How To Prepare For The Nanny Recruitment Process
Ready to find a new nanny job? Nailing interviews is definitely an important part of the recruitment process, but that’s not all there is to it. There are a few steps that many nannies easily overlook during their job search. Remember to take care of these tasks before you start looking for an agency to work with!
Check (and double-check) your resume
It’s easy to overlook standard information that has been on your resume for a while. If you’ve been employed with a previous family for a long time, it’s especially important to check that every detail on your resume is accurate.
Remember to check:
- Your basic information. Phone number, address, website, email address should be up to date.
- Your work history. Add any recent experiences you’ve had and include details about your work. Include the scope of your job, the ages and number of children you looked after, and any unique responsibilities you were given. For example, make sure to note if you’ve cared for a child with special needs or can speak a second language.
- Your training and certifications. If you’ve picked up any new certifications or handy skills recently, don’t forget to add those to your resume! Water safety, infant care certification, nutrition specialist certification, and early childhood education are all common courses and programs you can take for certification.
Once you’ve combed every inch of your resume, make sure it looks good, too. Choose simple, large-enough type that’s easy to read. Break up each section so they’re easy to scan. Make your name and contact information easy to find right away. There are tons of free templates in Google Docs and Microsoft Word!
Update your references
Now that your resume is good to go, it’s time to polish your references. It’s common for employers and nanny agencies to require professional references along with your resume. When you choose references, include people who can speak about your work ethic, character, and personality.
Previous families who employed you can share helpful details about your childcare skills with a potential new family. If you don’t yet have nanny experience in your work history, include co-workers or managers from previous jobs or volunteering experiences. They’ll be familiar with your skills and productivity. Teachers also make great references, especially if you studied child development or child education.
After you’ve chosen your references, remember to contact them and ask them if it’s okay that you use them as a reference. Not only is this polite, but it also prepares them in case they are contacted by your future employer. It’ll give you a chance to see how responsive your references are and to make sure their contact information is up to date, too.
Be responsive and proactive
Your awesome resume and stellar references got you an interview. Congratulations! But your work isn’t done yet. There are extra things you can do to speed along the recruitment process.
First, be responsive to any communication from your potential new employers. Answer emails, calls, or texts in a timely manner, as long as you received them at a reasonable time. It shows that you’re prompt and ready to act when you’re needed.
After an interview, be proactive and send a thank you message to the family. If they requested any additional documents or details during the interview, remember to include those with your message. Keep your thank you message short, and close it with a forward-looking line like, “I’m excited to speak with you again soon.”
Get hired with A Perfect Fit
If you don’t have as much time as you’d like to spend on your job search, or you’d prefer a professional opinion when it comes to finding the right employer, join A Perfect Fit. Our agencies in Phoenix, Dallas, and Denver will connect you with the perfect family for your experience and skills. Learn more about the nanny application process now!
