Do you enjoy working with children, helping them learn and watching them grow? Not only is a Nanny job accessible and interesting, it can also be a profitable part-time gig, entry point into early childhood education or even a full time career.
The demand for nannies and babysitters is growing exponentially as parents return to work and are finding that many childcare workers left the industry during the pandemic, according to news reports.
Getting hired as a Nanny still isn’t as easy as it seems, however. Parents are entrusting you with their precious offspring so they want to make sure you’re friendly and responsible. A cover letter is one of the best ways to introduce yourself and prove that you’re the right fit for the family.
A great cover letter doesn’t have to be a daunting task. With this Nanny cover letter example, plus Resume.io’s collection of tools and resources, you can stand out, make a personal connection and land the perfect Nanny job in no time.
This Nanny cover letter example, along with an adaptable Nanny cover letter sample will:
- Explain the purpose of a cover letter specifically when it comes to Nanny positions
- Offer free examples, samples and templates to model your cover letter on
- Explore the ways your cover letter can help you get a Nanny job with no experience
- Help you create great formatting that impresses parents and makes you stand out.
Before we dive into the details of writing a great cover letter, it’s worth taking a moment to perfect your resume. A well-crafted resume will give you the basis for a thoughtful cover letter and allow you to impress parents with your professionalism.
Best format for a Nanny cover letter example
If you’re early on in your career, you may be wondering what exactly a cover letter format for a Nanny looks like. In the section below, we’ll break down the format of a Nanny cover letter and offer a free Nanny cover letter sample that you can modify to create your own document.
The cover letter format is a concise one: a cover letter is traditionally a one-page document (roughly 200-400 words) that introduces yourself, explains your motivations and highlights your skills for the Nanny role. A cover letter accompanies your resume to expand on important points that may have gotten lost in the resume’s rigid structure.
While your resume is highly focused on previous experiences, your resume is a chance to speak directly to the potential family and make the case for why they should hire you (without begging or pleading, of course.) A cover letter is the best way to show parents that you’re invested in their family and that you’ve got the skills they’re looking for – even if you don’t have a ton of professional experience.
You’re likely wondering, “Does a Nanny even need a cover letter?” While hiring for nannies can be much less formal than in other industries, a cover letter can quickly set you apart as a serious candidate.
If applying through a childcare service that will connect you with a family, we strongly recommend a general cover letter that introduces yourself and gives parents a sense of your personality and experience. When applying to a family directly, your cover letter could take the form of a few paragraphs in a well-written email. You might even send it by text if you already have a great relationship with the parents. The point is, a cover letter is an essential tool for landing a Nanny job, but yours can be as formal or as casual as it needs to be depending on the family and the situation.
A cover letter isn’t only about great writing. Your formatting is an important element for standing out and showing your professionalism. Nanny jobs also allow you to get creative with your visual presentation. When used in moderation, colors and backgrounds can help you showcase your personality and positive attitude. You can find everything you need to know about the best formatting in our overall guide to cover letters.
Check out the format of this Nanny cover letter example:
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Holten,
When you are a nanny, you need to offer the children absolute levels of care, attention and support. In my nine-year career, I have had the privilege of joining three wonderful families and watching seven great kids flourishing in front of my eyes.
After moving to Seattle, I hope to experience the same with the Holten family. All my previous children have been in the 1st-3rd grades, so I understand the personality and developmental changes that are going on with children of that age.
I have a memory stick full of school projects, sporting successes, and all manner of fun times that we enjoyed in the house and garden. In my spare time, I help to run a scout group, so your focus on an “outdoors childhood” will be easy to provide. Kids learn so much from challenging themselves in the natural world. In my previous family, I reduced screen time by 85% (but increased the washing machine load infinitely). Dirty clothes can be cleaned, but the memories of fun times in the open air will last a lifetime.
My degree in childcare and all the necessary first aid qualifications offer a solid foundation to my childcare. I have long been an avid student of child psychology and while every child is different, there are certain situations where specific approaches are required. A child’s emotional needs will always come first.
