secrets to writing an outstanding nanny resume

SECRETS TO AN OUTSTANDING RESUME:

Personality and Professionalism

Presented by Donna ShannonCoyote Visions Consulting

For the INA 2010 Conference May 22,2010

San Francisco, CA

Coyote Visions: Who We Are Founded in 2004 by President Donna Shannon

Our Mission: To help job seekers of all levels achieve their employment goals through solid, practical advice and services

Over 8 years in corporate recruitment & private service placement

We are one of the few businesses in the US that offers private service resumes

Donna’s book, “Get a Job Without Going Crazy: a Practical Guide to Your Employment Search” is available on Amazon.com

(c) 2010, Donna Shannon

In general, the purpose of the resume is to get an interview… HOWEVER -

When employers consider hiring help for their home, they scrutinize resumes much closer than corporate employers.

For a successful nanny resume, you must:

1. Inform

2. Educate

3. Persuade

Resumes: What is the point?


Resume Basics

Corporate Resumes Nanny Resumes

Formal and reserved Restricted to 1 to 2

pages May include

references Never includes

personal pictures Should never mention

personal interests or hobbies

Personable, warm and creative

Can expand from 2 to 4 pages

Must include references

Frequently includes photo

Encourages personal information


Resume Formats: ChronologicalIn a chronological resume, the work experience is listed in a chronological order, with the most current jobs listed first.

Most chronological resumes use separate sections for skill sets, education and summary.

Advantages:

•Easy to follow

•Logical

•Emphasizes experience

Disadvantages:

•May draw attention to short-term jobs


Resume Format: FunctionalBy comparison, functional resumes focus more on accomplishments, personal traits or duties performed in similar jobs.

Advantages:

•Effective at highlighting abilities when experience is similar

•Draws attention away from short-term dates

Disadvantage:

•Doesn’t tie accomplishments/ highlights with the specific job (c) 2010, Donna Shannon

Employers or agencies always want to know 3 things:

A. Who you are

B. What you’ve done

C. How does it apply to their needs

1. Inform the employer2. Educate the employer3. Persuade the employer


A. Who you are

Your PROFILE or SUMMARY section on your resume should include personal information to get a feel for who you actually are.

This may include:

•Where I’m from:

• Where I grew up:

• What I like best about Private Service:

• What my friends would say about me:

• What my past employers would say about me:

Personal Profile:For as long as I can remember, I have loved to take care of children. As early as 12 years old, I began babysitting in my neighborhood, eager to help with the young children. When I went to college, I chose to specialize in early childhood education.

While I was born in the United States, I have lived in London for the past 20 years. In fact, I’ve even developed an English accent! I am originally from the Los Angeles area, where I gained a love of the ocean, the beach and the cultural influences of an international city. Childhood is a wonderful period of people’s lives, filled with adventure and new discoveries; but it is also an opportunity for children to learn how to handle life’s challenges as well. I am proud to have helped many families through good times and bad, adding to the security, safety and education of children throughout the US and abroad.


B. What You’ve Done

Your WORK EXPERIENCE or PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE along with your EDCUATION are critical elements to prove your professionalism.

Be sure they can see the value of what you’ve done and what you can do in the future.

•Bullets help with focus

•Bring out the details in each job

•Be sure to mention any ongoing education or professional development

Education:1990 Bachelor of Arts, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA

Major: Early Childhood Education

Professional Memberships:1995 - Current Member, International Nanny Association

Professional Experience:2003 – 2009NannyThe White Family, London, EnglandThe Whites Family had three children, at the ages of 1, 5 and 7 when I started with them. The parents are busy doctors with hectic schedules, and frequently needed me to stay with the children overnight.

• Kept detailed health records for each of the children• Drove older children to school, appointments and activities• Encouraged children to clean to develop personal responsibility• Created fun and unique outings throughout London• Introduced children to different occupations to expand their

appreciation of others


C. How does it apply to their needs?When they can see how your experience and skills applies to their needs, this is when they will call for the interview.

So what are their needs?


C. How does it apply to their needs?What if you can’t match all of their needs?

Here’s a secret:

You won’t be able to match everyone’s needs.

It is your individual strengths, style and abilities that create the right match for the family.


Employers don’t always realize everything that their nanny does for them.

On your resume, you need to point out all of your abilities so they can appreciate your worth.

This is shown in two ways:

A. Skills

B. Scope



A. Skills Section

Your SKILLS SECTION should be easy to find and follow.

