5 Tips to Landing a Job as a Nanny

ICI UK - Job as a Nanny

Being a nanny means you’re hired by parents to look after their children. But parents only want the best for their children, so to ensure you land that dream job here’s a few steps you should take to become the ideal candidate.

What does being a nanny entail?

The day-to-day routine of a nanny will vary between families and depends on the number and age of the children. But a typical day in the life of a nanny includes playing with the children and keeping them entertained; driving them to school, appointments and playdates; doing housework and preparing meals. A nanny job can be anything from part-time care while the parents are on holidays, to full-time live-in nannying.

How do I become a nanny?

There’s no actual legal requirements for nanny jobs, so to get hired it’ll come down to what the individual family’s looking for. But typically, parents will require the following things when hiring a nanny for their children:

1. Identification

When applying for a nannying job your employer will want to see proof of identification. Ensure you have copies of your passport, driver licence and birth certificate available as they’ll typically want to see two forms of ID, with a photo on at least one of them. If you’re a foreign national applying for a nannying job in the UK, you’ll also need to have proof of your immigration status.

2. References

Your employer will most likely want the contact details of two referees, even if you’re being referred from an agency, so ensure you provide the name, phone number and email address of your current and previous employers. If you’re applying for your first job and have no nannying experience, you should try to get a reference from a teacher.

3. DBS check

Because you’ll be working with children, your employer will probably want you to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) check. The first part of this check includes a Children’s Barred List Check which confirms that you’re not barred from working with children. The second part of the check is a police check which details any criminal records you may have. Completing these checks shows potential employers that you’re a suitable person for the nannying position.

4. Getting qualified

To be a nanny you don’t need to have any formal training. However, most parents will be looking to hire someone who’s qualified, so it’s best to have some form of training under your belt to make yourself more employable. The Nanny Diploma from the International Careers Institute UK teaches you everything you need to know about child care and development, health and safety, interacting with children, and nutrition.

There’s also heaps of child-related qualifications and short courses you can do to boost your resume and your chances of securing a higher income:

  • CPR and first aid training – most families won’t even consider hiring a nanny who isn’t trained in first aid and CPR. Look for courses specifically catered to infants and young children. You can sign up for them at various sites, such as St. John’s Ambulance.
  • Water safety certification – taking a life guard training course would be worthwhile so you’re able to take the children to the pool or the beach. Most local pools offer training.
  • Driver’s licence – this is a must for working as a nanny as half the job involves running errands and driving children around.
  • Cooking classes – you’ll need to feed the children, so being educated in cooking and nutrition will help you put together healthy and delicious meals, and also instill good eating habits in the children from a young age.
  • Foreign language classes – this isn’t a necessity but many parents will look favourably at nanny candidates who can speak another language as they’re able to teach children new skills.

It’s important to keep in mind that some qualifications do expire after a certain period of time, so keep on top of your training and stay up to date with any new changes.

5. Register as a nanny

In England you must register with the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted), or a childminder agency, if you’re being paid to care for children under the age of eight for more than two hours a day. There are certain advantages to being a registered nanny. For example, Ofsted can help parents with paying for childcare, which makes you a more attractive candidate for families.

To register, you must get a criminal record check, have first aid qualifications, and ensure you have a minimum level 2 qualification in childcare or training in the common core skills. It’ll cost you 103 pounds to register and once registered, you’ll get a registration certificate.

Land your dream nannying job

There’s plenty of things you can do to make yourself the ideal candidate for a nannying job. The more qualifications, training and experience you have, the better you are in the eyes of employers. Get your Nanny Diploma from the International Careers Institute UK and kick-start your career today.

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Gladys Mae

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Gladys Mae serves as the General Manager and Head of Student Services at the International Career Institute. Gladys holds a degree in Mass Communication - Broadcast Media from the University of San Jose-Recoletos. She joined ICI in 2010 and has over the past 12 years been instrumental in providing leadership and guidance to staff and students alike. Prior to joining ICI Gladys led a multifaceted career with key roles in the banking and business process outsourcing industries.