Everyone who hires a nanny has their own idea of what a nanny should do. Roles and expectations vary widely so it can be tricky to craft a resume to show you’re right for a specific role. 

You need to show that you’ve got the skills the employer is asking for and ones they didn't even think to ask about. You’re not Mary Poppins, but your resume needs to show that you’ve got a bit of magic in you and are ready for whatever challenges come your way.

Whether you’ve already got your eye on the perfect nanny position or are looking to become a nanny for the first time, we’ve got all the expert advice you need to succeed.

This guide will show you:

• Nanny resume examples to inspire you
• What makes a great nanny resume
• Which audiences you should consider when writing a nanny resume
• How to appeal to specific employers
• What format your nanny resume should use
• How long your resume should be
• Which sections you should consider including
• Great qualifications to include and how to write them
• How to list your skills
• Which hard and soft skills are best to include
• How to include your education
• How to write an objective or summary
• How to target your resume
• What to do if you don’t have much experience
• How to use a resume builder to make the process easy

In other words, we’ll answer every question you might have about creating the perfect nanny resume. Now let’s get started.

Nanny resume template examples

The best way to begin creating your resume is with top-quality examples. Chances are - you haven’t seen many nanny resumes yourself, so it helps to begin by getting a feel for what one should look like. One thing to notice is that they aren’t dull black and white documents anymore. Modern nanny resumes should convey some personality and show that you do more than the bare minimum. Better resume design does just that.

As you look through these examples, start taking notes about what you like within them so you can begin your own resume with a set of ideas.

[Examples]

How to write a nanny resume that will land you the job

There is no one perfect nanny. The right person for one family might be totally wrong for another. That’s why there’s no single perfect nanny resume. The trick is to craft the perfect resume for a specific family. Creating a single resume and sending it out to a dozen families is simply not a recipe for success.

Who should your resume be written for?

Before you write a single word of your nanny resume, you need to consider who your audience is. Who will actually read your resume? Who will make the final decision to hire you? The answers to these questions should guide every choice you make about crafting your resume. But the answers to those questions aren’t always what you expect.

How to get your resume past ATS

If you’re applying to work directly with a family, your audience is obvious. However, if you’re applying to work through an agency, the first hurdle your resume may need to overcome is a computer algorithm.

ATS stands for Applicant Tracking System. It’s an artificial intelligence driven computer program, which scans and sorts large numbers of resumes. The idea is to weed out the worst ones and save the human recruiters time. While families won’t be using ATS, most companies do. So there’s a chance a nanny agency will use one. That’s why, unless you’re only applying directly to families, you need to ensure your resume is ATS-friendly and optimized.

The fact that 75% of all submitted resumes are never read by a human tells you just how few resumes are ready for ATS. That means that if yours is, you’ve got a real leg up. But what does it take to get past ATS? Fortunately, it’s not too complex.

1. Use the right format. Your resume needs to be a .doc, .docx, or .pdf. It’s as simple as that. Anything else and the ATS is very unlikely to be able to read it. In that case, your resume is likely going straight into the digital trash can.
2. Make sure your resume is ATS-friendly. Submitting a resume in the right file format, sadly, isn’t enough. Not all pdfs have their data structured so it can be easily read by an ATS. But before you panic and wonder how on earth you can address that, the right resume builder will ensure this for you (more on that below).
3. Use your keywords carefully. ATS use what’s called natural language processing (NLP) to understand English. But NLP is far from perfect. So to give yourself a better chance, make sure you phase your skills and experience exactly the way the ATS wants. Doing that requires carefully studying the job ad and phrasing your skills and experience as closely to how they’re written there as possible.

How to write for parents

Obviously your main audience as a nanny will always be the families, who you’ll ultimately work for. While the kids' opinions of you are important, they’re unlikely to be reading your resume, so we’re going to focus entirely on the parents.

The first step is understanding what kind of pressures or concerns these parents have. Do they want a nanny who’s more independent or one who will work with them? Do they want you to have any specific certifications for safety and first aid? Above all, try and identify the main reason they need to hire a nanny and craft a resume that shows you will address that issue.

For example, if a job ad emphasizes that the parents are extremely busy professionals, it might make sense to focus on your reliability and organization. Put yourself in the shoes of those parents and imagine how they might react to what’s on your resume. Everything you include should be focused on making it easy for them to say “yes” to you and your resume.

How should a nanny resume be formatted?

Once you’ve gotten some inspiration from nanny resume examples and carefully studied the people who will be reading your resume, it’s time to figure out formatting.

The first thing to know is that your experience should be in reverse-chronological order. This means putting your most recent experience at the top. The logic behind this is that your resume format needs to be optimized to convey the most important information first. That’s why it should start with an objective or summary (more on how to write them below), followed by your recent work.