Skills fall into two categories:

i. Hard Skills• These are

measurable, testable and teachable skills

ii. Soft Skills (Personal Assets)

• Personality traits, demeanor, reputation

Skills & Personal Assets:• 26 years of Professional Nanny and Governess

Experience• Child, infant and adult CPR and First Aid

Certified• Excellent cook, specializing in fresh and organic

foods• Develops fun and educational activities for

children of all ages• Excellent driving record• Mindful of safety and health issues• Responsible, congenial and caring


Details to enhance your skills

It is not enough to add a simple list of skills to make a strong impression.

Include these kinds of details to really show a potential employer your worth:

• Years of experience• Proficiency levels• Descriptive qualifiers• Specific skills, instead of vague

statements

Skills & Personal Assets:• 26 years of Professional Nanny and

Governess Experience• Child, infant and adult CPR and First Aid

Certified• Excellent cook, specializing in fresh and

organic foods• Develops fun and educational activities for

children of all ages• Excellent driving record• Mindful of safety and health issues• Responsible, congenial and caring


B. Scope of your work

Your SCOPE shows the level of your work and your abilities.

SCOPE is not a separate section, but a tactic that is used throughout the resume.

Some details to consider include:

• Number of children and their ages

• Size of home by square feet• Level of tasks• Frequency of tasks


Which is more appealing to you?Average Resume Outstanding Resume

Cared for children Prepared Meals Cleaned bedrooms Drove to

appointments Light Housekeeping

Cared for 3 children, ages 1, 5 and 6

Prepared two healthy, kid-friendly meals a day

Kept children’s rooms neat, organized and sanitary

Chauffeured children to 3 after-school activities each week

Helped clean 8,000 sf home


For Nannies, the biggest persuasion is trust.

Employers want to get a sense of your trustworthiness from your resume.

Trust is developed by:

A. Your professionalism

B. Your references

C. Your passion



A. Your Professionalism

In the corporate world, it is expected that someone be connected and involved in their industry and their career.

Same is true for private service… we just tend to forget!

Remember to get out of the house…

And to list the appropriate sources on your resume

Sources for professional and personal support: Community activities Volunteer Work Professional Associations LinkedIn.com Groups, connections

22 Nanny groups on LinkedIn; largest with over 600 members

Meetup.com Groups 88 Nanny Meetup Groups nationwide


Continuing educationTaking outside classes is critical to stay on top of your professional game.

On your resume, all types of education can be included, not just traditional college classes:

• Workshops• CPR Certifications• Cooking classes• Art Classes• Childhood

development• Safety and self-

defense• Personal

development(c) 2010, Donna Shannon

Professional associations

Many employers may not realize that there are well-established professional associations for nannies and private service.

Adding these to your resume adds to your seriousness.

• Include the years of involvement / conferences attended


B. Your References

Your references are your biggest asset!

1. Include a quote from each letter of recommendation

2. Withhold contact information until after the interview

3. If your search is confidential, be sure to qualify this on your resume

References:Complete Letters of Recommendation are available upon request. Mr. WhitePrevious EmployerLondon, England“Mary was the best nanny we ever had. We always knew that our children would be safe with her, even while she took them to activities throughout London and the countryside…” Mrs. BrownPrevious EmployerLondon, England“Mary was an absolute godsend for me, especially when I was bedridden while I was expecting our twin girls. When they were born early, it was Mary who gave me strength and understanding to handle their health issues. And while all of this was going on, she made sure our son never felt left out. It is without reservation that I whole-heartedly recommend Mary Poppins.”

Mrs. GrayPrevious EmployerLondon, England“Mary is a wonderful governess. She takes her responsibilities seriously, even while making learning fun for our boys – which was quite a challenge!”


C. Your Passion

Many employers don’t’ understand the appeal of being a nanny.

When you can show them your love of the job, they will begin to believe in you.

PASSION STATEMENTS can be a part of your Personal Profile, your cover letter or even in your thank-you letter after the interview.

It is uniquely YOU – and that is why it is special


How to develop a passion statement:Close your eyes for a moment and visualize this:

When was the first time you knew you loved caring for children?

• How old were you?• Was it a specific incident?

What is the best part of being a nanny?

Why do you love your job?

Now take 5 minutes to jot down your first impressions – these are the answers closest to your heart.


In all the world, there is no other nanny exactly like you .

And there is a family right now who needs you.

Be sure to

1. Inform

2. Educate

3. Persuade

In your resume so they can see that you’re the

Perfect Fit

It’s all about you


secrets to writing an outstanding nanny resume

Self Improvement

organic foodsdevelops

agesexcellent

aid certifiedexcellent

early childhood

private service

health issuesresponsible

personal profile

personal assets