Would you hire me if I did this?

[Anonymous]

Im a nanny who has been with the same family for 7 years. Next year when the youngest starts kindergarten, I plan to quit (and give as much notice as needed) to go travelling for a year. I plan to volunteer at an orphanage in Kenya, travel and then end my year volunteering at a preschool in Cambodia. I have been saving for this for 8 years and have 90k in savings.

I'm concerned that once my year is up, I will have trouble finding employment due to the lack of work for a year and how it looks on my resume. Will families take into consideration my past employment of 7 years with the same family and my volunteering? I'm worried they will think I'm a flake.

Thanks in advance!

[Anonymous]

Yes. That sounds like a great experience and one that would actually make you a better nanny. I think taking a year off to travel abroad is going to be a lot less of a problem for a nanny whose prior job came to a natural conclusion than, say, a lawyer or accountant.

[Anonymous]

I think that sounds like a wonderful plan. If I needed a nanny, I'd completely support that. 7 years of stability, then volunteering working with kids. Go for it. Have a wonderful time.

[Anonymous]

Why would someone not hire you because of this? You are volunteering with children, not taking a year off to party, and club.

[Anonymous]

Hire you as a nanny? Sure, why not?

[Anonymous]

No problem. Go for it.

[Anonymous]

They will not think you are a flake if you clearly and openly communicate what you did during that year (so it's not just an empty gap on your resume). You probably will need to do so in your cover letters, in order to get in the door for an interview.

[Anonymous]

After doing all that, I seriously doubt you woudl want to come take care of some spoiled "gifted" brat and work for parents who are full of themselves.

I think it is a grea tthing you are doing, best of luck

[Anonymous]

you don't have a gap, you have a year of teaching abroad.

Don't write your resume with a gap.
Write your resume:
July 2013-November 2013 Kenyan Orphanage
January 2013- May 2013 Cambodian Preschool
March 2005- December 2012 Nanny for XYZ

[Anonymous]

One thing to consider - ask your current family if they would write a letter of recommendation right when you leave, when their memories are fresh. Obviously potential new employers will also call them later, but it's nice to get these things recorded before they forget the million little things you did that they appreciated.