Nannies: Useful Information for Nannies
Nanny Guide: The Nanny Resume
A nanny resume can provide parents with essential information about nanny candidates.
Presenting essential information in a neat and organized fashion can help parents
easily discover crucial information about potential childcare providers.
eNannySource providers the
Nanny Application as an alternative to a resume. The nanny application provides
parents with all of the details a resume would include, but in a consistent format
from all prospective candidates.
Nannies may wish to present parents with a well-crafted resume during the face-to-face
interview. Presenting a formal resume can set you apart from other candidates and
demonstrate to parents that you are a professional.
A well-crafted nanny resume will include:
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Contact information
Your nanny resume must include your contact information. Typically your name, address,
phone number and email address should be included. If you are not yet comfortable
disclosing your physical address, you can wait until a later stage in the interview
process to do so.
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Work experience
The job experience section of the resume should include an overview of each position
that a nanny has held over the past 7 to 10 years. Be sure to include the length
of time you held each position. For nanny positions, be sure to include the ages
of the children that were in your care and the duties and responsibilities of each
position. You'll also want to include a short statement that summarizes why each
position has ended.
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Education and Training
The education section of your resume should include your educational experiences.
If you have attended college or a university, be sure to list that information.
If you have taken coursework at conferences or participated in workshops, here is
the place to include it. Don't dismiss your educational experiences, even if they
are not directly related to childcare. If you have taken sign language classes presented
by your local community center, it's important to include. A family who has a child
that is interested in sign may value your educational experience.
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Volunteer Experience
The volunteer section of the resume can be used to highlight any volunteer experience
you may have. Parents are interested to know how their nanny candidates spend their
free time and are eager to know what interests their potential nanny has.
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Professional Affiliations
The professional affiliations section is the place to list any childcare related
organizations you belong to. If you are a member of the International Nanny Association
or your local nanny support group, here is the place to include that information.
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References
The references section is the area where you can list the contact information for
those individuals potential employers can contact. References should be individuals
whom have firsthand knowledge of your care giving abilities. Previous employers
are standard references. If you are not comfortable proving reference information
in your resume, you can include a statement that says references are available upon
request.
Nannies may wish to also include a cover letter with their resume. A cover letter
is written to potential nanny employers and outlines why the nanny wishes to gain
nanny employment, the type of position she is seeking and an overview of her qualifications,
special skills and talents.
When writing your resume and cover letter, you should give
due regard to the following:
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Personality
Your resume and cover letter should give parents insight into your personality.
Are you the taskmaster a family needs? Or are you the soft-hearted, big sisterly
type of nanny that can bring comfort to a latchkey kid? The better you can communicate
your personal style the quicker you are to find a family that embraces it.
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Confidentiality
As a nanny, the nature of your work is personal and intimate. Showing that you have
an understanding and appreciation for confidentiality can help foster feelings of
trust and respect.
Potential employers will regard you more highly if you maintain a polite distance
and avoid divulging or asking for a great deal of personal information. They'll
also appreciate your respect for privacy if you show respect for your previous employer's
privacy. Before providing a reference, be certain you have permission to disclose
personal information, including their names and phone numbers.
When you prepare your resume, you may wish to create two versions, one with your
list of references and one without. Alternatively, you may create a separate reference
sheet available to potential employers upon their request. Doing so limits the circulation
of your references to only the group of families seriously interested in hiring
you.
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Motivation
Parents want to know you have chosen to be a nanny. They are eager to know if your
motivation is noble and are curious as to why you've settled on a career in in-home
childcare. Dedicate a portion of your cover letter to explain why you enjoy working
with children in their private homes. Understanding why you do the work you do will
help families decide if they want to get to know you better. Remember that for most
families, choosing a nanny is a very personal and individual decision. Your personality
and work style can help parents determine you if you'd be a good fit for their family.