By George J. Newton
As a nanny, you’ll see a lot of debate online about finding your unicorn family. What does that mean? Essentially, a unicorn family is the perfect match for you. They’re a joy to work for, and they match your own working needs perfectly.
Many feel like they’ll never find their own unicorn family, and it can feel disheartening. However, you absolutely can find them. The key is to make yourself the unicorn nanny. If you’re someone who meets their needs, then you’re much more likely to find the right family for you. Here’s how you can find the right pairing and get your happily ever after.
Learn To Trust Your Gut
This is easier to do when you’re an experienced nanny, who’s learned to read the signals from any potential family. It’s much like when you’re interviewing for any job, and want to read your potential employer for any red flags. The more experience you have, the easier it is to trust your gut and bow out of the process if you feel it isn’t right for you. That does make it a lot easier to get the right job, and find your unicorn family.
Even if you’re new to nannying, don’t worry. You’ll soon be able to pick up on the clues that a family may be your unicorn. It comes with experience, so see each job as a learning experience.
Have A Properly Presented Resume
It’s shocking just how many nannies don’t have a resume that shows potential families just who they are and what they can do. A good resume will go a long way towards showing off what you’re capable of. At the very least, it should contain your contact details, qualifications, history, education, and certifications.
“Ensure that you’re keeping everything streamlined so potential families can get what they need, quickly” says Emily Peters, a blogger at Write my X and 1 Day 2 Write. “The easier you make it to check out your skills, the easier it will be for them to see you as an ideal nanny.”
Put Together A Portfolio
You’ll have a resume, but if you really want to stand out you’ll want to put together a nanny portfolio for yourself. These are essential in finding your unicorn family, as they help you stand out above the rest. That’s especially important when a job is popular and has a lot of applicants.
The portfolio should include your resume, as well as a cover letter that makes a good first impression on your potential new family. A cover letter is so important, as nannying is an intimate job and you want to show off who you are and why you chose nannying as your profession.
As well as these documents, there are some other things you should include too:
Sample nanny contract: No matter how much you trust a new family, you should never go into employment without a contract in place. This protects the both of you, and sets expectations right away. When you have a sample contract in your resume, it shows the family just what you’ll bring to the table. That helps set expectations before you even enter into employment, saving a lot of heartache down the line.
References: “Typically, you should get a reference from each family that you work with” says Darren Jones, a writer at Assignment Help and Brit Student. “That way, you have a written record of your success over your career.” Remember it’s usually best to hold their contact details separately, that way you’re ensuring you’re not circulating them with every new family you meet.
Certificates: As a nanny you’ll have gone through several classes and certifications, to get the qualifications needed. Including evidence of this in your portfolio is essential. Make sure all the certificates are current too, as many only stay valid for a certain period of time. Having proof of identity, background checks, and driving records will also show you’re highly reliable.
These are just a few tips on finding your unicorn family. It may not feel possible, but you really can find them with time and patience. Set yourself up to be the best you can be, and you’ll be able to find them in no time.
George J. Newton is a business development manager with Dissertation Writing Services and PhD Kingdom. He helps business owners and employees move forward in their chosen careers and find success. He also writes for Cheap Coursework.