10 Things that Aren't Appropriate for a Nanny Profile

By NannyJobs.org

When using nanny websites or job listing websites there is some information you should never share online.

A good nanny profile should include all of the basic information, such as work experience, employment history, education, and contact information. You can also add in other data such as hobbies, certifications, or references; but there are some things that are better left out of your profile. I'd like to add to the list below that you should never list the names and contact information of your job references publicly either.

Here are 10 things that aren’t appropriate for a nanny profile:

Social Security Number – Although at some point you will need to provide this to your prospective employer, it should be left off your resume/profile. This is something that need only be shared when you’re reasonably certain that you’ve got the job.

Social Networking Profiles – Unless you use it for business purposes, it’s best to leave your Facebook profile off of your nanny profile. Separation of personal and business lives, as a rule of thumb, is the best approach when creating a resume or business profile, and you don’t want any non-work appropriate wall posts or pictures influencing your potential employer’s decision.

Photos From Inappropriate Settings – No one wants to see their prospective nanny getting down at Tootsie’s Roadhouse. As fun a night of dancing and revelry as it might have been for you, save that story for another time, audience, and venue.

Salary Requirements – You do need to have a good idea of what your requirements are, but it’s not necessarily a good idea to state them in your profile. There may be other compensation available to you in jobs that would not otherwise meet your criteria, which you could then miss out on by pricing yourself out of consideration.

Driving Record – Unless it’s clean and current, it isn’t a good idea to provide this information up front. A background check will be included in the hiring process anyway, and if there are some questionable transgressions you would be better off giving yourself a chance to explain them in an interview than potentially being flagged as someone who isn’t a safe driver and thus not an option.

Personal References – You can list former employers, teachers, and the likes as professional references if you choose. Family members are not considered objective references, for obvious reasons. Using your friends as references could raise a red flag with potential employers.

Unexplained Gaps In Employment History – Whatever the reason for periods of unemployment, they should be addressed accurately and honestly. Too often job seekers will fudge in areas like this, and almost as often it results in a disastrous effect.

Political Leanings – Regardless of how passionate you may feel about a topic, a candidate, or a cause, a resume or job profile is not the appropriate place to express it. Anything that isn’t specifically relevant to the job should be left out.

Derogatory Remarks About Previous Employers – No matter how badly your past work experience may have been for you, it’s deadly to refer to prior bosses in an unflattering light. No prospective employer wants to be faced with the prospect of being in that employer’s shoes one day.

Inaccurate Data – Your dates of employment, education, degrees and certifications should all be up-to-date and accurate. You don’t want to have to explain later, after a background check, why your profile contains false information.