50 Ways You Can Connect with Your Employers as a Nanny

One of the most critical parts of your job as a nanny is finding a way to connect with your employer. That connection lays the foundation of your relationship and is what the trust you need to have in one another is built upon. Creating that connection starts as early as your cover letter, and continues to build as you interview and ultimately land the job and begin to work together. These 50 posts will help you cultivate a connection that allows you to enjoy continued success throughout your position.

Cover Letter

As with any job, the first contact you have with a potential employer is through your cover letter. A nanny’s cover letter, however, is much more personal than the standard business cover letter. Use these 10 articles to craft the perfect nanny cover letter; doing so will help land you your next interview.

• Explain why you like being a nanny. 4Nannies explains that families want to know how you ended up being a nanny.
• Use a sample letter as a starting point. Job Searching provides an actual sample cover letter that you can review and use when you create your own letter.
• Peruse tips on what to include in your letter. Cover Letter and Resume shares tips on what information is appropriate to include in a cover letter for a nanny position.
• Format your letter correctly. There is certain information that needs to be included in your cover letter, and Georgia’s Dream Nannies has provided a format you can follow.
• Focus on making a great first impression. Great Au Pair gives tips for how to use your cover letter to make a solid impression with your future employer.
• Follow step-by-step instructions for writing your letter. eHow explains how to go about writing your letter by outlining simple to follow instructions.
• Consider writing a “Dear Family” letter. Almondbury lists the information you should include as an au pair if you are creating a letter to accompany your application. Instead of writing to a specific person, be more general with your qualifications and what you hope to gain from the job.
• Mention if you were referred to the job by someone. Nanny Resume HQ explains that employers may take more notice of your letter if they know the person who referred you.
• Learn how to market yourself. Quint Careers recommends taking a look at your experience and skills to figure out how you can transfer them into a potential position.
• Consider how other aspects of your life could help you as a nanny when you have no nanny experience. Cover Letter Sample shares ideas on how to use life experiences in your cover letter to make up for a lack of job experience.

Interview Well

Interviewing well is essential to landing your next nanny position. During your interview, look for commonalities between you and your potential employer and focus on being yourself instead of conforming to the person you think the family wants. Before you go into your next interview, review these 10 articles to help refine your interviewing skills.

• Be honest and forthcoming. Babyzone urges nannies to ask as many questions as they answer during an interview to help plan for the future. This will also show employers that you take your job seriously and are in it for the long haul.
• Make a point to talk to the children if they are present during the interview. It’s important to show potential employers that you really do like kids and know how to interact with them. Voices recommends making eye contact with the kids.
• Bring a list of your questions. Be sure to ask intelligent questions that show you’re interested in long term work, says Wikihow.
• Dress appropriately for the interview. Morningside Nannies recommends wearing something that is professional but also allows you to get down on the floor and play with the kids.
• Prepare to answer frequently asked nanny questions. Best Job Interview provides a list of questions that are typically asked so that you can prepare answers ahead of time.
• Make sure there are no problems with doing a background check. Most employers will run a background check prior to hiring, so make sure you are prepared per What to Expect.
• Stay focused on a phone interview. USA Today explains that you shouldn’t attempt to multi-task while on a phone interview. Give it your full attention.
• Try to avoid common interview mistakes. The Under Cover Recruiter lists five common mistakes that people make during an interview. Make sure that you avoid them when trying to connect with your employer.
• Make a great first impression. Simply Hired urges nannies to be happy during an interview. This will show that you love what you do.
• Be confident. Tinies notes how important it is to be confident during an interview. You want to be yourself and be sure of your ability to do the job well.

One-on-One Time with the Employer

Most nannies agree that open communication is key to a good nanny/employer relationship. To facilitate this relationship, it’s important to make sure you discuss how things are going with your employer and to avoid just showing up and leaving each day. Peruse these 10 posts for different tips on how you can foster a good relationship with your employer.

