Tag: Nanny Tips

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For Nannies

Reasons your nanny resume is overlooked

We understand how frustrating it can be when you apply to a nanny position and your profile gets zero attention from potential employers.

But why does this happen? What are you doing wrong?

After analyzing thousands of nanny resumes, we have identified 5 common reasons why your nanny résumé may be getting overlooked:

Spelling and Grammar: It’s essential that your application and résumé are free of grammatical errors and spelling mistakes. Proofread your application documents using full sentences, capitalization, commas, and periods to ensure that you come across as a true professional. Remember, you’ll be educating the family’s children, and they’ll want to hire someone who can express themselves in a proper and polished manner.

You Job Dates Don’t Add Up: Make sure that your job dates are correct and add up on your résumé. If there is any overlap in your work history, clarify it in your cover letter. Otherwise, it can look like you’re embellishing or even lying to potential employers

Too Little Information: Be specific about the tasks and responsibilities you have handled in your past childcare jobs. The more bullet points you have, the better. Employers want to clearly see how your past experience relates to the type of nanny they’re looking for.

Work Experience Not in Chronological Order: Make sure to list your childcare work experience on your résumé from the most recent job at the top to the oldest job at the bottom. The list should be in chronological order to make it easier for the family or agency to read.

No Proof of Young Infant/Baby Experience: If you say you have experience caring for young infants or babies, make sure it is on your résumé. Employers want proof that you have the experience you claim to have, whether it’s through courses, education, or previous experience in a daycare or nanny job.

By investing time in your professional résumé, you can show potential employers that you’re a serious, professional nanny who is committed to doing a good job. By avoiding the 5 common mistakes we’ve discussed, you can increase your chances of finding a job that you love.

Take a look at our Resources for Nannies page on our website where you can download a Résumé Template to help you get started in your nanny job search.

Looking for a nanny position in Canada? Apply to join The Nanny Solution.

Categories
For Nannies

Nanny 101: Ace your first day with this checklist!

Uncover the checklist every nanny needs before starting a new job.

Ever wondered why some nannies seem to struggle during their first few weeks on a job? The answer often lies in the lack of proper training and preparation. Today, we’re going to reveal the ultimate checklist that will help you ask all the right questions before you start your first day on a new job.

In this blog:
– The importance of communication in a nanny job
– Understanding house rules
– Health and safety tips for nannies
– How to use household appliances
– The significance of a daily routine
– Transportation rules and guidelines

**The Power of Communication**

Communication is the key to a successful nanny job. But it’s not just about weekly meetings. It’s about daily communication. Who should you be texting during the day? Should you send pictures all day long or just contact in case of an emergency? Knowing these details upfront can save you a lot of trouble.

“Communication – the human connection – is the key to personal and career success.” – Paul J. Meyer

**House Rules 101**

Every household is different. What’s okay in one household might not be okay in another. You need to understand the house rules regarding screen time, playdates, and more. Remember, it’s easier to ask these questions upfront than to find out the hard way.

**Health and Safety Tips**

On your first day of work, you want an emergency contact list, the location of a spare key, and the alarm code. These are basic things that can make a huge difference in case of an emergency.

**Mastering Household Appliances**

Knowing how to use the appliances in the house is crucial. From fancy ovens to high-end strollers, you want to be knowledgeable about the equipment in the house before the parents leave.

**The Daily Routine**

You’re not a mind reader, so you need to know the children’s daily routine. Are you in charge of bath time, meal time, nap time? Where should the children do their crafts? The more you know, the better.

**Transportation Rules and Guidelines**

Will you be using their car or your car? Are you allowed to take children on transit? Are the children allowed to eat in the car? Understanding these transportation rules can make your job a lot easier.

What will this change for you? With this checklist, you’ll be better prepared and more confident when you start a new nanny job. You’ll know what to expect and what’s expected of you, ensuring a successful start.

Happy Nannying!

Look for a new nanny position? Apply with us today!

Categories
For Parents

Why do good nannies quit?

Unveiling the hidden reasons behind nanny turnovers.

