job search skills

Photos and Your Job Search

Pictures are an important part of your job search. They help personalize your written information, they help potential employers feel a connection to you before they meet you, and they help agencies and parents remember you out of the many other caregivers they’re looking at. There are two types of pictures that are helpful: headshots and activity pictures. A headshot is a close-up, clear picture of, you guessed it, your face. A great headshot doesn’t have to be an expensive, formal … [Read more...]

Filed Under: job search tips, nanny front Tagged With: job search skills, nanny portfolio, nanny resume

What to Wear to a Nanny Interview During The Summer

Ah, summer is here. The new uniform for many nannies is shorts, tank tops and flip flops, often over a swimsuit. We don’t work in air conditioned offices. We’re outside with our kids in the heat and the water for a good part of the day and have to (get to!) dress accordingly. Many times, summer interviews head outside too. Parents want to get out in the beautiful weather and enjoy their kids and weekend time. Plus it’s the perfect way to see a potential nanny in action. So what do you … [Read more...]

Filed Under: job search tips, nanny front Tagged With: interviewing for a nanny job, job search skills

How to Describe Yourself In Your Nanny Job Hunt

It’s important when creating your job search materials, filling out applications and answering help wanted ads to be able to accurately describe the type of caregiver you are. That’s not an easy task! One of the best ways of doing this is to use common terms to describe yourself. Are you crafty, active, holistic, funny? Don’t just stop with one word. Connect words to create phrases. Are you educationally focused or whole child centered? And use generally recognizable titles, situations … [Read more...]

Filed Under: job search tips Tagged With: job search skills, nanny portfolio, nanny resume

They’re Just Not That Into You

There was a movie a couple of years ago about a woman that didn’t understand why a man she went out with didn’t call her back. Especially since she thought their first date went so well. Finally a male friend gave her the simple yet painful truth: the guy just wasn’t that into her. Unfortunately that lesson also applies to many situations in the nanny world. Last week I spoke with a nanny who was dumbfounded as to why she didn’t get a position. She fit the job requirements perfectly, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: job search tips Tagged With: interviewing for a nanny job, job search skills

Ten Things You Can Do Right Now to Jumpstart Your Job Search

January is one of two best times in the year to find a nanny job. (September is the other one.) Here’s a quick list of things you can do in the next week (maybe two) to take advantage of this window of opportunity. 1. Get your paperwork in order. Your portfolio, your resume, whatever you’re using. Make sure it’s up-to-date, user-friendly, complete and correct. 2. Reconnect with all of your job search avenues. Did you register with an agency you haven’t … [Read more...]

Filed Under: job search tips Tagged With: job search skills, non-traditional ways of finding a nanny job, using nanny agencies, using online nanny job sites

Getting Started with a Job Search Strategy

I’ve been fielding some questions on the facebook nanny job seekers page about ways to find a job. it occurred to me that a good starting place for that new group and the new job seekers LinkedIn group was to talk about a search strategy. First, what is a job search strategy? It’s exactly what it sounds like, a plan of action for finding a job. Long gone are the days when we could just sit back and watch the job offers roll in. (Don’t you miss the good 'ol days?) We have to work to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: job search tips Tagged With: job search skills, nanny job search, nanny portfolio, nanny resume

Do Agencies Have a Responsibility to Follow Up With Nannies?

In my opinion, yes. Nannies aren’t paying clients but they are a big part of what brings in the paying clients. Caregivers deserve not to simply be one of a stackful of nanny resumes, but to be truly represented by the agency they choose to work with. The number one complaint I hear from nannies who are working with agencies is the agency’s lack of follow-up and honest feedback. Many nannies feel stuck in limbo somewhere within the placement process. Did the agency receive their … [Read more...]

Filed Under: agency front, job search tips Tagged With: job search skills, using nanny agencies

How To Ask For a Reference Letter When You Quit Your Job

Reference letters are a key element in a successful nanny job search. Even if your employer loves you and is willing to say so in a phone interview, there’s no replacing the impact of a great letter in a great search portfolio. But getting the letter is often a bit more work than you might think. When To Ask It’s a good idea to let the news that you’re quitting sink in for a few days before asking for a reference letter. Remember you’re delivering bad news to your employers … [Read more...]

Filed Under: job search tips Tagged With: getting a reference letter, job search skills, nanny portfolio

The Nanny Job Search Portfolio The Secret to Landing the Interview and Winning The Job The choice is yours; are you going to take an innovative job search approach and position yourself for success or are you going to take the “business as usual” path? Nudge, nudge, I’d go with the first one. The hard truth is that in today’s nanny job market being a great nanny just isn’t enough to get you a great job. You have to somehow get the attention of the agencies and parents that … [Read more...]

Filed Under: job search tips, nanny training Tagged With: job search skills, nanny portfolio, nanny resume