By Aunt Ann’s In-House Staffing
Having a strong resume is essential to being noticed by potential employers. Your resume is your opportunity to display your experience, abilities and qualifications that make you the best person for the job. If you struggle with writing your resume, you’re not alone! Here’s how to best present your experience on paper so you can make a great first impression.
Contact Information
This is an obvious but an important piece to remember! If a family or agency is interested in contacting you, you’ll want to be sure your name, email address and phone number are all up- to-date and at the top of your resume so you can easily be reached. It is not necessary to include your mailing address, but you may want to add the city and state in which you reside to make it easy for families to know you are in proximity.
An Objective or List of Qualifications
Your objective is a summary of your qualifications and provides an opportunity to stand out to prospective employers. Maybe you have over 10 years’ experience working as a nanny, or you are well-versed in the RIE or Montessori method of parenting. This is your chance to present your powerful skill set to your reader. Keep in mind that on average, a person spends an average of 6 seconds reading a resume, so a bulleted list of qualifications is easier for skimming, especially if including a variety of skills. This can include fluency in more than one language, computer skills, a clean driving record, and/or soft skills such as time management or problem-
solving.
Work Experience
This section of your resume provides more detailed information of your current and past work history as it relates to the childcare position you are seeking. You want to provide potential employers insight into your various roles and responsibilities while keeping the details concise and to the point. For each position, be sure to include:
- Dates of employment: Keep your positions organized chronologically beginning with your most recent experience. Include the month and year the position began and ended.
- Your role or title in the position (e.g., Nanny, NCS, Family Assistant, Credentialed Teacher, Temp/On-Call, etc.).
- Your employer’s name or the surname of the family.
- A bulleted list of relevant duties and responsibilities for each position.
You do not need to provide personal contact details (i.e., phone numbers and email addresses) for your employers unless requested by the agency or family with whom you are seeking employment. It’s best to have a separate document prepared with your contact info and a list of your references so you can easily provide this information if asked for it. Additionally, it’s a good habit to ask past employers for letters of recommendation so you have them readily available for potential employers. This makes it easier for your references as well so they are not bombarded by multiple requests which can lead to burn out. When you only need to ask them to speak to a potential employer with a serious offer, it lightens the effort they need to put in and they’ll be more willing to give an emphatic referral!
Educational Background
Not all employers require a Nanny with a degree, however if you have one it can help you stand out from the crowd. If you are currently enrolled, you can include this on your resume but be sure to include your expected graduation date. You’ll want to include:
- Date of graduation (or expected graduation date)
- Your degree title (i.e.: B.S. in Early Childhood Education)
- The school attended and location if applicable
Certifications
In addition to education, you can call attention to any certifications or additional training you’ve received that will further emphasize your skill set. Maybe you have CPR certification, are an NCS with specialized training, or are a member of INA. You’ll want to include any or all these assets in this section of your resume.
Lastly, proofread your resume and check for grammatical errors. Enlist a trusted friend or colleague to look it over; a fresh pair of eyes can often catch mistakes you may have missed. Above all, be honest, professional and keep it straightforward!
Aunt Ann’s In-House Staffing has accumulated over 60 years of experience successfully matching the personalities and staffing needs of San Francisco Bay Area households with the characteristics and work experience of professional, highly skilled nannies, housekeepers, estate managers, private chefs, personal assistants and more. As a third-generation, family- owned business, we’ve earned the trust and loyalty of both employers and domestic professionals. That’s why we are called upon time and again by established clients as their needs for domestic help expand. To learn more about our services, call 415-749-3650 or visit our website www.inhousestaffing.com.
