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Original poster

should I care - shocking spelling, grammar in nanny CVs

59 replies

chandellina · 13/07/2009 22:16

My son is only one so I care much more about a nanny's nature than her grammar, but I am still pretty shocked by some of the CVs I've been getting from otherwise qualified and experienced nannies. Do they not have someone proofread their CVs, or even run a spell check? Am I being snobbish or is this a sign of unprofessionalism?

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nannynick · 13/07/2009 22:46

You need to keep in mind that part of the nannies role is education. Therefore having a nanny with a good academic background may well be something that you want. If they present a CV for a job badly, then that may give the impression that they are not very academic.
Previously on here we have had discussions about what non-nannying qualifications nannies have... what schooling they have had. Some nannies who post on here are educated to degree level, others are not (like me, as I didn't do a degree... have an HND though).

When applying for a job, the covering letter/e-mail and CV are very important as they get you through the door as it were. A good CV will get you an interview whereas one with bad spelling, unexplained gaps in work history will put you to the bottom of the pile.
Nannying I feel is like any other job... applicants should be presenting the best of themselves when first making contact with their potential employer.

senua · 13/07/2009 22:33

I can see that you want a nanny for her nurturing ability, not her grammar and spelling, but it is possible to be nurturing and literate.

Original poster
chandellina · 13/07/2009 22:33

The non-English speakers have actually turned in great CVs. It's the English ones that have been the worst! hmmm...

OP posts:
PixiNanny · 13/07/2009 22:32

Haha, ironic that you say that, we're discussing this over at NJ and most of us think it's quite important too! As I said there, if a CV/advertisement is badly spelt/grammatically wrong, it gives you the impression that they don't give a damn about the job they are applying for. It doesn't take much to use a spell checker and ask somebody to proofread it! Especially if they have something like dyslexia!

messageboard.nannyjob.co.uk/index.php?topic=48271.0

Original poster
chandellina · 13/07/2009 22:32

I am absolutely sympathetic to something like dyslexia. but why not then have a friend or family member take a look? I honestly don't know whether or not to think anything of it. Doing a good job caring for a child is a completely different skill set than writing a good CV. But attention to detail, and presentation, are important for a successful childcare career, i should think.

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starmucks · 13/07/2009 22:30

Depends. If English is their mother tongue, it's slapdash. If not, I would be more forgiving.

Original poster
chandellina · 13/07/2009 22:27

I have been really annoyed by the ones from young girls, because I feel they should really make the effort to go the extra step (we're talking about spell check here - nothing too strenuous) to demonstrate their "maturity." But I just got an appalling CV from a somewhat older woman and it actually made me feel a bit sad and as if I should see her anyway!

OP posts:
FluffyBunnyGoneBad · 13/07/2009 22:26

It could also be a sign of dyslexia. Just because the CV's poor, it doesn't mean they won't do a good job caring for your child.

Mintyy · 13/07/2009 22:21

It is absolutely a sign of being slapdash and not caring very much. I would not trust anyone who could not be bothered to put together a decent cv.

(I would also be tempted to send them back, corrected in red pen, saying why I had not selected that person for interview! But then I am just like that ).