What to Include in a Nanny Resume

Start your resume with your name and contact details. Make sure your email address is professional, and consider adding links to your online profiles or portfolios, such as Care.com, to provide additional information.

Include:

• First and last name

• Address (City and Zip is fine)

• Cell phone number

• Email address

Also known as "Summary of Qualifications," this part allows you to briefly highlight why you're an excellent fit for the job. Make sure your summary is tailored to the job description and showcases your standout accomplishments. Look at it as a mini cover letter.

Include:

• A brief summary of your experience, skills, or certifications relevant to the job.

• One or two unique accomplishments that distinguish you from other candidates.

Past Child Care Experience: This section should expand on your summary, showcasing how your past experience prepares you for the current job. Include relevant details from previous jobs that align with the new family's job description.

Include:

• Who you worked for and the location; along with ages of the children you worked for and your schedule.

• Positions held and when you held them (a simple month/year format is fine).

• Relevant job duties for each position and your major accomplishments.

• Experience in childcare, even if it was not full-time, should be included if it's relevant to the job you're applying for.

*you may omit personal details of the family for their privacy.

While a degree isn't always a prerequisite for nanny positions, having one can give you an edge. Include any degrees or relevant coursework, or if you're currently enrolled in a program, note your expected graduation date.

Include:

• The schools you attended.

• The years you attended and graduated.

• Degrees achieved.

The placement of this section can depend on your level of experience and degree. If you have substantial experience, place that first, but if your degree is particularly impressive, you might place education before experience.

Highlight any relevant certifications or specialized training, such as CPR, pediatric first aid, or a Child Development Association (CDA) credential.

Include:

• The training or certification course and the date it was completed.

A skills section allows you to showcase a mix of quantifiable "hard" skills and less tangible "soft" skills. These could range from proficiency in a language to cooking skills, or qualities like patience and creativity.

Including a photo on a resume is a personal decision and can vary depending on cultural expectations and professional norms. In the United States and many other countries, it's generally not necessary or even advised to include a photo on a resume due to strict anti-discrimination laws. Employers typically prefer not to see photos to avoid any potential claims of discrimination based on appearance.

However, for a nanny position, some might argue it could be helpful since it adds a personal touch and families might feel more connected to a candidate after seeing their photo. Still, it's important to remember that your skills and experience are the most critical aspects of your resume. A photo should never replace clear, concise information about your qualifications.

Ultimately, the decision to include a photo is yours. If you decide to do so, make sure it's a professional, high-quality image. You should be appropriately dressed and the focus should be on your face, showing you as friendly and approachable.

Use Clear and Concise Language: Your resume should be easy to read and understand. Avoid jargon or overly complicated sentences. Use action verbs to describe your accomplishments and responsibilities. This makes your resume dynamic and demonstrates that you're a proactive individual.

Proofread Carefully: Small mistakes or typos can leave a negative impression. Take the time to check your resume thoroughly for errors. Consider asking someone else to look it over too, as they may spot mistakes you've missed.

Use Relevant Keywords: Keywords are words or phrases that relate to the specific job you're applying for. These can be skills, qualifications, or experiences. You can often find these in the job description. Incorporating them shows you're a match for the role and can help your resume get noticed in applicant tracking systems.

Keep Your Resume to One or Two Pages: As a general rule, resumes should be concise. If you're early in your career, one page should suffice. If you have extensive experience, two pages may be necessary. Remember, the goal is to highlight your most relevant skills and experiences, not to document your entire work history.

Regularly Update Your Resume: Your resume should be a living document. As you gain new experiences, skills, or certifications, add them to your resume. Similarly, if you see that certain information is no longer relevant or impressive, feel free to remove it.