Finding your next great adventure might feel intimidating, but we want to demystify the process of becoming an Adventure Nanny and make sure that you’ve got the tools and resources you need to be successful in your job search. First, we’ll share the nuts and bolts of our recruitment process, and then we’ll dig into some best practices that will set you apart from other applicants. Let’s get started!
Becoming An Adventure Nanny:
Here is a step-by-step breakdown of our screening process and what you can expect after submitting a resume online via our job board. Candidates are re-evaluated after each stage of the process before being invited to move on to the next step.
1. Initial Application*
Our team reviews applications for each specific job to verify candidates have extensive experience applicable to the position.
- We only consider candidates who meet our minimum requirements:
- Able to verify at least three years of full-time, professional childcare experience
- Eligible to work legally in the United States
- Willing and committed to being paid “on the books” as a W-2 employee
- At least 21 years old
- Up-to-date with child and infant CPR and first aid certifications
- Able to pass extensive background checks
Many families also require a four-year degree or higher (or the equivalent in child development fields), a valid driver’s license with a clean driving history, a valid passport, and the ability to travel internationally as positions require. If you don’t yet meet our qualifications, continue building your resume and apply when you’re ready!
2. Agency Interview
Our team invites stand-out candidates to an initial video-based interview and determines if they’re a potential match for the position(s) to which they’ve applied. Only truly exceptional candidates are asked to move forward in the process based on the following criteria:
- Confidence
- Humility
- Adaptability
- Motivation
- Positivity
- Overall “vibe”
3. Reference Check
Candidates are required to provide three to five childcare or education-related references. References must match the most recent positions in the order of the resume to verify their working history. We speak to every reference over the phone and ask more than 20 questions to gain a full understanding of:
- Experience and knowledge gained in each position
- Level of energy and engagement
- Responsiveness to feedback
- Areas of improvement
- Overall reliability
4. Candidate Profile
Our extensive Candidate Profile assesses candidates’ professionalism, experience, personality, and childcare values. (Nanny candidates only.) This long-form application is where we see personality and individuality shine. Candidates are required to elaborate on:
- Basic qualifications
- Specialized experience
- Education and certifications
- Employment goals
- Childcare philosophy and personality
- Other key points of their background
5: Internet and Social Media Screening
Our candidates are expected to present themselves in a professional manner both on and off duty, including through social media.] We take a close look at candidates’ online presence:
- Snapchat
- TikTok
- Any other online content we may encounter
6. Background Checks
Once candidates receive an offer of employment, they undergo a thorough background check in compliance with applicable laws prior to starting their new job. Our exhaustive background checks ensure our clients are making a safe choice for their family:
- Criminal Background Investigation
- DMV Driving Record
- Social Security Number Verification
- Sex Offender Registry
- Civil Restraining Orders
- National Wants and Warrants
- Education Verification
- TrustLine Verification (California)
*Pro Tip:
Your resume is the first thing both our team at Adventure Nannies and a prospective family will see, so it’s important that your resume is clear and concise and that your experience and qualifications are shown in the best light.
To ensure your candidacy is considered as quickly as possible, your resume should:
- List all relevant positions worked in chronological order from most recent to least recent
- Include start and end dates (month and year) for each position
- Provide individual listings for each full-time/part-time, long-term position (no blanket positions, e.g., “Nanny for multiple families, 2014-2019”)
- Include the ages of the children at the start of the position
- Describe the nature of the role (full-time, part-time, on-call, summer only, and so on)
- Provide details about the job duties and responsibilities
- List your reason for leaving the role
- Explain any gaps in employment
- A separate section at the bottom of the resume for “Other Professional Experience, if applicable
- Be formatted in a grammatically correct manner without abbreviations, shorthand, or emojis
If you upload a resume that does not contain the information above when applying to a position, we will be unable to move forward with your candidacy.
We highly encourage our candidates to use our Adventure Nannies resume template whenever possible and to review all of the resources shared on our website, including the informative FAQs.
Many of our candidates have enlisted the services of Nanny Consults throughout their application process. They’re happy to provide resume editing and design services to ensure your experience shines! Please email nannyconsults@gmail.com to inquire about resume consulting. Mention that you were referred by Adventure Nannies to receive a discount!
