Good preparation is essential to a successful job interview and a strong CV. A decluttered and well-organised application will not only help your profile stand out from the crowd to potential clients but help us here at Nannies of St James to place you more efficiently. Here’s our guide for planning and prepping your portfolio, with helpful pointers for securing your new position.
Every candidate, no matter how experienced, needs to make a great first impression with their CV. We’re fortunate to receive many excellent CV’s but sometimes just a few clever tweaks is all it takes to turn a good CV into a sparkling one. Starting the writing process can feel daunting and a big overhaul of your CV isn’t always necessary or possible - so don’t be afraid to ask at the agency for help or guidance if unsure and to make better use of your time. We are all guilty of rushing something, especially after a long tiring day, but your CV is the foundation of your new position and is important to get right - take your time!
So, what are the essentials?
Presentation: Where possible a CV should be no more than 3 pages long. Clients often register with more than one agency, so with lots of CV’s hitting their inboxes they simply don’t have time to read a long composition. The shorter and more concise the better. As an agency, we will always include a detailed summary paragraph about the candidate alongside their CV, therefore any potential clients will already have a certain amount of key information about you within your portfolio. Equally our clientele assume that as an NSJ nanny you are qualified and have plenty of experience, making it unnecessary to ‘pad out’ and overly describe your role within previous households. A simple ‘Live in, sole charge nanny, Chelsea. 3 children. Full nanny duties,’ for example, should suffice. If you’re a qualified nanny and professionally trained, degree educated or have other talents relevant to the position you are applying for (eg. bi-lingual, professional skier etc).. show this information off! Clients will naturally always be looking for that ‘special’ something extra, that sets you apart and shows your personal drive and ambition - these are unique selling points to you and it would be advantageous to advertise these skills on the front page of your CV.
Layout/Content: As for the layout and order of categories within your CV.. that is entirely subjective, however we would recommend showcasing your work history and education in reverse order with your most recent qualifications first, then work backwards. Always keep in mind ‘what is relevant?’ - Your education is important; subjects and grades for degrees (or equivalent) are essential; for A’levels - it is helpful and with O’levels/GCSEs considered optional depending on your age and experience in the work place. The same rules apply with your Career History; note down your current position first and work rearwards accordingly, making sure that your dates and locations are clear. If you’re struggling with exact start/finish dates of a previous position, be as accurate and consistent as you can eg: ‘November 2008 - January 2013: Chelsea; June 2006 - October 2008: Paris.’ Additional information such as the family’s name is always helpful.. ‘November 2008 - January 2013: Chelsea. Smith family or VIP family’.. but please avoid naming previous employers children in your CV. We always advise along the lines of ‘3 children (B:5, B:3 & G:5mnths).’
Design/Format: Be BOLD.. with your type face for both your name and contact information. We also recommend using a larger font size too to help make your personal details more distinguishable, allowing for a client (and agency!) to easily locate your CV amongst a pile without difficulty. Microsoft Word is fairly universal, straight forward and editable - please refrain from sending PDF’s and convert your CV to a Word document if a Mac user. Last but not least, aside from making sure the content is right, it is worth remembering that ‘Your CV needs to look good as well as sound good.’ The top three things that turn off potential employers is bad grammar, spelling mistakes and poor formatting. Feel free to take advantage of simple online templates or use your own creativity to individually express yourself - just remember to make sure it is still easy to read, proof read and have a fresh pair of eyes look over your CV before you send it out, even when forwarding it to the agency!
With the CV ☑ complete it’s time to compile a list of references/referees…
Ultimately it is your references/referees that will secure your new job. So ALWAYS get a reference - preferably a written one to go into your portfolio. You will be required to supply up to date contact details for previous employers: it’s protocol for most agencies to have email addresses for previous employers, and some potential clients also like to have telephone numbers they can call. Be considerate to past referees: It is kind to keep previous employers in the loop that they might be contacted. Similarly, it’s worth noting that after a time lapse of several years, former employers may no longer wish to receive communication from agencies and clients, and that more recent references carry more weight going forward.
What information do we need to complete your candidate profile?
Nannies of St James will compile a portfolio for you which will be used to forward to clients. This includes the following information:
☑ CV
☑ Copies of your References/Referees (with contact details)
☑ Relevant Certificates, First Aid, DBS etc
☑ Driving Licence
☑ Profile Photo (professional & recent photographs ONLY - first impressions are everything!)
… By sending across all the required information, as specified, it will help speed up your own job hunt and allow us to place you or register your application more effectively, if new to our agency.
Settle down with a ‘Tidy Desk, Tidy Mind’ attitude and attack your CV in calm and well-considered manner. Get the basics right, making sure you clearly indicate your personal contact details and that your CV is well-structured, aesthetically pleasing and concisely put together. Be positive, organised and showcase genuine passion!
Liked this post? There’s more to come.. check out our 5-Step Nanny Application articles this week to help secure your dream job!