Many facets of child care jobs can be viewed as obsolete or invaluable to other fields. If you dig deep into the different levels of child care and what the job of a nanny especially can entail, there are many skills that can transfer into other fields.
Skills That Transfer
As nannies, we have a lot of different skills that can transfer over to other careers.
Developmental Advancement
A lot of nannies have mastered advancing the littles developmentally and even gotten certificates/degrees in this. This can transfer in many ways. It can attribute to attention to detail, which can enhance one’s ability to train other employees in a leadership position.
Time Management
Nannies have to have great time management skills. Whether it be for infants who are on sleep schedules or older children who have after-school activities. Nannies are pros at getting from place to place and ensuring that a child is where they need to be. This can be attributed to the ability to meet deadlines.
Problem Solving
In most cases, when nannies are on the job and an issue arises, they are on their own to handle it. Parents who work away from the home are not there for assistance. This requires an ability to problem solve and think quickly.
Organization
Families often rely on their nanny to keep play areas and nurseries/children rooms tidy and organized. Nannies can be very good at organizing areas. House managers have even more experience in this area and it translates over into a broader scale than just areas involving children.
Project Management
Nannies in many cases are managing multiple projects and children when at work. Nannies have an intuitive eye that is usually spotting things proactively and managing getting those tasks done. House Managers and Family Assistants are experts at this.
Collaboration
As nannies, you are working hand-in-hand with parents daily for the betterment, safety, and happiness of the children in your care. This requires an impeccable ability to be a team player.
Communication
Nannies are required to speak with parents daily about what is going on with their child. Nannies also have to communicate about the work environment itself. This fosters great communication skills.
Soft Skills
Some soft skills that can also be valuable in other work settings:
- Compassion
- Patience
- Responsibility
- Ability To Be A Self-starter
- Creativity
Applying the Skills To Other Careers
When you are seeking to take a career turn, it can be difficult to find the best way to include your nanny experience in a way that is relevant. You must first pay attention to the job description of the job you are applying for. Then, you can look over your past nanny positions and focus on the ones which skills apply.
It’s rare to find a job or career that these skills won’t apply—your possibilities for a career change are vast. To get you started, here are some careers that Nanny skills can apply to:
- Teacher
- Nurse
- Organizer
- Project Manager
- Content Creator
- Pediatric Physical Therapist
- Pediatric Psychologist
- Executive Assistant
- Social Worker
- Director of a Child Care Program
- Caregiver
If you’re considering another career, it’s important to remember all of the valuable things you brought to a family and apply that to whatever career you are pursuing. You can also be proactive and pursue different degrees, certifications, and opportunities relevant to both child care and other careers. Follow the path that you find most fulfilling—there are so many options (known and unknown!) within and outside of the child care industry. Find the work that’s most you!