Lastly, as education becomes increasingly important in these early years, I have been sharpening my general tutoring skills on the weekend with 6th-7th graders. You have to understand how curious young minds think and develop and it is only by working with older kids that you understand your children’s future academic journey.
I would love the opportunity of meeting Judith, Elijah, and you both. It is important to feel comfortable with each other – I’d be happy to do a non-paid trial day/days if you wish?
Sincerely,
Katherine Branagan
Nannying is a great job for students and career starters since it often allows for flexible hours and requires many of the caretaking skills you already possess. While that may be great news for you, the job seeker, it also means that competition for Nanny positions can be fierce.
With a student resume, you may not have a lot of professional experience that shows your trustworthiness. Conversely, you might have a lot of internships to show in another domain but few previous childcare positions.
In any case, the secondary purpose of your cover letter is to help you maximize your chances of landing your dream Nannying position. Think of it as an expanded resume summary section that shows off a bit more personality and highlights your most relevant previous experiences as related to the family you are applying to work with.
Personalization is key
A Nannying job is all about relationships – between you and the kids, but also with the parents. Your cover letter should strive to make a personal connection with the family right from the start. One of the best ways to do this is by customizing your cover letter to your potential employer’s exact needs.
For example, if the family has three young kids and a baby, an experience volunteering in a kindergarten classroom might be a better example to highlight on your cover letter than several months spent tutoring high school athletes. While customizing your cover letter is an important step for any application, it takes on even more importance in a role like Nannying.
Nanny cover letter structure, writing examples
A cover letter may be more flexible than a resume, but that doesn’t mean it is entirely unorganized. In this chapter, we’ll break down the pieces of a great cover letter and how to write each of them. These sections tend to remain consistent regardless of the job you’re applying to, so you can continue to write great cover letters even if your career goes in a different direction.
Here are the key components:
- The cover letter header
- The greeting
- The introduction
- The letter body
- The conclusion
- The signature.
You can find even more expert tips on writing each of these sections along with free sample sentences in our overall guide on cover letters.
Cover letter header
Since your cover letter header occupies the prime real estate right at the top of the page, it’s likely the first thing parents will notice as they begin to read your application. Therefore, your header serves two important roles. The first is to clearly present your name, contact information, and any other pertinent details so that a prospective family can either learn more about you or contact you for an interview.
The second purpose of the header is to create visually attractive formatting. The header is the best place to use color or add a photo to show off your personality and creative flair. Pay attention to what your formatting says about you – too many bright colors or different fonts, even for a Nannying job, can come across as unpolished.
The goal of this section: Label your document with your name and personal information, add a touch of good design and color to create a friendly, yet professional image.
Align document styles!
Even though a Nannying position is sometimes considered an entry-level job, parents are still looking for the best, most responsible caregivers. Parents will use the visual presentation of your cover letter to make an assessment about what type of person you are and how well you will fit into the family.
One way to quickly increase your chances of making that all-important great first impression is to align the document styles of your cover letter and resume. This means creating matching cover letter and resume headers for a consistent application look. If you have some graphic design experience, you can take the time to do this yourself. You can also save time by choosing a resume and cover letter template and customizing it for your needs and style.
Cover letter greeting
Your cover letter greeting might be a super short section but it makes a big difference in how parents read the rest of your document. For a Nanny cover letter, your greeting should account for a variety of factors. For example: Do you already know which family will be reading this letter? If so, what is your relationship with them? Will your letter go to just one parent or both? Are you close enough to address them on a first name basis?
Unlike with other professionals, Nannies can use more casual greetings depending on how well they already know the family. You may opt for the more formal “Dear” or you might choose “Hi” or “Hello,” especially when submitting your cover letter by email. If at all possible try to address the parents by name or use the family’s last name in your greeting.
The goal of this section: Establish a personal connection that is appropriate for your relationship, whenever possible use the family or parents’ names in the greeting.
The importance of names and addressed greetings.
There’s a reason why parents always bring out the middle name when they really want to get their child’s attention. Humans are programmed to respond to our own names and take the speaker more seriously when we understand they are talking directly to us.
