Clean Up Your Internet Presence in 5 Easy Steps Before Applying to Your Dream Nanny Job
Hey, Nanny! Is your internet presence helping or hurting your nanny job search?
Whether you’re looking for a job on your own or through a nanny agency, you should know that parents and agencies will definitely look you up to see what the internet has to say about you.
Why? It’s very important for families and agencies to know that the nanny candidate they’re considering is who they say they are, and that their online presence (if any) is consistent with someone who is a childcare professional.
Do you know what families and agencies see when they search for you online?
If this is your first time thinking about this, don’t panic!
Keep reading to learn how to clean up your digital footprint in 5 easy steps BEFORE you apply to your dream nanny job!
#1 Google Yourself
What does the internet have to say about you? Since you now know that families will be “googling you” when you apply to their nanny positions, you want to see what the search results are when you search your name online.
We recommend searching your own name using different term combinations. Here are some examples:
“First Name Last Name” - use quotation marks around your search to restrict results to instances with your complete name.
“First Name Last Name” + your city or town.
The next step is to fix, delete, update any online information associated with your name that doesn’t reflect a professional nanny profile. Make your social media profiles private if need be.
#2 Have a Consistent Online Presence
Make sure that your online professional profile on job sites matches the information you’ve shared with nanny agencies or anywhere you're looking for work. Consistency is key.
Here are 5 items that you would typically share about yourself as a nanny looking for work:
- education
- childcare experience
- references
- salary expectations or hourly rate
- the types of nanny jobs you're looking for
EXAMPLE: You have a public nanny profile on a job search site where you say you have 5 years of childcare experience and are asking for $20/hr, but you're also working with a nanny agency and you tell them you’re asking for $30/hr because you actually have 7 years of childcare experience. This is a problem!
Be honest, accurate and consistent across all of the platforms you’re using to find a nanny position.
#3 Keep It Professional and Positive
Refrain from venting or speaking negatively about any past employers or work experiences on public forums, like Facebook, Instagram or Reddit groups.
These online spaces are public and easily accessible by both nannies and families.
You never know who's watching what you're posting! Always be professional and cordial in all your online conversations and interactions.
#4 Hide or Remove Any Unflattering Photos
What photos are associated with your name when you google yourself? An online photo of you may be the first impression you make on a potential employer, especially if they “google” you before your first face-to-face interview.
Don’t let old internet photos of yourself ruin making a positive first impression! Make sure parents can only find professional, recent, "wholesome nanny" photos of you (if any) when they look you up online.
#5 Tidy Up Your Instagram Bio
When parents land on your Instagram profile, what do they learn about you? Does your bio express who you are as a professional nanny? What's important to you? What your values are?
Update your Instagram bio to match the vibe of the type of nanny job you're looking for.
This tip applies to Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, LinkedIn or any social media account you may have that parents and agencies can find online.
Looking for a rewarding career as a professional Nanny in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto or Ottawa? Join our pool of extraordinary, professional Nannies for our in-home Babysitting service! Get started here.
We can also help you find permanent nanny positions via our sister site dedicated to full and part-time Nanny placements, The Nanny Solution.