How To Be A Stand-Out Candidate:
Every month, we receive 1500+ applications for the positions listed on our job board! While we would love to get to know every candidate who applies, less than 5% of applicants make it to the final stage in our vetting process. We’ve been studying the candidates who absolutely dazzle us throughout the placement process and wanted to share a few things that these stand-out candidates all have in common. Here’s how to stand out from the pack:
Cast A Wide Net
Many of our nanny candidates make the mistake of falling in love with a particular job description and decide not to pursue any of our other opportunities. Since we typically have anywhere from 50 to 250+ applicants for each role, the odds of being successfully placed through our agency increase exponentially if you find multiple positions you are interested in pursuing! In this case, even if the position that originally caught your eye becomes unavailable, you will still be in the running for other positions and given a higher priority than candidates who are applying for the first time.
Know Your Strengths And How To Express Them
One of the questions that candidates have the most difficulty answering is ‘what makes you stand out as a nanny?’ We are always seeking candidates who, in addition to an extensive background in childcare, understand the value of their other skills and passions and have ideas or thoughts about how to bring those interests into their workplace and enhance the lives and development of the children in their care in creative and collaborative ways!
Have A Gorgeous Resume
Since we don’t have the opportunity to speak with every candidate who applies, our decision on who to advance is reliant on your resume and the answers you provide to our job-specific screening questions. Your resume doesn’t need to be crafted by a graphic designer. Still, it should be straightforward with each childcare position listed out, simple to read, and highlight any special skills you have, including language skills, educational degrees, interests, volunteering experience, and anything else that makes you unique!
Stick To Your Skill Set
Each of our job descriptions describes the position’s requirements at great length – and we have between thirty and fifty positions on the Job Board at any time, with new ones every week! Each job description will denote whether certain skills/education/languages are required, heavily preferred, or preferred. Before writing the job description, we counsel each family on realistic expectations while prioritizing their needs. If you do not possess a skill that is listed in the job description as a requirement, there is no need to apply for it. If a position has several preferences listed and you meet some but not all of the preferences, please use the space provided during your application to explain to us why your skillset is a potential match and any experience or interest you may have in the family’s other preferences.
Be Adaptable
The candidates who glide through our process are often considered for a wide range of positions, sometimes nationwide. Candidates who have been less successful often have very specific schedule requirements (i.e., “I don’t want to work before 10 am or after 6 pm or on every other Tuesday”), living requirements (i.e., “I want the family to provide housing, but not in their house, in a guest house, and my 5 cats will live there with me too”), location requirements (i.e., “I’m interested in jobs in Denver because my brother lives there but would also consider a job in Los Angeles as long as the family lives next to the ocean”) or other requirements (i.e., “I only want to be a nanny for a 5-year-old girl named Donna.”) While we so appreciate candidates being clear about what type of scenario is going to work for them and possessing that self-knowledge, it can make it very challenging for us to find roles that will match their desires! Candidates who are passionate about finding a personality and cultural match with their future employers and open to whatever that may look like are lovely to work with. They are often successfully placed more quickly than other candidates!
Take Advantage Of Our Candidate Resources
The childcare industry is more competitive than ever, so consider checking out the resources and FAQs we have compiled for candidates navigating the job search journey. Click here for the link! We’ve also shared some great tips on our Instagram page!
Privatize Your Social Media
While we don’t perform an Internet screening on candidates until they have already passed their screening call, please keep in mind that in this day and age, any potential employer will likely look you up on social media. If you are on LinkedIn, your profession should match the types of roles you are applying for (not ‘marketing specialist’ or any non-childcare or education-focused role), and if your Facebook or Instagram photos are public, consider privatizing them so that your potential future employers’ first impressions can come via your resume, not your weekend photos. Be sure to check out the rest of our blog posts for more resources to assist you in your job search!
Do you have any additional questions about how this all works? Be sure to check out the FAQs to learn more about becoming an Adventure Nanny!
Reach out to us on Facebook, Instagram, and check out the other posts on the blog!
If you are looking for an exceptionally skilled nanny, newborn care specialist, or private educator for your child, we’d love to hear from you!
If you feel that you have what it takes to become an Adventure Nanny or private educator, reach out to us.