When on the hunt for a job, especially when you’re just entering the field, the process of looking for jobs and efficiently marketing yourself and your skills can feel like a lot. But putting yourself out there and showing off your skills/experience is key. The proper marketing of yourself, and what you have to offer, can significantly ease and speed up the process of connecting with the right family for you.
The first step is figuring out what you want for yourself in your career. Knowing exactly where you fit, and where you desire to fit in the future, can help you shape how you market yourself. Start by asking yourself:
- What type of child care professional are you interested in being?
- What are your strengths & weaknesses?
- What do you enjoy and not enjoy in child care?
- What type of future do you aspire to have in your career?
Why Is Marketing Yourself Important?
The way you market yourself during the job search can be pivotal to finding and attracting jobs that match what you’re looking for. It can:
- Help align you with like-minded families
- Accurately show your skills and experience
- Help you see more jobs and get more opportunities
- Put you in the running for jobs in your preferred pay range
Getting Started Marketing Yourself
It’s important when marketing yourself to have a solid professional presence before putting yourself out there. Here’s a way to get started.
Round-up Your References
References are important when applying for jobs. This will give new prospective families an insight into other families’ experiences with you.
Professionalize Your Social Media
Your online presence can definitely hurt you when looking for jobs. It’s important that any public social media and online presence you have represents you in a good and professional light.
Create A Resume
Having a full resume is a great way to briefly lay out all of your experience, education, and skills. A resume is also a great place to list work you’ve done outside of child care that can communicate supportive skills.
Create A Nanny Portfolio
A Nanny Portfolio gives families a more detailed look at your experience. It can consist of things like your resume, references, all certificates, pictures, letters of recommendation, testimonials, etc. This can be in the form of a binder, presentation, pdf, or website.
Once you have prepared your professional presence, you need to actually put yourself out there.
Create An Online Profile On Sittercity
- Choose a clear and straight picture.
- Create a bio that highlights all of your important/relevant skills and experience. Also, if applicable, mention that you have a more detailed nanny portfolio available upon request.
- Fill out every section as much as you can.
Start Searching For Jobs In Your Area
Read the descriptions in detail. Make sure the hours, location, pay, and needs match what you’re looking for.
Apply To Jobs
Send a detailed message that is catered to the job you’re applying to. You can highlight your skills/experiences that cater directly to the job you are applying for.
For example: If you are applying to a newborn position, insert your most recent newborn position and highlight your duties and what you brought to that child. If you’re applying for a Household Manager position, highlight your previous organizational/errand task you have performed for families.
Interview With Families
When interviewing with families, you can touch on topics they listed in their description. You can also elaborate on highlights you listed on your application that cater to their needs.
It is important that nannies are always advocating for themselves. This starts with properly marketing yourself when looking for jobs. This allows for you to advocate for proper rates based on your experience and give families a clear picture of what you bring to the table.
