6 Things to Include on a Babysitting Resume

So, you want to be a babysitter? Whether you’re looking to become something closer to a full-time nanny or just earn some extra money with a part-time babysitting gig, you’re going to need a good resume to get you started.

To make a resume for babysitting, you’ll want to have some relevant experience. That experience could be as simple as watching your siblings while your parents are away, previous babysitting jobs or something a little more complex like acting as a camp counselor. But, if you clicked on this article, you’re probably wondering, "How do you make a resume for babysitting that will stand out against the competition?" I'll offer you guidance (from my perspective as a mother and experience as a babysitter) on what information is important to include, as well as some specific skills and abilities that might catch a parent’s eye. And to top it off, I have also included a real example that you can use as a template for your resume. 

What are the duties and responsibilities of a babysitter? 

First and foremost, it’s important to establish that the role of “babysitter” can vary greatly from family to family. To one family, a babysitter could just be someone who comes over for a few hours on a Friday night to watch the children while you take the opportunity for a night out. For another, a babysitter could be responsible for getting the children to and from school and ensuring that they've completed their homework. Regardless, you'll be entrusted with the safety of someone’s child, and that comes with a wide range of potential tasks and responsibilities. Some of these responsibilities could include keeping the children entertained, making sure the children have a snack or a simple meal and possibly some light cleaning. If the children you're caring for are babies or toddlers, you could also be responsible for changing diapers or potty training. 

As a mom, it's very important to me that any babysitters who watch my little one not only make sure he's having a good time but also that he stays safe. As my little one is currently a three-year-old boy with endless energy and very little self-preservation, his babysitter would be expected to be comfortable with handling simple first-aid in the case of any bumps and bruises. Harrison isn’t old enough to have homework yet, but if you’re caring for school-age children, you could also be responsible for helping with school assignments or transportation to and from school or extracurricular activities. 

What skills do you need as a babysitter?

Oftentimes, babysitting is considered easier “entry-level” work because a lot of babysitters are high-school and college students who are just looking to make a little extra money, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t require important skills. Some skills that might be required as a babysitter include: 

• Communication 

• Patience

• Choking and CPR training

• Water saftey training

• Critical thinking and problem solving

• Punctuality

• Consistency

Example resume.

Tips.

When looking for a babysitter for my child, I usually start by making a list (for myself) of attributes and skills that are most important for a babysitter who will be working with my family to have. I have found that in my experience, most of the attributes that I came up with were pretty universally sought after. For example, I look for someone who is reliable and can use common sense to ensure my child’s safety. Other attributes at the top of my list would be patience, kindness, the ability and drive to encourage my son’s love for learning and the ability to stand firm and keep calm when needed. So, with that in mind, here are some tips for formatting your resume that will not only increase your odds of standing out but ensure that you find a babysitting position that's the right fit for you and the child. 

Make sure your availability reflects the time you're actually available.

When you’re formatting your resume, you should make sure that you clarify exactly what your availability is and the type of position you're looking for. You can do this by including examples of days and timeframes that you've worked before as well as any prior commitments you may have in your resume. While this would be discussed further if you're interviewed, including the information on your resume can save you and a parent some hassle and ensure that you don’t end up in a position that's going to take up more of your time than you can honestly offer. 

Focus on the skills that reflect the position you want.

This might seem pretty self-explanatory, and it is for the most part. However, as a mom, I'm going to be looking for a babysitter whose experience lines up as closely as possible to with my family’s specific needs. For example, a mom of three school-aged kids is going to be looking for someone who has experience taking care of multiple children at once, as well as experience with kids around the same age as her own. Meanwhile, I would personally probably be looking for someone who is used to providing more singularly-focused attention to children around the same age as my son. 

That said, if you have experience with caring for a wide variety of age groups, it's a good idea to focus your skillset around the tasks that are most relevant to the type of position you want. So, if you've taken care of babies before but would prefer to work with older children, you probably wouldn’t want to focus your resume on diaper changes, bottle feeds or your understanding of tummy time. This will ensure you’re being considered for your ideal position. 

Personalize your resume according to each position you apply for.

One of the most useful things I've learned about resumes is that while you should have a singular template ready to go, you can increase your chances of landing the job by editing it to reflect the desires of each employer. For example, if the babysitting position you are applying for has emphasized the importance of punctuality and reliability, you might want to go through and adjust some of the language you used in your template to drive those attributes home. You can do this by not only explicitly mentioning that you are punctual and reliable but also implying it by using buzzwords like “consistent,” “always” or even “every day” when describing tasks in your experience section to further prove your dependability. 

Highlight any extraordinary skills and knowledge.

Whether it’s being certified in CPR or extensive experience with tutoring, if you can think of relevant skills that you have that other applicants might not, you should include them. Don’t forget that many applicants will be high schoolers who might not have their license or experience outside of taking care of their family members. It can only help to include things like that class you took in parenting and child development or your clean driving record. The best practice with this is to assume that these skills are unique and therefore are adding to your desirability. Even skills as ordinary as “communication” or “critical thinking” could stand out to someone who's looking for a babysitter who can keep up with their kid. So, be true to yourself and showcase your strengths. 

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