Presenting Your Nanny Skills Through A Portfolio

Presenting Your Nanny Skills Through A Portfolio

Many educational institutions are now asking their students to create and maintain portfolios that can be used as a guide for showcasing skills, talent, awards, accomplishments, goals, challenges overcome, and long-term plans. Even if you didn't have the opportunity to create a portfolio before, it's not too late. Ultimately, you want to be able to accurately assess your skills and talents based on your life's experiences, not just your educational accomplishments.

Before you send out your nanny resume, take a day or two to piece together a simple portfolio. Your portfolio should include the following:

1) Copies of all certificates and diplomas.

2) A personal narrative describing something in your life that was a great challenge to you and how you handled it. Take the time to reflect on all of the strengths you used when handling this particular situation. The only person who is going to see this is you, so don't hold anything back. At the end of this exercise, before you begin answering any nanny interview questions, you want to be able to reflect back on the strengths you have used in the past to get through stressful situations.

3) Your updated nanny resume.

4) A few paragraphs detailing how you think others see you and why. Are you a loyal friend? What makes you think so? Can you give an example?

5) Goals. Do you want to work full-time as a nanny? Do you plan to return to university? What other things do you want to do with your life?

There's no right or wrong way to create a portfolio, but it's an excellent opportunity to spend a few days really reflecting on the kinds of nanny skills you possess. Remember that everything you've learned in life from the time you were a child are all skills you can bring to your job. Once you realize that, you'll be able to present yourself the best way possible during a job interview.