Back-to-school season is just around the corner, and schedules are about to get chaotic. Families are looking to hire after-school babysitters and full-time nannies, as well as tutors, dog walkers, house cleaners and more, which is great news if you’re in the market for a new job opportunity. It also means it’s the perfect time to upgrade your resume for this peak hiring season.
Before the school year begins, dazzle hiring families with an up-to-date, back-to-school profile that shows off how valuable you can be in their busy lives. But what exactly should you add? What skills should you have on your resume? Here are nine tips for the best skills to add to your resume as you spruce it up.
1. Update your availability
Is your availability up to date for the new school year? Are you looking for a full-time job, or are you open to a part-time position that fits around a family’s work and school schedule too? Can you walk dogs while everyone’s busy during the day? Can you help a busy family early in the morning or in the afternoon? Nannies and babysitters with flexible schedules can let families know that they’re available after school, before school and for back-up care.
2. Add a high-quality profile photo or headshot.
Your resume profile photo should be a clear, high-quality photo that projects a friendly, professional vibe. Potential clients want to see who they might be inviting into their homes to care for their loved ones.
3. Highlight your certifications and education
During this time of year, everyone has back-to-school on the brain. If you’re certified, have a degree or know a second language, let families know and make sure to put these certifications on your resume. There may be ways you can help teach their kids or assist with after-school learning.
If you’re looking for a pet-sitting or dog-walking gig, mention any classes you’ve taken on how to train a dog or be a better pet sitter.
And if you’re looking for other ways to boost your skill set, sign up for one of these child care training courses and certifications.
4. Help with homework
When school starts, families are always looking for caregivers or tutors who can help with homework. If you have these strengths, share them in your profile — they’ll catch the eye of any parent in need.
If you’re a nanny or sitter and you don’t have a degree, talk about subjects you’re particularly strong in, like math, English or French, and any interesting tricks you’ve learned for helping kids with homework. Share any instances when you worked with a child to improve school grades.
If you’ve had experience with tutoring or teaching, mention these skills as well.
5. Mention driving
Once school starts up again, so do after-school activities. Kids’ schedules get very chaotic and parents often need a nanny who drives. If you have a great driving record or just passed a defensive driving class, mention it.
6. Focus on extracurriculars
Parents are looking for a well-rounded caregiver — someone who isn’t just able to help their children with their studies but can also expose them to other activities and help them learn and grow in other ways.
In your profile, talk about other things you’re interested in and why they’re good for families. For example, if you worked at a summer camp, add a sentence about how you were in charge of the tennis activities and how you can’t wait to play with their children. If you’ve taken courses in art, music or child development, mention this knowledge, too.
7. Discuss experience cleaning and organizing
If you’re a house cleaner or an organizer, this is a great time of year to highlight these skills. Can you do a deep clean to get rid of summer grime, help a family declutter, get clothing sorted out for back-to-school season or set up a homework station? Talk about how you’ve performed these tasks for other families and how it helped them. Also, make sure to include your availability on your resume.
8. Talk about food
Do you know lots of great recipes for kids’ school lunches, quick breakfasts or healthy after-school snacks? Talk about your favourites. Parents looking for a sitter will snap up someone who cares about nutrition and can help out with meal prep.
9. Ask for reviews
Families are more likely to reach out to you if you have references and reviews. When prospective employers see that your profile is full of positive reviews, you instantly move to the top of their list of caregivers to interview.
With back-to-school season approaching, ask any previous employers to provide reviews on your work and, specifically, your education and tutoring expertise. You could even ask a former teacher to comment on what a bright student you were and how you helped fellow students in the class.
