Resume: Nanny

[2k2e]

Throughout college and in my current gap year I have been a nanny on the side for money. Starting December of my freshmen year I have worked anywhere from 8-18 hours a week (depending on kids school and activity schedules) up until now. My issue is how to appropriately put this on my resume. Other than being a nanny, I have had a lot of extracurriculars, but my only other documented work experience was a school job my junior year, 7 months of restaurant work my senior year, and my current job. It hasn't been just periodic babysitting. For example, for last last two years (and currently on top of my full time job) one of the kids I have nannied is a special needs kid that I am with 3 times a week.

I don't want it to be a focal point or distracting thing on my resume, but I feel like it should be on my resume. Without it, it looks like I did not work most of college. Additionally it helps to put my time management into perspective.

Is this something people would normally put on their resume? Should I just label it as childcare provider and put the dates?

[Dave Killoran]

Hi 2k2e,

Thanks for the question! You should most definitely put Nanny down on your resume, and expand a bit on your responsibilities, time commitment, work with a special needs child, and so on. Caring for children is an important job that is frankly a ton of work, and many of the people in the admissions office will have children, and will instantly know the value of your job and the time and hard work required. Don't gloss over it (and at the same time don't make it seem like the single most important job in the world) and address it in a straightforward and matter-of-fact manner. It's also not an uncommon job, and so I've seen it on multiple other resumes and so will the Adcomms. It won't be a distraction and it should be there.

Please let me know if that helps. Thanks!