How to Assess a Nanny's Resume
There are many routes to go down to find your perfect nanny, and like your nanny is a unique asset to your family that reflects your household’s needs, so too will be the journey to find them.
Quick Answer
There are many routes to go down to find your perfect nanny, and like your nanny is a unique asset to your family that reflects your household’s needs, so too will be the journey to find them.
Quick Answer
On a nanny's resume, prioritize tenure over volume of experience. One candidate who stayed three years with two families tells you more than one who worked for eight families in five years. Look for continuity, age-appropriate experience, and references you can actually call.
What Tenure Actually Tells You
Long stays with individual families -- two years or more -- signal that a nanny builds real relationships and is not constantly jumping for better pay. Short stints with many families can indicate personality conflicts, reliability issues, or a pattern of moving on when things get hard. Ask about the reason for every departure directly in the interview.
Age Range Experience
A nanny with five years of experience exclusively with school-age children may not be the right fit for your six-month-old. Check that their listed experience actually aligns with where your child is now. Infant and newborn care in particular requires specific skills that general childcare experience does not automatically transfer to.
Certifications That Matter
Current CPR and First Aid certification is a baseline requirement, not a differentiator. In California, TrustLine verification is required by law. Beyond that, look for: formal early childhood education, Newborn Care Specialist training (if relevant), and any specialized certifications for children with special needs (if applicable).
Gaps in Employment
Gaps are not automatically a red flag. Family caregiving, relocation, or a gap between nanny roles is normal. Ask about any gap longer than three months in the interview. The answer will tell you something about how a candidate communicates and takes accountability.
What to Ignore on a Nanny Resume
Long lists of duties that describe the job description rather than their specific contribution. References that are friends or family (ask for employer-only references). Vague descriptions of roles without specific ages, family sizes, or responsibilities.
References Are the Real Resume
Treat the paper resume as a shortlist tool only. The real evaluation happens on reference calls. Ask references specifically about tenure, communication style, how the nanny handled difficult situations, and whether they would hire them again without hesitation.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a nanny cost in Los Angeles?
A full-time experienced nanny in Los Angeles earns $35 to $45 per hour. Total employer cost including payroll taxes adds 10 to 12% on top of gross wages. A full-time nanny at $38/hr working 45 hours per week costs approximately $96,000 to $100,000 per year all in.
How long does it take to hire a nanny in Los Angeles?
Most full-time placements take 4 to 8 weeks from first consultation to start date. Part-time and temporary roles can move faster. Specialized roles like ROTA or newborn care typically take longer due to a smaller candidate pool.
How long does hiring a nanny in Los Angeles take?
Most families working through a placement agency in Los Angeles complete a hire within four to eight weeks. The timeline depends primarily on how quickly the family can schedule interviews and whether they have a clear sense of what they are looking for before the search begins.
Do I need to pay a placement fee to hire a nanny?
Yes. Placement agencies charge a fee, typically 15 to 20% of the nanny's first-year gross salary. This covers candidate sourcing, vetting, TrustLine verification, reference checks, and the placement process. The fee is paid by the family after a successful placement.
Should I hire a nanny through an agency or a job board?
An agency pre-screens candidates and presents only those who are a realistic match. A job board gives you a larger unfiltered pool to manage yourself. For first-time household employers or families who want the process handled properly, an agency is strongly recommended.
What should a nanny work agreement include in California?
A California nanny work agreement should include the hourly rate, pay schedule, guaranteed hours, overtime terms (1.5x after 9 hours per day or 45 per week), sick leave (5 days minimum required by law), duties, confidentiality terms, notice period, and termination conditions.
What nanny interview questions actually reveal fit?
Ask scenario-based questions: how they handled a child who would not stop crying, a disagreement with a parent, or a moment where they had to make a judgment call alone. Specific past situations reveal actual behavior. Generic questions get prepared answers.
What should I look for on a nanny's resume?
Prioritize tenure over volume. One candidate who stayed three years with two families is more informative than one who worked for eight families in five years. Check that age-range experience matches your child's age, verify certifications are current, and treat references as the real evaluation.
What are the biggest red flags when hiring a nanny?
Reluctance to provide employer references who can be called directly, a pattern of short stays with multiple families, evasive answers about why previous roles ended, and resistance to TrustLine or background verification. Trust these signals.
What should I pay a nanny in Los Angeles?
Most strong candidates start at $30/hr. Full-time nannies typically earn $30 to $45+/hr depending on experience, responsibilities, and number of children. Newborn care specialists run $35 to $55+/hr. Budgeting below $30/hr significantly narrows the experienced candidate pool.
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