A Better Nanny :: Tip #1

Hi Nannies,

First of all, congratulate yourselves for taking the first step to becoming a better nanny! With the amount of competition, you need to make sure you are standing out from the rest of your competition - which is what I'm going to help you with :)

Tip #1: Your Resume.

Putting a resume together is quite simple and it doesn't need to be fancy, just informative. Parents want to know exactly what it is that you did with previous families.  The following is a list of 5 basic steps you will need to take to create an informative resume:

#1. Name, Email Address, Phone Number (your address is optional)

#2. The next Section should be some "Highlights" containing 5-8 key bullet point notes that promote your capabilities/qualifications.

#3. A Detailed, chronological list of RELEVANT employment history, starting with the most recent position. Example:

#4. Additional Qualifications. This section should be similar to the "Highlights section but only in brief terms.

i.e.: swimmer, active, great cook, etc.

#5. Education. Again, it should be put in chronological order, starting with the most recent.

 

...And when your finished, this is what your resume should look like:

Jane Doe

janedemail@whatever.com

888-123-4567 

Highlights:

-Over 8 years of professional child care experience (newborns-13 yrs)

-flexible schedule; able to work additional hours as needed

-Legal, U.S. Citizen

-Speak English Fluently

-Clean Criminal History; fingerprinted -Trustline Registered

-CPR/First Aid Certified

-Valid Passport. Able to travel as needed.

-Valid CA Driver's License and reliable transportation

Employment History

06/2008-Present

The Robinson Family; Santa Monica, CA.

Full-time Nanny

Primary child care provider for two children: newborn (boy), 4 year old (boy).

Drove children to/from school, playdates, etc.; prepared nutritious meals for the children; laundry, running errands (grocery shopping, etc.); occasional travel and frequent overnight stays; light housekeeping, potty training, assisted with letter and number recognition,

Reason for leaving: Family relocated to New York (Letter of Recommendation)

01/2004- 05/2008

The Doe Family; Malibu, CA.

Full-time, live-in Nanny/Housekeeper

Primary child care provider for one child (girl, newborn). Bottle feeding, changer diapers, potty trained, organic cooking, baby laundry, running errands (grocery shopping, etc.); occasional travel and frequent overnight stays; full housekeeping (when not caring for baby),

Reason for leaving: Family laid off due to loss of Job (Letter of Recommendation)

01/2002- 05/2004

The Swiss Family; Calabasas, CA.

Full-time, live-in Nanny

Primary child care...etc., etc.

Additional Qualifications: Healthy lifestyle, can swim, bilingual (English/Mandarin), pet lover, ECE Units, great cook, non-smoker, creative, patient, organized.

Education:

 1992-1994: Los Angeles College
       Bachelor of Arts, Business Administration

 1991-1992: College for Adult Learning
       Studied English as a second language
 
Things to remember:

• A resume shows an employer that you took the time to put learn how to put a resume together and they appreciate that, very much.
• Do a spell check! There should be no errors/misspelled words
• Be detailed about your past positions. It gives them a better sense of who you are and they will trust you more.
• If you still can't figure out how to do a resume then you MUST find someone to help you.
• Keep it simple. There is no need to get fancy with your resume. Keep it clean, with minimal design

With your resume in place, you will feel more confident going into an interview! Stay tuned for next weeks tip (#2)!