• Meet to discuss job expectations. Park Slope Parents suggests talking about what your job responsibilities are and how your employer expects you to accomplish them to help avoid any confusion.
• Sit down regularly and talk. Ask Nanny recommends meeting monthly to talk about how things are going and to keep communication lines open.
• Discuss food preferences. Baby Center points out the importance of talking with your employers about what you eat and if it’s OK for you to make your own meals, especially if you come from different cultural backgrounds.
• Go out for coffee. Babble suggests employers and nannies go out alone on occasion to talk as adults instead of only talking about the kids.
• Assure your employer that you are mindful of her privacy. INA explains that because nannies are privy to private information they have a responsibility to keep everything that they see and hear confidential.
• Define the nanny role. Yahoo Shine points out that having a strong relationship with your nanny can be the difference between keeping her long-term and changing nannies every year.
• Keep your nanny/employer relationship friendly, but businesslike. Caring Nannies discusses how simple it is to blur the lines between boss and friend when the employee lives with you. When you spend time together, avoid discussing your personal life.
• Learn and follow the house rules. Superpages explains that knowing and following the house rules shows your employers that you respect them.
• Follow the expectations set by your employer. Reason for God shares that mutual respect leads to a stronger relationship.
• Share the exciting moments. NY Nanny urges nannies and employers to exchange information, especially about big moments.

Be Helpful

Going above and beyond in your role shows your employer that you value your job. Putting forth this extra effort can positively impact your employment situation. For ways you can help out, read through these 10 posts.

• Offer to make a snack or pack some sandwiches. 4 Nanny Taxes suggests offering to pack snacks or sandwiches for everyone on days that you know the family will have practices or events to attend after you leave work.
• Help out when your employer has guests. It may not be part of your job duties, but helping out when your employer has company is something that they will appreciate, says Nanny Classifieds.
• Unload the dishwasher without being asked. According to Trusting Connections, little things that you can do to help out will not go unnoticed by your employer.
• Be willing to stay late without complaint. As long as it doesn’t become a habit, your employer will appreciate your willingness to help out, says DC Urban Moms and Dads.
• Pick up other areas of the house. To go above and beyond, help out with tasks that are not solely for the kids, recommends Americas Nannies.
• Bake cookies. Nanny Magazine suggests doing something nice for your employers from time to time, like baking cookies.
• Start dinner. As a treat for your employer, pick up food from the store and start dinner, like this slow cooker pork recipe from Betty Crocker.
• Organize the toys. Use the tips on Organized Home to organize toys.
• Pick up groceries for the family while you’re at the store. If you have a list of items that the family needs, pick up things while you are at the store for the kids. Tips for grocery shopping can be found on Zen Habits.
• Leave fresh flowers on the table. Having flowers around can be a pick-me-up for your employer. Read about how people respond to receiving flowers on About Flowers.

Give Thoughtful Gifts

Sometimes it’s nice to show your employer you value them as a boss by giving them a small token of appreciation. For thoughtful gift ideas, check out these 10 articles.

• An iPhone case. This is an inexpensive gift that can show a lot of personality. Check out Business News Daily for some ideas.
• Buy a tree. Knoji suggests gifting a tree that can be planted on your employer’s birthday.
• Create a scrapbook of the past year. Making a scrapbook is a thoughtful way to show your employer what the children have been up to over the past year, explains Human Resources.
• Bake some homemade goodies. Thrifty Fun suggests doing something from the heart.
• Give them a box of their favorite chocolates. Nannies often know their employers’ likes and dislikes, so use this knowledge to buy them a treat they’ll love. Find suggestions on Fox Business.
• A personalized name frame collage. Gifts suggest using photos to create a child’s name for a thoughtful, personalized gift.
• Give your employer something for a hobby. Maybe you know of a hobby that your employer loves, but doesn’t have a lot of time for. Give a gift that will help create some “me” time for your employer by reading through Hub Pages.
• Make an ornament. I Saw Your Nanny recommends making a present for your employer.
• Write a nice letter. Answers suggests writing a heartfelt letter explaining how much you appreciate your employer letting you work with their kids.
• Create an art keepsake. Albelli shows how to take the kids drawings and put them into a book.