Standing Out From the Crowd

Here at Manny & Me, we receive a huge number of CV’s for our manny and nanny jobs.

We consider it a privilege to meet so many amazing child carers and educators, and it is an important part of our work to find exceptional candidates who have a lot to offer to the families they are placed with. “The CV is the first thing we see when learning about a potential candidate and we look through them all the time – so standing out is key in getting the attention of us and the families we support” says James McCrossen, director of Manny & Me.

How to Present a Top Nanny/Manny CV

  • Relax – don’t dread the task of updating or writing your CV. It can be very rewarding to write down everything you’ve done and sit back and feel proud of your achievements, wherever your starting point. This is your chance to really (truthfully of course) show off all the great professional things you have done. So think positive, grab a cup of tea and get stuck in.
  • Know yourself – spend time thinking about how you work with children rather than just what you’ve done. What is your approach to behaviour management? How do you inspire the children you work with? What would make you a great addition to someone’s family? Try to be specific rather than generic as this will give a much better picture of how you work.
  • Include a short, effective personal statement – this is often the first thing an agency like ours (or a family) will read about you. So be brief and original, and summarise who you are.
  • Presentation: use a professional layout and font, and limit your CV to one or two pages by focusing on what’s important and summarising wherever possible. Check grammar and spelling carefully!
  • Essentials – do you have:
    • Name and address
    • Phone number & email
    • Nationality & country of residence
    • Date of birth
    • Languages (Include the level of proficiency)
    • Availability – when can you start?
    • Can you drive/swim/ski?
    • Residency: if you are on a visa or pre-settled status, put it down.
  • When listing your employment history ensure:
    • It is in chronological order
    • There are no gaps – and any are accounted for. “Families like to know about all the jobs you’ve had and how long you stayed in them,” says James, “It’s important to fill in all gaps, whether it be a job in a different sector or taking some time out to go travelling – this can be really interesting to families, as it shows your other passions, so don’t leave it out.”
    • You describe your job title, location (not exact address), dates of employment and ages of the children you worked with. (Never include the real names of employers!)
    • Describe your duties and responsibilities. This is where you can give a potential employer a feel for your routine and skills as a manny/nanny.
  • Add references by stating that they are available on request. For any nanny role you will need to provide two relevant references and this will be followed up by the agency or family later. If you do have written references (and we highly recommend getting these at the close of each role) don’t add them to your CV but do offer them alongside.
  • Don’t neglect your hobbies and other skills! “For me, this is one of the most important sections,” says James, “it’s your chance to stand out from the crowd – there might be a family on our books whose children have the exact interests as you, making you the perfect fit.”
  • When you’re done:
    • Get someone else to check it for grammar, spelling and flow.
    • Make sure it is consistent all the way through in its presentation.
    • Read it a few times and remember, this is the FIRST thing an agency or family read about you, so make it count!

Good luck – and send us your new, shiny CV when you’re looking for your next fantastic nanny/manny role!

For more information on how we can find you the perfect manny or nanny, get in touch below.