A resume is a snapshot of a person’s professional experience and related background, and although it is “just a piece of paper,” it’s often the most important document relied upon to make hiring decisions. For childcare professionals, a nanny resume should be a concise, yet thorough, summary of what makes a candidate qualified to take care of children as a career.
Whether you are looking to hire a new nanny or are a potential applicant looking for resume tips, here are the most important things to have on a nanny resume.
A Brief and Descriptive Summary
The top of a nanny resume should feature a summary statement that tells why a candidate is well-suited for a particular job. This statement should be two to four sentences and highlight the most important things described below in the body of the resume. Make sure to customize this paragraph for the specific job you are applying to instead of leaving it more general to set yourself apart from other candidates and show you are interested in this exact position.
Bullet-Pointed Highlights
In today’s modern world, many people read by quickly scrolling through and scanning for easy-to-digest information. A nanny resume with bullet-pointed highlights is easier to read than one with large blocks of text and can help a potential employer pay attention to the resume details better.
Educational Background
Even if a nanny job does not require a specific degree, it is still a good idea to include educational background on a nanny resume. This is where you should list the names and dates of schools that you attended and any degrees or certifications that you receive there.
This is a particularly important section to focus on if you are applying for a nanny homeschool teacher position to let parents understand your educator qualifications. Also, add details of any child-related training courses that you have taken, CPR/first aid certifications, and independent study coursework that you have pursued.
Relevant Work Experience
A nanny’s past experience should be highlighted in detail on a nanny resume and include names of previous employers, job locations, and dates of employment. This section should also include the relevant job duties and accomplishments at each job – using action verbs and bulleted lists for readability.
This is where you will want to highlight any specific types of experience that you have, such as being a live-in nanny or a travel nanny. If your experience is limited, consider including non-nanny jobs as well that showcase your dependability, attention to detail, and love of children.
List of Qualifying Skills
Another common addition to a nanny resume is a skill list that highlights the skills described in the work experience section. Some skills here can be fairly general, such as good time management skills and multitasking skills. But the section should also highlight very specific skills, such as being able to teach piano lessons, being fluent in Spanish, or experience in planning children’s meals.
Multiple Forms of Contact Information
A nanny resume should also offer multiple forms of contact information, including the candidate’s telephone number, email address, and mailing address. This is also a great place to include a link to a personal website, LinkedIn profile, or social media handle if your page is relevant to nannying.
You can find more resume tips on our website, as well as links to sample resumes to help you craft a great nanny resume of your own. These are also useful resources to review as an employer to better understand what to look for in nanny resumes that are submitted to you. Contact us at Household Staffing International to learn more!