daily schedule
for the nanny to follow.
- Are you prepared
to make a career out of working as a nanny, or are you simply researching nanny
jobs as a way to save money for school or travel? What are your goals for
the future? Would you like to stay long-term with a family or would you
prefer to just commit for one year.
- Do you have what
it takes to be a nanny? Do you have the childcare skills and experience
to be a viable nanny candidate?
Evaluating your skill set, experience, personality
type and priorities will help you choose the right nanny job with the right
family.