Using this formatting saves the person reading your resume time. By ordering the information, you also control the context. For example, if you haven’t worked for 2 years, because you were caring for a sick family member, the reader should know that before they notice a 2 year gap in your work history and form a negative opinion about it.

The correct length for a nanny resume

In most industries, the hiring manager reading through your resume wants an easy single page, that’s quick to go through. But for a nanny resume, that’s usually not the case. Parents deciding whether you’re going to be the right person to look after their kids are much more willing to look through a few pages of a resume, than that exhausted hiring manager.

Does that mean a 3 page resume is welcome? Not necessarily. Just because those parents might be willing to read through a longer resume, doesn’t mean they’ll enjoy it. It’s still your job to ensure all the information on your resume adds value. If you can get 1.5 pages of information into a 1 page resume and have it be easy to read, parents will appreciate that. It sends a signal that you value their time, which is essential for being a good nanny.

But what if you’re applying at an agency? The same rules should apply. Agencies will review your resume thoroughly, but that’s not an excuse to make it long and wordy. So focus on making sure your resume is well written and only contains relevant information, letting that determine the length. But that said, more than 2-3 pages will probably come off as excessive.

Sections to consider including

Including all of these would make your resume too long, so consider which ones will best highlight what makes you unique as a nanny.

• A resume summary or objective
• Professional qualifications
• Work experience
• Hard skills
• Soft skills
• Certifications or training
• Education
• Languages
• Volunteering
• References

The rule to follow for both the sections you include and the content in those sections is “if this doesn’t make my resume better, it’s making my resume worse.” This will keep your resume high quality and shorter.

The ideal nanny qualifications and how to list them correctly

While previous work experience is important, you want to get your basic qualifications out there as soon as possible. These basic facts will serve as a kind of summary of your resume.

The qualifications you should mention here include:

• Years of professional child care experience
• Certifications
• Languages
• Any specific teaching or child care methods you utilize
• Legal status to work in the relevant country
• Special skills like art, swimming, fitness, nutrition, etc.
• Availability (a 1 year minimum availability is common)

Be sure to check that your qualifications match the minimum requirements in the job ad. This section should quickly tell the reader that you meet these requirements and that your resume is worth considering.

Here is an example of how a basic qualifications section should look:

Qualifications

• 4 years of professional child care experience
• CPR, First Aid, and Water Safety certifications
• Speaks English and French fluently
• Background as a swim teacher
• Can cook healthy meals
• Valid driver’s license and accident-free record
• US citizen
• 2 year availability

The best nanny certifications and how to include them

Because of the enormous responsibility you have as a nanny, certifications are extremely important to include on your resume. Safety-related certifications are some of the most valuable.

Parents need to feel confident that you can handle the safety of their children. Professional certifications from trusted organizations like the Red Cross are best as they inspire confidence far beyond simply stating that you’re familiar with first aid or something similar.

Obtaining these certifications also demonstrates that you’ve gone above and beyond simply having experience. It shows the kind of proactive qualities parents look for in a great nanny.

Here’s how to list a certification or qualification:

Certified CPR, American Red Cross, 2014

Certifications to consider including

• CPR
• First Aid
• General Child Care
• Water Safety
• Nutrition
• Fitness
• Driving
• Special Needs
• Early Childhood Education
• INA Nanny Basic Skills Assessment
• INA Nanny Credential Exam

How to list your skills

While your certifications and qualifications section will cover some of your skills, if you have other relevant ones that don’t easily fit there, you should include them in a separate section. But before you start listing every skill you have, there are a few tips to keep in mind.

First, absolutely do not list any skills that you aren’t confident in. Exaggerating your abilities a bit might help you land a nanny position, but the consequences of failing to deliver on them are likely to make things difficult between you and your employer. Trust is key in any successful relationship between you and your employer, so don't compromise it here.

Next, the most effective skill is a skill that’s backed up with an example of certification. This is particularly true for soft skills like dependability. Listing those skills is easy, but leaving the person reading your resume with a feeling that you really possess them will give your resume a far greater impact.

These examples can be in your work history or even a separate achievements section, but they work best all together in one place. Compare these examples to see the difference:

Disciplined

Showed discipline by working 25 hours a week, while also being a full time university student for 2 years, maintaining at least a 3.5 GPA

The second example leaves the reader with a strong sense of just how disciplined you are. It helps show transparency and build confidence in you as a candidate.

The best hard skills to include

• Plays an instrument
• Artistic skills
• Languages spoken
• Knowledge of specific childcare practices
• Defensive driving
• Experience helping with homework
• Cooking
• Meal and nutrition planning
• First aid and CPR
• Laundry
• Changing diapers
• Home cleaning

The best soft skills to include

• Time management
• Working well under pressure
• Flexible schedule
• Problem solving
• Great with kids
• Passion for child care
• Great storyteller

How to list your education correctly

While education requirements for nannies aren’t usually very strict, showing that you’re educated can help boost confidence in you as a capable person. Some degrees like those in education or psychology can be directly relevant to your work as a nanny.