The same is true for cover letters. By addressing the parents directly, you show that you are interested in working with their family – not just any nanny job that will accept you. It’s the best way to establish the essential rapport right from the start. However, there may be certain instances where you don’t have all the information you wish you did about the letter recipient. For example, maybe you are writing a general cover letter to be read by many families who will hire you through an agency. You might also be wondering if both parents have the same last name as the kids or if both parents will be reading the letter at all.
Luckily, you have options – and they are far better than other professions who have to write to seemingly nameless hiring managers hidden in corporate offices. If your cover letter is being submitted to an agency, try “Dear Parents,” “Dear Mom and Dad” or “Dear Family.”
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Holten,
Cover letter introduction
The point of your cover letter introduction to make parents interested in hiring you right from the start of your letter. As a nanny, you have the chance to be creative (while still remaining professional.) An anecdote about a time you helped a child achieve something important or handled an emergency can be a great way to start as well as a strong personal statement about the source of your passion for childcare. In any case, make sure your introduction highlights key, relevant skills and quickly leads into the body section.
The goal of this section: Grab a reader’s attention by showing off your strengths via an anecdote or personal statement, give a taste of your personality, and encourage the reader to continue into the next section.
When you are a nanny, you need to offer the children absolute levels of care, attention and support. In my nine-year career, I have had the privilege of joining three wonderful families and watching seven great kids flourishing in front of my eyes.
After moving to Seattle, I hope to experience the same with the Holten family. All my previous children have been in the 1st-3rd grades, so I understand the personality and developmental changes that are going on with children of that age.
Cover letter middle part (body)
Your cover letter body takes up the bulk of the page and is the best place to offer more examples of what you bring to the table. Make sure to balance examples of times when you handled difficult situations with more positive interactions. Since the body is the longest section, it may help if you divide it into two paragraphs. In the first, you can give specific anecdotes from your most relevant experiences, while the second can be dedicated to directly explaining your skills and the contributions you hope to make if hired as the family’s Nanny.
The goal of this section: Offer concise, relevant examples of your previous experience with children, speak directly to your strongest skills and your goals for becoming the family’s Nanny.
I have a memory stick full of school projects, sporting successes, and all manner of fun times that we enjoyed in the house and garden. In my spare time, I help to run a scout group, so your focus on an “outdoors childhood” will be easy to provide. Kids learn so much from challenging themselves in the natural world. In my previous family, I reduced screen time by 85% (but increased the washing machine load infinitely). Dirty clothes can be cleaned, but the memories of fun times in the open air will last a lifetime.
My degree in childcare and all the necessary first aid qualifications offer a solid foundation to my childcare. I have long been an avid student of child psychology and while every child is different, there are certain situations where specific approaches are required. A child’s emotional needs will always come first.
Lastly, as education becomes increasingly important in these early years, I have been sharpening my general tutoring skills on the weekend with 6th-7th graders. You have to understand how curious young minds think and develop and it is only by working with older kids that you understand your children’s future academic journey.
Now that you’ve made the strongest case for your employment as the new Nanny, it’s time to finish your letter with a strong conclusion and signature. Start by creating a Call to Action – a sentence that expresses your enthusiasm for the role and invites the parents to contact you to discuss further. You may even leave your phone number or email again here, space permitting.
Finish your cover letter with a signature that matches the formality of your greeting. For example, if you began your cover letter with “Dear” you may prefer a signature like “Sincerely,” or “Warm regards” as opposed to more casual options like “Thank you” or “Hope to hear from you soon.”
The goal of this section: Create an effective call to action that shows parents your interest in the position and encourages them to contact you, end your letter with the appropriate signature based on your relationship with the family.
I would love the opportunity of meeting Judith, Elijah, and you both. It is important to feel comfortable with each other – I’d be happy to do a non-paid trial day/days if you wish?
Sincerely,
Jamie Holder
Writing psychology — cover letter tools and strategies
As a Nanny, there are a few key qualities you’ll want your cover letter to convey:
- Responsibility: Good judgment and an ability to follow instructions are some of the most essential traits for Nannies. Use your Nanny cover letter examples to highlight times when you handled challenging situations or accomplished something important the parents asked you to do.
