How to Become a Nanny With No Experience
I'm looking for some advice on becoming a nanny and I hope this is the right place to ask. I kind of feel like I'm stuck in a catch-22 because I need experience in order to get a job but I also need a job in order to get experience. I've considered taking some early childhood education classes but have not been able to afford one yet. I've also considered volunteering but up until recently I haven't always had reliable transportation and so I didn't want to commit to anything unless I was sure I could get myself there and back. I haven't had any luck in finding a babysitter job either because of my lack of references. Here's a bit of background info. on me:
-I have a degree in elementary education (but just the degree, not a teaching license.)
-I've been volunteering in my church's nursery for almost a year now.
That's all I have right now, but it hasn't been enough to get me a job. My question is: where should I begin from here?
Thanks for reading!
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Babysitting! Put up ads and get work as a backup sitter, date night sitter, etc. Take on sitting jobs and knock their socks off! Once you have several families for whom you have sat 5 or more times over at least a month, ask them if they would be willing to serve as a childcare reference. Use those references to apply for part time or mother's helper gigs as those tend to be more open to someone with less experience. Your background would make you an excellent candidate for a part-time afterschool job. But people want to know things other than education--do you show up on time? Have a good attitude? Are you proactive? Are you patient? Can you problem-solve on the fly? Are you sensitive to kids' moods and needs? Can you listen to, understand amd follow directions?
So get out there and take on babysitting jobs. Lots of people in this area need backup sitters for sick kids or random days off from school. Target your ads to older (elementary age) kids, since those parents are more willing to take a chance on someone new, because their kids aren't fragile babies or high-maintenance toddlers.
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Start babysitting
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We hired a manny with no nannying experience. He'd been a camp counselor for two summers, and liked kids. We had one newborn when we hired him. We picked him over others because he was confident without being cocky, our dog liked him, he seemed very easy-going with us but very careful with the baby, and had great references from prior (unrelated) jobs that spoke to his stability and character. Four years later we are still happy.
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Use the church nursery volunteer as a reference, get cpr certified, pick up gigs with close family, friends and neighbors and use them as reference as you go. go to parks, mommy and me events, pool, chuck y cheese and hand out your number. If someone refuse to take your number ask them if they know someone else who may need the help. price low to be competitive. Be positive, cheerful, bubbly and people will trust u to keep their kids and want to hire you. Good luck.
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Anonymous wrote:Use the church nursery volunteer as a reference, get cpr certified, pick up gigs with close family, friends and neighbors and use them as reference as you go. go to parks, mommy and me events, pool, chuck y cheese and hand out your number. If someone refuse to take your number ask them if they know someone else who may need the help. price low to be competitive. Be positive, cheerful, bubbly and people will trust u to keep their kids and want to hire you. Good luck.
This is good advice - start w/ that nursery/church network. Tell people you're looking for a nannying job, and start talking to all the parents. Ask any of them (if you know them relatively well) if they would be willing to put a note up on your behalf on their neighborhood listserv. Also, be willing to start with less conventional jobs - the parents who need part-time afterschool care, or a summer care. That kind of thing can give you great experiences and references quickly.
I would certainly consider hiring you OP.
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Anonymous wrote:Use the church nursery volunteer as a reference, get cpr certified, pick up gigs with close family, friends and neighbors and use them as reference as you go. go to parks, mommy and me events, pool, chuck y cheese and hand out your number. If someone refuse to take your number ask them if they know someone else who may need the help. price low to be competitive. Be positive, cheerful, bubbly and people will trust u to keep their kids and want to hire you. Good luck.
I strongly disagree with this. I would NEVER hire some total rando who approached me while out with my kids in a public place that caters to kids. That seems super weird.
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I would start in either Craigslist, Care.com & Sittercity.com.
Offer to baby-sit at a lower rate since you are just starting out.
Use your nursery school as a reference as well as any friends/neighbors for character references.
I had to start at the bottom before, because I realized how much I had to climb to get where I am today.
It takes time, patience & a lot of trial and error but you will get there!
Good luck!!
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Babysitting part time and you could also be a teaching assistant at daycare centers since you have a degree.
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How to Become a Nanny With No Experience
Source: https://www.dcurbanmom.com/nanny-forum/posts/list/324840.page