RESUME MISTAKES
Turn Your Nanny Resume Into a Job Magnet
Identify and fix the most common mistakes that stop families from calling you back.
How This Page Helps
Help professional nannies craft error‑free resumes that pass ATS filters and impress families.
Spot hidden gaps in experience
Learn ATS‑friendly wording
See before‑and‑after examples
Apply proven formatting rules
Access a downloadable fix workshop
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Chances
Each mistake includes why it hurts, how to fix it, and before/after examples
Using a generic objective instead of a tailored summaryMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Employers see a vague goal and assume lack of focus
- Objective often lacks industry keywords that ATS look for
- It wastes prime resume space without adding value
How to fix
- Replace the objective with a 2‑3 sentence summary
- Highlight years of experience, age groups cared for, and key strengths
- Insert relevant keywords such as "childcare", "early childhood education", "household management"
❌ Before
Objective: Seeking a nanny position where I can utilize my skills.
✓ After
Summary: Experienced Nanny with 5+ years caring for children aged 0‑10, specializing in early childhood development and household management for busy families.
ATS Tip
Include keywords like "childcare", "infant care", "toddler activities", and "CPR certified" in the summary.
Detection Rules
objective_section_present
lack_of_keywords
Resumly Tip
Swap objective for a concise, keyword‑rich summary that showcases your unique value.
Listing duties instead of achievementsHIGH
Why it hurts
- Hiring managers can’t see the impact you made
- ATS favors quantifiable results over generic tasks
- It makes your resume blend with dozens of others
How to fix
- Turn each duty into an achievement with measurable outcomes
- Use action verbs and numbers where possible
- Show how you improved safety, learning, or household efficiency
❌ Before
- Prepared meals for children - Assisted with homework - Performed light housekeeping
✓ After
- Prepared nutritious meals for 3 children, reducing snack costs by 15% - Designed and led daily educational activities, boosting school readiness scores by 20% - Implemented a cleaning schedule that cut household chores time by 30%
ATS Tip
Start bullet points with strong verbs like "Designed", "Implemented", "Improved" and embed keywords such as "educational activities" and "meal planning".
Detection Rules
bullet_points_start_with_generic_verbs
no_numbers_present
Resumly Tip
Convert each duty into a result‑focused bullet that quantifies your contribution.
Missing specific age ranges and responsibilitiesMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Families look for experience with particular age groups
- ATS may not match your experience to age‑specific keywords
- Vague descriptions reduce credibility
How to fix
- State the exact ages of children you cared for in each role
- Highlight age‑appropriate responsibilities (e.g., diapering infants, tutoring school‑age kids)
- Match language to common family search terms
❌ Before
Nanny, Smith Family, 2019‑2022
✓ After
Nanny – Infants (0‑12 months) & Toddlers (1‑3 years), Smith Family, Jan 2019 – Dec 2022
ATS Tip
Include age‑specific keywords like "infant care", "toddler activities", "preschool preparation".
Detection Rules
age_range_missing
responsibility_vague
Resumly Tip
Add precise age brackets and tailor responsibilities to each bracket for clarity and ATS relevance.
Unclear dates and employment gapsHIGH
Why it hurts
- Hiring managers may assume unexplained gaps are red flags
- ATS can misinterpret date formats and skip entries
- Inconsistent dates hurt chronological flow
How to fix
- Use a consistent MM/YYYY format for all positions
- If gaps exist, add brief explanations (e.g., "Sabbatical for certification")
- Align dates left‑aligned for easy scanning
❌ Before
Nanny – Johnson Family 2018 – 2020
✓ After
Nanny – Johnson Family 06/2018 – 08/2020
ATS Tip
Standard MM/YYYY dates ensure ATS parses tenure correctly.
Detection Rules
date_format_inconsistent
gap_without_explanation
Resumly Tip
Standardize dates and address any gaps with concise notes to maintain trust.
Using an unprofessional email addressLOW
Why it hurts
- It looks careless and may be filtered out by ATS
- Employers may doubt your professionalism
- It can be hard to remember or type correctly
How to fix
- Create a simple email using your first and last name (e.g., jane.smith@gmail.com)
- Avoid nicknames, numbers, or unrelated domains
- Update contact info across all application materials
❌ Before
Email: cutiepie123@yahoo.com
✓ After
Email: jane.smith@gmail.com
ATS Tip
Professional email addresses improve both human and ATS perception.
Detection Rules
email_contains_numbers
email_contains_unprofessional_terms
Resumly Tip
Switch to a clean, name‑based email to boost credibility instantly.
Formatting Guidelines
File Types: PDF, DOCX
Sections: Contact Information, Professional Summary, Key Skills, Professional Experience, Education & Certifications, References (optional)
Naming: FirstName_LastName_Nanny_Resume
Consistency
Length: 1‑2 pages
Date Format: MM/YYYY
Location Format: City, State
Resume Quality Checklist
- Use a professional email address
- Include a keyword‑rich summary
- Show achievements with numbers
- List ages of children cared for
- Provide clear start/end dates
- Keep formatting consistent
- Save as PDF
ATS Alignment Guide
Common ATS Systems: iCIMS, Workday, Greenhouse, ApplicantPro
Keyword Strategy: childcare, early childhood education, infant care, toddler activities, household management, CPR certified
Heading Format: Use standard headings like "Professional Experience" and "Key Skills" to ensure ATS parsing.
Quick Fix Workshop
Paste your current nanny resume text
- Replace objective with summary
- Add age ranges and responsibilities
- Convert duties to achievements
- Standardize dates
- Insert relevant keywords
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