Ever wondered why good nannies quit out of the blue? This isn’t about the occasional disagreements or the typical work-related stress. We’re talking about reasons that are often brushed under the carpet.

In this blog post:
– Discover the top 5 reasons why good nannies quit
– Understand how to improve your relationship with your nanny
– Learn how to ensure your nanny stays long term

**The Silent Quitter**

Ever had a nanny who left without giving a proper reason? You’re not alone. Many nannies quit without revealing the real reasons. As Michelle Kelsey, founder of The Nanny Solution by Nannies on Call, says, “Nannies often quit because they’re not getting paid on time.”

**The Unheard Voices**

“Employees deserve to be paid on time.” This is a universal truth, yet many nannies face delayed payments. And what’s worse? They often have to ask to be paid. Imagine the discomfort of having to ask for what is rightfully yours.

**Techniques for Improving Nanny Retention**

1. **Pay On Time:** Use payroll services to ensure your nanny gets paid on time, every time.
2. **Regular Meetings:** Make it a priority to have regular sit-downs with your nanny.
3. **Open Communication:** Provide constructive feedback and encourage open communication.

**Examples of Nanny Retention in Action 🌟**

1. **Proactive Communication:** A parent noticed that their nanny seemed upset. Instead of ignoring it, they initiated a conversation, which led to a simple misunderstanding being cleared up. The nanny continued to work happily with the family.

2. **Respecting Private Time:** A family made sure to limit their communication with the nanny to working hours unless it was an emergency. The nanny appreciated this respect for her personal time and stayed with the family for several years.

**What Improving Nanny Retention Can Change For You 🌱**

By understanding and addressing these issues, you can build a strong, respectful relationship with your nanny. This not only ensures stability for your children but also creates a happier, healthier home environment.

Remember, your nanny plays a vital role in your family. Treat them with the respect and consideration they deserve.

Happy Parenting!

Categories
For Nannies

Oversharing at Work

 

When you’re working in a highly personal setting, like someone’s home, it’s easy to forget that you’re still at work and have to maintain a certain level of professionalism. Sometimes, the line between personal and professional is crossed, and you may end up oversharing with the family you work for. In fact, oversharing is one of the most common complaints we hear from families about the nannies they hire. So, what is oversharing and how can we avoid doing it? Read on to learn more about how to avoid the dreaded T.M.I. (too much information).

What is oversharing?

Oversharing is the act of disclosing an inappropriate amount of information about one’s personal life. In the context of the nanny/family relationship, this can show up in a number of ways and at any stage of the hiring and employment process. For example, during a job interview with a family the nanny may say something along the lines of “I’m just nannying until I can open my own daycare” or “I’m only nannying until I can land an acting role”. That’s oversharing and it makes the family (the employers) question your level of commitment to the job. Oversharing can also look like engaging in a friendly conversation with one of the parents, where they’re sharing details of their personal life — their marital issues, workplace drama, gossip about the neighbours, etc. — and the nanny reciprocates by disclosing intimate details about their own life. It’s common to develop a closeness with the family that you work for, but it’s important to remember that, at the end of the day, they are your employers. Would you tell your boss at any other workplace about your dating life, a messy breakup, or that party you went to over the weekend? Probably not.

How to avoid it

The first step to avoiding oversharing with your nanny family is to set boundaries right from the onset of the work relationship, and to maintain those boundaries throughout your employment. These boundaries can centre around what information you choose to share with your employers, which topics are off limits to talk about, whether or not you “friend” or “follow” your employers on social media, personal rules about not having a drink with your employers, and so on. Another way to avoid engaging in oversharing at work is to ask yourself “is this helpful for my employers to know?” and “will this make them question my childcare abilities?”. If the information is not useful or pertinent to your role as a professional childcare provider, it probably doesn’t need to be shared with your employers. If the information could make the employers view you in a negative light and question your abilities, it definitely doesn’t need to be shared with them.

Remember, it’s important to be authentic and give your nanny family the opportunity to bond with and get to know you. By avoiding oversharing, you’re simply ensuring that they get to know the best version of you!