Wednesday

How Do I Punch Up my Resume?

opinion 1
After a good number of years working as a nanny, I am getting ready to leave my current family and go into an industry that does not involve children at all. I know I have good work experience and references from my nanny families, but I'm not sure how to translate skills I developed in this job into skills that employers in other industries will like.

Obviously an office work environment won't care how fast I can change a diaper or how many babies I sleep-trained. So how do I make my time in domestic work sound like something that will benefit me in a traditional workplace?

11 comments:

Bethany said...

Have you done any volunteer work related to your field that you can put on your resume?

Do you have any former employers who can help you network? Put in a word for you?

Do you mind sharing what your new field will be?

SA said...

I sometimes consider getting a non-nanny job and decide against it for the same reason. I've been a nanny since I was 19, I don't know how to do anything else!

Elena B. said...

This may not be as helpful for your actual resume, but in terms of interviewing, think about how your responsibilities as a Nanny would be an asset as an employee in another field. Even if the specific activities you'll be doing are different, the underlying skills and qualities you possess can translate into a different line of work. For example, when I was interviewing for a different position (at a school, so relatively in the same field) I mentioned how taking care of three different kids ages 10, one and a half, and infant plus doing some household duties and errands required not only maturity and hard work but the ability to juggle many different things at the same time. This is a skill that is important in my current job (I was offered that job I interviewed for). Best of luck!

Nanny Lisset said...

Like Elena stated, stress how well you are at multi-tasking. Believe me, all of us nannies need to multi-task at some point and most office jobs require it as well.

Also, focus on work ethic. Being somewhere on time 5 days a week shows that you value your job. By not calling in sick often, you can show you are very reliable and take your responsibilities seriously.

Best of luck in your transition. You have all of our support. :))

ELam said...

Use all of your amazing super nanny qualities to help land a job in an unrelated field. Patience, multi-tasking, good listener, flexibility, trustworthy. All of those assets are what other employers look for.

That's more for the interview I suppose, or a cover letter.

Village said...

Turn your resume toward House Manager, or Estate Manager. You want to show multi tasking abilities. The ability to be a purchasing agent, managing director of an ongoing concern, the estate, that sort of thing. It will be a bit of an exaggeration, but what resume isn't? You can even stress your abilities to supervise others. You don't have to say they were little people, which can be the most difficult to manage, if you think about it.

I'd stay away from nanny and child care. If you are pressed, use the word governess. Again, it involves education and training.

l.m.r. said...

Actually, I would avoid using the word "governess." The word is completely outdated, no one calls a nanny a governess anymore. By using that word, it might look like you are trying to make yourself look more professional. Of, course, we all try and make ourselves look better, but do it in a way that is more covert.

NervousNanny said...

Organization, Multi-tasking, Planning, Dedication, and if possible relate other tasks to your nanny jobs. Example, "I really learned the value of exploring alternate outcomes by preparing for the many outings my charge and I went on" (rain, blowout diaper, heat, cold, unexpected injuries)
Also you can use the relationship with the parents/other nannies to discuss collaboration, compromise, and adapting new/better ways to accomplish tasks.
I am currently trying to transition out of nannyhood myself and in my interviews I have been asked "what's a time when you learned a new way to do something and how it changed for the better" This is easy to adapt to a nanny job. For me, I have discussed how I needed to do more preparation and thinking ahead when my leg was broken.
Even with all these great ideaas, there are going to be some people who find the profession to be childish and illegitimate. Be prepared.

ELam said...

Ummm...calling yourself an "Estate Manager" when you were actually a "Nanny" is quite the exaggeration. Resume's don't leave a lot of room for lies. Cover letters, maybe you can exaggerate a bit on those (i.e. "I am the most patient person!"), but not on your resume. That's just ridiculous, there should be no shame in being a nanny, it's possible to explore a new career path and use your nanny experience as leverage.

Plus, if being a nanny is all she has then those employers are who she will likely use for references. She shouldn't be lying about her job title with them.

And please don't use the term "governess". I gagged a little when I read that.

OliverBoliverButt said...

Basically, you should ignore everything Village suggested. Governess? Come on.

As a childcare provider, you are engaging in a service contract with a client. Entering into that agreement required you to sell yourself to the prospective client. Once hired, you built a relationship of mutual trust and respect with the client. You executed your cleint's vision using your expertise in the field. You provided more than just services, you were a trusted advisor to your client in all areas related to childcare.

The skills of changing diapers and wiping noses might not translate well outside the industry, but the skills of client relationship management, sales, and consulting are quite applicable to other areas of employment. Focus on that.

Ummm said...

If I was interviewing a person for a job, and they tried to suggest that they have "relationship management, sales, and consulting" skills based on being a nanny, I might hire them to be.... A creative writer? A bullshit artist?