Nanny Guide: The Nanny Resume
When preparing your nanny resume, remember that families looking for nannies are
interested in creating working relationships built on trust and respect. As
a nanny, you are entrusted with the care of a child, and are invited into families’
homes to carry out your duties.
We strongly suggest that you use the
Nanny Application instead of a resume since it is much more complete than
a resume.
If you do use a resume your resume should clearly illustrate the qualities that
make you the nanny a family’s been looking for, while also demonstrating your
understanding and respect for other, more subtle aspects of your profession, such
as confidentiality.
A good nanny resume will include the following:
- Job experience
Be sure to include the length of time you held each nanny position. While
not a requirement, many employers prefer to hire nannies that have worked with the
same family for an extended period of time. Also important for employers to
know are the ages of the children you worked with and the reason you left the position.
It should be clear what your specific responsibilities were at each position, e.g.:
infant care for an individual family, activity organization for a summer camp, etc.
- Contact information
You must include your name and phone number, but should refrain from including other
types of personal information such as addresses, social security numbers, and other
identification numbers such as from a driver’s license. Remember that
at the application stage, it is important to protect both your and your potential
employer’s privacy—as well as that of your references (more on this
below).
- Education
CPR certification and other immediately applicable training—such as a teaching
degree—should definitely be included. What surprises some applicants
is that many families prefer nannies with well-rounded interests and some higher
education, so think twice before omitting that calligraphy class—after all,
you may very well spark the talent and interest of a young charge.
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Throughout the process of writing your resume and cover letter you should give due
regard to the following:
Personality
Your resume and cover letter should help families have some idea who you are.
Are you the taskmaster a family needs to keep their child on-task and up-to-date
with school assignments and exams? Or are you the soft heart that brings comfort
and diversion to the long lonely hours of the latchkey kid? The better you
know and can explain yourself and your abilities, the sooner you will find a family
that requires what you have to offer.
Confidentiality
As a nanny, the nature of your work is often very personal, and it is best to show
from the beginning that you are capable of holding up your end of the bargain in
terms of confidentiality and discretion. 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 about yourself or the family.
Your former employers deserve the same respect. When you list a family as
a reference, be certain you have their consent before disclosing their personal
information such as names and phone numbers. Do not disclose a family’s
address.
When you prepare your resume, create two versions, one with your list of references,
one without. Alternatively, you may create a separate reference sheet available
upon request. This limits the circulation of your references to only the group
of families seriously interested in hiring you.
Motivation
Having a nanny job is very often rewarding work with good pay—but nobody said
it was easy. Dedicate a portion of your cover letter explaining why you enjoy
working with children and chose your profession above others. 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—with your personality and working style being much
of what determines a good fit.