The Nanny Checklist: Looking for a Job

A nanny career is highly competitive, and setting yourself apart from other nannies  is key. Having an up-to-date and attractive Curriculum Vitae can be a good start.  A cover letter and being fully prepared for interviews are also of utmost importance to stand out.

Curriculum Vitae

The Curriculum Vitae is also known as CV, or resume. It is a document stating the summary of an individual’s education, career and qualifications. A good CV is clear and straight to the point and should highlight important aspects of the individual. The CV should contain details that help an individual stand out from another in an interview for the same job. 

Some of the things to keep in mind when writing a Nanny CV are the following:

• The CV should be presented in chronological order, the most recent position to the oldest position.
• The CV should be adapted to the position they are applying for.
• Make sure the CV is well-presented. It should be readable, not messy, and at the same time eye-catching, to encourage reading by potential employers.
• Make sure that your CV is proofread before submission.

The CV should be divided into the following sections: personal details, academic training/education, languages and professional experiences. You can add references and write down your other areas of interest too.

Remember:

• List all of the nanny and/or childcare positions you have worked in.
• Make sure you include all the start and end dates of each position.
• List the type of position it was. E.g. part-time nanny, rota nanny, etc.
• List your responsibilities and duties while carrying out the job.
• Include the children’s ages for each position.

Cover Letter

Cover letters serve as an introduction of an individual to an employer. It is sometimes the first impression they have of an individual as they may not always have a face to face interview first.

A cover letter should be clear and well written, well presented and of course proofread before submission. The cover letter should explain how the individual meets the requirements of the position. It should highlight the individual’s skills, abilities and knowledge and should also contain general examples of their previous experience. Nowadays, cover letters are in the form of an email or brief summary at the beginning of the CV.

Interviews

Interviews are also stressful situations, some people find it nerve-wracking and some people are completely fine with them, nonetheless it is always good to be prepared for them. Being prepared can help a candidate stand out from others and can help prospective employers get a glimpse of an individual’s personality, so making a good impression is paramount.

Some things that should be kept in mind:

• Make sure you know as much as possible about the job you are applying for. Usually when interviewing for a job via agency, the agency will provide the applicant with the necessary information about the family, the salary, the dates, the age of the children, etc.

• Make sure to dress appropriately. Full business attire like a suit is not necessary. Dressing in a casual manner, such as well fitting jeans and a blouse is acceptable. However it is completely inappropriate to wear items such as ripped jeans or tank tops.

• Arrive on time. Being punctual is important. It can give prospective employers a good impression! Or in other words, arriving late can be a red flag for the employer.

• Be prepared to answer questions – Employers tend to ask various questions during the interview to learn more about the interviewee. The interviewees should provide examples to support their statements/answers. Some common questions are:

What are your biggest weaknesses?

What are your biggest strengths?

How would you deal with a child throwing a tantrum?

Furthermore, phone interviews and video interviews are equally important. Never take / do an interview in pyjamas. Preparing and dressing well sets you for that role and you will feel and sound more professional.

As mentioned previously, a nanny career is extremely competitive. A good way to set yourself apart from others is by enhancing your nanny knowledge and increasing your marketability by doing courses and earning qualifications. Check out our International Nanny Institute, where we have numerous courses such as Paediatric First Aid, or International Nanny Level 1 with valuable tips and information to upskill your nanny career.