If you’re planning to apply for a nanny job, then one of the first elements of the application you’ll probably create is the resume. Whether you’re planning to be a part-time or a full-time nanny, a professional nanny isn’t quite like just being a babysitter. You need to be invested in keeping the child safe and helping them grow. Here’s how you can prove that you’re the best nanny for every application you’re submitting.
The most important thing to remember is that a nanny is a cross between a babysitter and a teacher. A nanny is a specific type of childcare provider that needs to be knowledgeable about young children and be experienced in how to manage them. To excel in a nanny position, you also need a great admiration for kids and be invested in helping them grow up to be their best selves.
Choosing a resume format is the most important starting element in creating a nanny resume. The chronological resume, which is the most common resume, is often the best for nannies because it focuses on years of work experience. However, the functional and combination resumes, which emphasize skills instead of experience, may be better if you lack work experience. Regardless of the format you select, you’ll typically use these five headings in your resume:
The resume header is where you put your contact information and your job networking profile links, including your LinkedIn profile. The header is the top part of the resume design, where a recruiter or hiring manager can spot it. Contact information includes your name, location, phone number and email address.
This section features a two to three sentence paragraph, either a resume summary or resume objective. A resume summary generally summarizes work experience and other highlights from your resume. If you lack work experience, choose a resume objective and mention a specific objective that you’re hoping to achieve in your job search.
Your nanny skills need to encompass a wide variety of elements for a child’s development. Here are a few of the resume skills that you might include in bullet points on your nanny resume.
All of these hard skills and soft skills are important parts of the skills section. Create your skills section to set you apart from other job seekers.
Your work history section should typically include any positions you’ve worked in the last ten years that relate to being a nanny. You can refer to a nanny resume sample to see how others in your industry have worded their employment on a resume. Your work history can include babysitting, working as a childcare provider or even working in early childhood education. These are all positions that can showcase why you’re the perfect candidate for a nanny position.
Last is your education section. Typically, you only need a high school diploma to be a nanny. However, you can also include certifications here. Some certifications, like CPR certification, are mandatory if you want to work in this field.
Yes. A cover letter is important for all applications. A cover letter allows you to talk directly to the hiring manager, gives you space to talk more about anything you didn’t get to talk about in your nanny resume template and makes it possible for you to ask for the job interview directly. You can use the cover letter builder from ResumeNerd for an easier cover letter experience.
Yes. You don’t need years of experience to become a nanny. You just need to understand how to manage children and care for their well-being. Instead of leaning on your work experience, you can rely largely on your skills instead. Remember that “babysitting” experience can also help in a nanny resume.
Every time you apply for a new job application, you need to change a few sections of your nanny resume to make sure that you’re creating the professional resume that’s right for a particular job. Read the job posting carefully to understand the required skills and experience. You can also look at a nanny resume example to build upon. Look for resume keywords and write your skills and information to match the keywords on the job description. This is an effective way to create the best resume for every application.