- Honesty: Parents need to know they can trust you to take care of their home and family. Your cover letter is a great place to emphasize your integrity and back up your statements with anecdotal evidence.
- Love of children: This should go without saying for a Nanny job but a passion for working with kids is a must. Use personal statements on your cover letter to explain your background and the source of your interest in Nannying so you don’t come across as someone who is looking for just any part-time job.
- Upbeat personality: The tone with which you write your cover letter tells parents a ton about what it is like to work with you. Make sure to convey a positive attitude, patience and general charisma to give yourself the best chance at making a connection.
Nanny cover letter with no experience
Nannying might seem like a simple entry-level position, but experienced caregivers will often tell you that there is much more to being a Nanny than meets the eye. Beyond playing with kids, there are many other tasks that may be rolled into the Nannying position, including:
- Picking children up from school and driving them to activities
- Light house cleaning and laundry
- Cooking and serving meals
- Feeding and walking pets
- Tutoring kids and helping with homework
- Teaching lessons or foreign languages
If you don’t have any experience as a Nanny, there are a few things you can mention on your cover letter to boost your chances of impressing a family:
- CPR and first aid certification
- Babysitting courses
- College courses in education
- Knowledge of sign language or a foreign language
- Having a driver’s license and clean driving record
A cover letter is a great place to make up for any gaps in your resume by speaking directly to the qualities that will make you a great addition to the family. Whenever possible, try to incorporate the children’s names and reference some of their activities to create a personal connection. Take it one step further by familiarizing yourself with the family’s part of town and suggesting creative activities that you could do with the kids not far from home.
Nannying is a flexible job that can allow you to transition to and from many other careers including:
- Tutor
- Babysitter
- Teaching assistant
- Elementary teacher
- Caretaker
Professional presentation is key
In the mid-1900s, a group of researchers at Yale conducted a multi-year research study on persuasive communication. The findings became known as the Yale Attitude Change Approach. By observing people’s reactions to different speakers and their messages, they determined this: Audiences are not only evaluating the speaker’s message, but also the speaker’s presentation and credibility.
It may seem obvious, but presentation has everything to do with how parents perceive a nanny cover letter sample. Your ultimate goal is to build credibility for yourself through both your writing and layout. Your formatting should be well-organized and attractive, and your social media accounts match the image your application conveys.
Nanny cover letter common mistakes
You can quickly make yourself stand out for the job just by avoiding these common pitfalls that trip up other candidates:
- Generic cover letters: You may need to make a general, introductory cover letter in rare circumstances where you are not applying to one family directly. In all other cases, however, it is imperative that your cover letter show why you are the right fit for that household via shared interests and relevant previous experiences.
- Typos and grammar mistakes: Spelling issues and poor sentence structure make your cover letter hard to read and dash your chances of making a professional first impression. Make sure to use spell check and proofread your cover letter once or twice before you submit.
- Poor formatting: A bland and boring visual presentation doesn’t give parents much hope for what kind of Nanny you’ll make. At the same time, too many bright colors can come off as unfocused and unpolished. A template can help you strike the right balance.
- Unrelated experience: Captain of the high school chess club doesn't necessarily make you a great Nanny (unless the kids are chess wizards – then include it!) What is considered “unrelated” can vary greatly depending on the family but as a general rule, a good portion of your cover letter should be dedicated to previous experiences with kids and qualities directly related to Nannying.
Key takeaways
- Your Nanny cover letter can be a key factor in landing the job since it allows you to introduce yourself to the family and highlight your strengths.
- Our Nanny cover letter sample can be modified to be as formal or casual as you need it to be depending on how you will be sending it and your previous relationship with the family.
- Follow the cover letter structure to include the most relevant examples and information about yourself in an organized format.
- Formatting says a lot about what type of candidate you are. Cover letter examples can help you strike the balance between creativity and professionalism.
- Nannying can be a great entry point into other jobs. Your Nanny cover letter sample can be easily adapted to apply for different positions inside of our builder tool.
If you’re looking for extra inspiration, check out our other education related cover letter examples:
