Nanny Resume: Your Complete Guide

Brandi Glass
8 min read

Your nanny resume needs to highlight your experience, skills, and education so that recruiters can see that you’re the ideal candidate for the role. It should also be customized to the job listing, machine-readable, and professionally presented.

Writing an excellent resume isn’t easy, but that’s where we come in. Keep reading as we break down everything you need to know about writing a nanny resume, from what to include to essential nanny skills.

We’ll also explain how starting with a nanny resume template from Rocket Resume can make writing your resume quicker and easier. Our nanny resume-builder even comes with recruiter-approved phrasing to help you stand out from other applicants.

General Tips for Nanny Resumes

Before we break down step by step what to include in your nanny resume, let’s look at some essential resume-writing dos and don’ts.

First, always tailor your resume to the job posting. The job description is a cheat sheet that tells you exactly what recruiters are looking for, so use that information to your advantage.

Turn to the job description of a nanny for resume keyword inspiration. Using the same keyword will help if the agency is using an applicant tracking system (ATS), a type of software that filters out candidates. It can also be useful if a rushed parent is reviewing resumes using the find and search functions. As an example, if the job posting mentions “preparing healthy meals,” use that exact phrase instead of “nutritious meal preparation” or “cooking healthy food.”

Don’t use columns, graphics, photos, or unusual fonts on your resume. Although it’s easy to find modern and stylish nanny resume examples online, they’re not always machine-readable.

Instead, stick to a traditional resume format. Pick a conservative font such as Arial or Times New Roman size 11 or larger, and use standard margin sizes.

Remember, less is more, so write a one-page resume. Make sure there’s plenty of white space on your resume for visibility, and use bullet-point lists so that your most important experiences, education, and accomplishments stand out.

Essential Components of a Nanny Resume Template

Your nanny resume needs to include several essential components, including your contact details, objective statement or professional summary, skills, education, experience, and certifications and licenses. You can also include volunteer and extracurricular activities if they relate to the position you’re applying for.

Take a look at this nanny resume sample to see how you can fit all this information in:

Anna Example

anna.example@gmail.com

(123) 456-7890

Objective Statement

Empathetic nanny experienced in supporting children in improving their literacy levels and learning through play.

Skills

  • First aid and CPR
  • Teaching
  • Leading structured play
  • Conflict resolution
  • Healthy meal preparation
  • Food hygiene

Experience

Professional Nanny, Private Household, January 2022–present

  • Care for three children aged 2 to 6
  • Provide learning opportunities through structured play
  • Prepare healthy meals in a hygienic environment

Education

Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago

Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education

Certifications and Licenses

CPR/First Aid, American Red Cross, May 2023–May 2025

Food Hygiene and Safety for Childminders, City Colleges of Chicago

Driving license: unrestricted, zero points

Volunteer and Extracurricular Activities

Volunteer Reader, Reach Out and Read, October 2021–present

  • Lead one-to-one paired reading to support young children in improving their reading level

Tips for Writing Each Section of the Nanny Resume Template

nanny working with boy

The nanny resume template above, along with Rocket Resume’s resume builder, will help you build your own resume. However, for a resume that impresses families and agencies alike, make sure to follow these tips.

Nanny Resume Tips: Contact Details

Use your name as your resume title, and beneath that, add your contact details. Make sure these include your phone number and email address.

You can also add social media or portfolio links if relevant. For example, if you have a professional nanny website with testimonials from families, you could include the URL.

Some online nanny resume examples include headshots. We don’t recommend this unless you’re applying for roles in countries like Germany, where photos on resumes are the norm. Among nanny agencies in the US, including a photo could lead to your application being automatically discarded.

Nanny Resume Tips: Professional Summary or Objective Statement

The professional summary or objective for a nanny resume is your chance to tell potential employers who you are and why you’re the ideal fit for the role.

Keep this section short and sweet; it shouldn’t exceed three sentences. You can also skip your personal pronouns and instead start each sentence with a noun, verb, or adjective. For example:

  • Noun: “Nanny with experience of…”
  • Adjective: “Responsible Nanny…”
  • Verb: “Looking for a nanny role in…”

Nanny Resume Tips: Skills Section

Use this section to list the skills that are most relevant to the role. Stick to a maximum of eight skills formatted with bullet points.

Key skills for a nanny resume include problem-solving, decision-making, time management, conflict resolution, mentoring and teaching, structured play, empathy, communication skills, and listening.

Make sure to also include essential hard skills for a nanny resume, such as first aid and CPR, meal preparation, food hygiene, and foreign languages.

Nanny Resume Tips: Education Section

List your degree or certificate titles along with the school. You don’t normally need to include your GPA on your resume. However, you could include it if you have a high GPA and if teaching, homework help, or mentoring will play a large role in your nanny duties. This is particularly relevant for core academic majors, such as Math, English, and Science.

Your nanny resume sample may include the education below the experience section. The ideal resume format for a nanny will depend on how much experience you have. If you’re new to childminding, lead with your education. However, if you’ve already worked as a nanny in previous roles, like in our above example nanny resume, move the education section below the experience section.

Nanny Resume Tips: Experience Section

The experience section of your resume is often the most important part for potential employers, unless you’re writing a nanny functional resume, which focuses more on skills.

