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[quote=Anonymous]OPD, I am a nanny who started out in my early 20s.  I agree with the previous posters that you should definitely work on presenting your self in the best possible light, which will include double-checking your English on every post.  If you present yourself well in person, then a slight accent should not be a big deal. But when posting online, people will see that and will toss you out without really giving the rest of your post a second thought. You do not want to rule your self out from the get-go.

I also agree that parents will not consider your babysitting or sibling care as real childcare experience. I agree that it's fine to bring those up, But you have to phrase it as "I babysat a lot and spend a lot of time caring for my younger sibling, which is how I developed a passion for childcare."  I would focus in terms of experience on talking about your current nanny job, and the fact that you are pursuing an education related to child care.  You may indeed need to start by looking for someone who is a stay-at-home or work at home parent, Or for some combination of part-time care.  Perhaps you could find a stay at home mom who wants some help a few mornings a week so that she can run errands, and a separate family with older children who need after school care.

Do you drive? That is something that will help market you later on in your nanny career. If you do not have a drivers license, I would definitely consider getting one simply because you want to be able to say that you have had a drivers license for as long as possible.  A spotless record for several years even if you do not have a car looks much better than a brand-new license.

The good news is that if you are truly dedicated to your work, then you only need one good family.  I say one "good" family because often younger, especially ESL nannies will attract employers who are looking for someone they can take advantage of. If you are hired by this type of family, then your odds are bad of getting a good reference out of them. Chances are they will be displeased with your performance if you refuse to be a doormat.  I say this not to be negative about nanny employers (I have had some wonderful employers who I have loved very much!), However I want you to be aware that picking a good family is more important than getting a job right away.  It is far better to accept a job that is less than ideal in someway, but work for people who are caring and compassionate and respectful.  If you choose good people for your employers, then you will be able to use them as a reference which will increase your chances of getting the perfect job for your next gig.

I started out as an unpaid part-time nanny working 15 hours a week in exchange for room and board. They were a great family and gave me an excellent reference and my next gig was live in full-time for $350 a week in a Midwest state. My next job was here in DC making even more money as a living in, they also gave me a good reference and now I am making $20 an hour as a Live-out nanny.  I have only been in this field for about seven years.  Working hard, choosing great families, and always being mindful of getting the best possible reference are the key to success in this industry in my experience.[/quote]

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