You can also list specific courses or experiences that are relevant as well. Look at the example below to see what that should look like:

The University of Bennington

BS in Psychology

• Took courses in early childhood development
• Captain of the university swim team
• 3.7 average GPA across all four years

Should you write a resume objective or summary?

Alongside your qualifications, a resume objective or summary is the best way to start off a nanny resume. The goal is to provide a short bit of text to introduce yourself and create a strong first impression. It can also serve to highlight specific strengths and communicate that you’ve taken the time to craft a resume for this specific nanny position.

But which one should you include? A resume objective is better if you are also including a cover letter. In this case, your goal is to provide just a short sentence about who you are and what your resume is aiming to achieve.

However, if you don’t have a cover letter and think your resume would benefit from a bit more context, a longer resume summary is the better choice. This short paragraph can serve to further explain some aspect of your resume, like a career change or gap in your work history.

Examples of how to write a resume objective

I would be honored to work as your nanny.

While this does capture the objective of your resume, it makes a few key mistakes. First, it’s written in the first person. Next, it’s too general. Finally, the tone is off. You’re not asking for an “honor” - you’re a competent professional, hoping to provide a valued service. Let’s see another example.

Nanny with 6 years of experience with young children and pre-teens looking to help share the love of music and healthy food with the Henderson family.

This example gives a much clearer idea of who you are and what skills you bring to the table. It also conveys that you’ve spent the time to customize your resume for a specific family, something that’s greatly appreciated.

Examples of how to write a resume summary

Experienced nanny with a love of children and childs care. I love playing with children and have babysat younger family members and neighbors for many years. I’m very reliable and will do a great job.

Notice that grammatical error? That’s just the first issue here. First, always be sure to have someone review your resume for errors like this. They’re a surefire way to make a bad impression. Furthermore, much of what’s included is vague and makes the writer sound a bit childish. Your resume summary should exude confidence and competence.

Child care professional with 5 years of babysitting and 3 years of nanny experience. Passionate about working with younger children and helping in their creative development through art and music. Also experienced working with autistic children both professionally and with own sibling.

This example does a great job balancing creating a feeling of professionalism with letting a bit of personal information through. Knowing that you have an autistic family member will create confidence that you know how to deal with children on the spectrum as well as humanize you as a candidate. This could be a great conversation starter when you interview.

How to target your resume for each application

As mentioned, this is key for a great nanny resume. Considering how personal and intimate being a nanny is, starting that potential relationship off with a cookie-cutter resume you sent out to dozens of families is not ideal.

In addition, each nanny position will have its own unique requirements. A child with special needs, a family which needs help preparing meals, or a family which needs a flexible schedule will also require resumes that emphasize different things. Crafting a custom resume for each family will vastly increase your chances of success and start the relationship off on the right foot.

How to make your nanny resume stand out

Aside from the many tips mentioned already, the key to really standing out is balancing the personal with the professional. Families aren’t hiring you as just a set of skills and certifications, they’re welcoming you in to be almost a part of the family. That’s why it’s crucial that you convey some of your personality without seeming unprofessional.

The precise balance that works best will depend on the family, which is why it’s so important to study what you know about them carefully. One family’s standout nanny resume is another family’s instant “no.”

How to write a nanny resume with little or no experience

While many nanny positions have firm requirements for professional experience, some families may be willing to hire someone with less experience. To be that person, you need to show that you have the personality and other soft skills that are key to being a great nanny.

Many families will be okay if you don’t know how to cook or teach their children piano if you can show that you’re great with kids and passionate about helping to raise them. That said, you should be upfront about your lack of experience. This transparency will be key in building trust as a less experienced nanny.

How Resumebuild.com resume builder tool could be utilized for an easy resume setup

With so many things to consider to create the perfect nanny resume, you need all the help you can get. That’s why a great resume builder is critical. It takes the guesswork out of ensuring your resume has excellent design that enhances the content. It’s also the best way to be confident your nanny resume will make it past ATS if needed.

This design also clearly shows that you went for something beyond a basic Word doc. Families want a nanny who will go above and beyond. After all, it’s hard to imagine the person handing in a dull generic resume, helping your kids create an amazing art project for school.

Lastly, a resume builder also makes it easy to create copies that you can then customize for individual applications. Considering how important this is for getting hired, you need a way to easily create and track many custom resumes. Fortunately, Resumebuild.com offers everything you need in a builder and more. Check it out today and see what a modern nanny resume looks like.