In the nanny industry, your experience is one of your greatest assets. But experience alone doesn’t always make you stand out. How you thoughtfully present the information can make all the difference. A strong nanny resume helps families and agencies immediately understand your value, professionalism, and long-term career commitment.

How you present your resume as a professional caregiver is not about listing every job you’ve ever held. It is about clearly showing growth, impact, and the skills that set you apart in a competitive market. Whether you are actively job searching or simply updating your materials, these resume tips will help you present yourself as the exceptional caregiver you are.

1) Start Your Strong Nanny Resume with a Clear Professional Summary

A strong nanny resume should begin with a concise professional summary. Whether it be a short paragraph or concise bullet points, this section acts as a brief introduction and sets the tone to help prospective families understand who you are.

Your summary can include:

• Years of experience
• Types of roles you have held (i.e., infant nanny, newborn care specialist, full-time nanny, special needs nanny, daycare experience, etc.)
• Key strengths or specialties (i.e., experience cooking for families, experience teaching children a foreign language, etc.)

For example, rather than writing a generic objective, focus on positioning yourself as a career professional. This allows families to get to know you in a way that says, “here’s why I’m right for this position.” 

2) Highlight Experience Strategically

As an experienced nanny with multiple long-term roles, your resume doesn’t need to include every detail from each position. Focus on making the information easily digestible and the impact you made easy to point to.

For each position, include:

• Dates of employment
• Ages of children at the start of your employment
• Core responsibilities that go beyond “Played with the kids” (i.e., “Led developmentally appropriate activities to reach and exceed milestones.)
• Any leadership or household management duties

One way to create a strong nanny resume? Instead of listing basic tasks, highlight outcomes and growth. For example, mention routines you established, developmental milestones you supported, or systems you implemented that improved the household. This approach helps families see the real impact of your experience.

3) Showcase Specialized Skills and Strengths

In a strong nanny resume, specialized skills and strengths, especially strengths relevant to the job you’re applying to, are obviously highlighted. With experience, you may be tempted to take these skills for granted, but that would be a mistake; don’t underestimate the message your previous experiences send.

Consider including:

• Infant or newborn experience
• Managing multiple children (i.e., twins, triplets) or large age gaps
• Travel or ROTA experience
• Supporting neurodiverse children
• Working in high-profile or particularly private households
• Household management or family assistant duties

A well-structured nanny resume makes these skills easy to find and easy to understand how they can be useful in future positions. 

4) Include Certifications and Continuing Education

Families and agencies value caregivers who invest in professional development. Make sure your nanny resume includes all relevant certifications and training.

This may include:

• CPR and First Aid
• Newborn Care Specialist training
• Early childhood education coursework
• Sleep training certifications
• Special needs or behavioral training

If you attend workshops, conferences, or ongoing education specific to the industry, include those as well. This reinforces that you are committed to growing in your career.

5) Keep Formatting Clean and Professional

A strong nanny resume should be easy to read and visually clean. It can be tempting to default to a gorgeously formatted resume template with lots of colors, fonts, and design elements, but this isn’t recommended. Avoid overly decorative fonts or cluttered layouts, and stick to relaying the information in a simple, easy-to-digest way. 

Do this with:

• Clear section headings
• Consistent formatting/sizing/spacing
• Bullet points instead of long paragraphs

Your nanny resume should feel polished and professional, reflecting the level of care you bring to your role.

6) Address Gaps Thoughtfully

Even top-notch career nannies can have gaps in their resume for any number of reasons, such as education, family needs, or transitions between long-term roles. These don’t necessarily need to be hidden.

If relevant, briefly explain gaps in a way that shows intention and responsibility. For example, if you took a break from your work to pursue studies, consider bringing attention to this on your resume. Honesty paired with confidence builds trust with families and agencies.

7) Keep Your Resume Updated Regularly

There’s nothing worse than starting your job search, a notoriously trying process, with a resume that needs a serious revamp. Even if you are not actively searching, we recommend you update your nanny resume at least once a year. Add new skills, certifications, and accomplishments while they are fresh in your mind. 

Keeping your nanny resume current ensures you are always prepared for new opportunities and referrals (should they come along!). 

8) Pair Your Resume with a Strong Portfolio

While a nanny resume is essential, experienced nannies often benefit from an accompanying portfolio. And odds are, you have most of this already! You just may need to organize it in one easily accessible place.

A portfolio may include:

• Letters of recommendation
• Reference contact information
• A brief philosophy of care
• A cover letter
• Any certifications that are relevant to the industry

Together, your resume and portfolio provide a complete picture of who you are as a caregiver.

9) Why Your Resume Still Matters as an Experienced Nanny

After years in the field, it can be tempting to rely on reputation alone. But a thoughtful, strong nanny resume remains one of your most powerful tools. It tells your story clearly, highlights your professionalism, and helps families understand what makes you exceptional. It also reinforces your professionalism when your reputation gets you in the door. 

A strong nanny resume does more than list jobs. It reflects growth, stability, and pride in your career. By refining how your experience is presented, you position yourself for roles that align with your skills, values, and long-term goals.

Looking for additional resources to improve your resume? Check out these articles: 

Supercharge Your Resume 

Crafting an Impressive Resume: The Dos and Don’ts 

Is My Nanny Resume Too Long? Here’s What Agencies and Families Really Want to See