Include your job title and employer. If you’ve worked as a private nanny, you can list the employer as “Private Household.”

Underneath this, include your main responsibilities and accomplishments. For a nanny resume, bullet points are the ideal way to list these. Start each point with a powerful verb, such as “mentored,” “developed” or “cared for.”

Important responsibilities of a nanny for a resume include leading structured play, providing educational opportunities, homework help and tutoring, cooking, and maintaining a hygienic environment.

Nanny Resume Tips: Certifications and Licenses

List all the certifications and licenses that are relevant to the role you’re applying to, such as a driver’s license, First Aid certificate, foreign language certification, or food hygiene certificate.

Include the certification or license title along with the awarding body. If your certificate expires, add the expiration date.

Nanny Resume Tips: Volunteer and Extracurricular Activities

This section is optional, so only include it if you have hobbies or volunteer experiences that are relevant to the role. For example, our nanny resume sample above mentions the applicant’s volunteer work teaching children to read, but not their love of true crime documentaries or political activism.

How to Customize Your Nanny Resume Template for Specific Jobs

You’ll need to tailor your professional nanny resume to the role if you want to convince employers that you’re the ideal candidate.

Start by reading the job posting to identify the key skills and qualifications the employer is looking for. Add these to your own resume, using the exact same phrasing. Your objective statement, skills, and experience sections are the easiest areas to customize.

Let’s look at some examples. For an infant nanny resume, you could include “changing diapers” and “teaching basic motor skills” in the experience section. If the children are aged 5 to 9, however, you might need a childcare nanny resume with skills such as structured play or teaching foreign languages.

For a special needs nanny resume, you should mention your experience supporting children with additional medical, learning, or intellectual needs in your objective statement.

Pick resume samples and builders that are applicable to the role in question. If you’re writing a private nanny resume, don’t use a babysitting resume template — look for full-time nanny resume samples instead.

Additional Tips and Tricks for Crafting a Strong Nanny Resume

Once you’ve written your resume, re-read it. Are there any typos or spelling mistakes?

Can you add more specific examples of your impact? For example: “Provided math homework support that helped the child go from a B- to an A-grade average” is a stronger statement than “Provided math homework support.”

Is your resume visually attractive and easy to read? Compare your resume to nanny resume examples online: do you have enough white space?

Prepare a follow-up message to send to the employer or agency. This will add a personal touch that can set you apart from other candidates.

How to Apply for Nanny Jobs

nanny resume template generator

Applying for nanny jobs requires finding relevant opportunities online, building an impressive resume and cover letter, and preparing for interviews.

You can find nanny roles on websites such as Care.com, Sittercity, and Nanny Lane, as well as through nanny agencies. Check local community boards and online groups such as Nextdoor, too.

Use a nanny resume template to help you build your own nanny resume. Our resume builder will give you personalized tips on structuring your resume and highlighting your strengths. You may also need a cover letter, so check out nanny resume cover letter samples for inspiration.

Finally, prepare your answers to common nanny interview questions so you can put parents’ and employers’ minds at ease. This preparation, along with your compelling resume, will help you make an excellent first impression on potential employers.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How to Put Nanny on a Resume

Add your nanny role to the experience section of your resume, including details such as your start and end date, your employer, and your principal responsibilities. Use bullet points for your duties so that it’s reader-friendly.

How to List Nanny Experience on a Professional Resume

When listing your nanny experience on a professional resume, focus on the skills that are most relevant to the role. This might include leadership, mentoring, risk analysis, time management, and problem-solving.

How to Write a Nanny Resume

The first step in writing your nanny resume is selecting a template. Customize it to the role you’re applying for, in addition to your professional background and skills. Finally, proofread it and check that it’s visually attractive. Once you’ve done all this, you’re ready to apply for nanny jobs.

How to Describe a Nanny Job on Resume

Describe your nanny job on your resume by emphasizing the responsibilities and skills that are also relevant to the role you’re applying for. For example, if you’re looking for hospitality work, focus on your people skills, cooking, and hygiene. Alternatively, for a training role, mention homework help and structured play.

How to Make Nanny Sound Good on Resume

Make your nanny role sound good on your resume by highlighting the skills you’ve honed, such as problem-solving, decision-making, and time management. You can also emphasize the teaching, mentoring, and leadership elements of being a nanny.

How to Put Multiple Nanny Jobs on a Resume

If you’ve held multiple nanny roles at the same time, there are three ways you can include them on your resume. One option is to include all the roles under one job title of “Professional Nanny.” Alternatively, you can list them in descending order of importance, or with the most recent addition first.

How to Turn Nanny Job Into a Resume

Turn your nanny job into a resume entry by giving yourself a job title, such as Private Nanny or Professional Nanny, adding your start and end dates, your employer, and your key duties and achievements.

What to List For Skills as a Nanny on a Resume

Valuable nanny skills for a resume include teaching and homework help, time management, First Aid and safety awareness, problem-solving, decision-making, interpersonal skills, structured play, and leadership.

Ready to begin crafting your nanny resume? Select one of our samples and let our resume builder guide you through the process. You’ll be able to build a winning resume in minutes, so get started now.