Author:
Bonnie- currently in Madrid for July
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Date Posted: 11:25:29 07/02/04 Fri
Hi Valerie,
I find your question to be particularly interesting as I went through a Nanny certification course about ten years ago. If perhaps you were just starting out your career I would highly recommend attending one of the certification programs, but as you've been a nanny for the past seven years I'm not sure what good it would do you. In all honesty it helped me immensly in the early years of my career as it showed families that I was serious about my profession, but a family will look just as favorably on all the experience you have. Some may argue with me on this point, but I don't think it necessarily makes any difference in the money you earn either. I've found that salery tends to be a very negociable issue and is often influenced by the area of the country you are living. I will say in defense of the Nanny certification programs, having a certification has helped me out recently. I moved to Amsterdam in the Netherlands to work for an American family. We (as I had expected) ran into problems with my residency permit. The mother was able to put forth copies of my certification as proof that she would not have been able to find a person with the qualifications in Holland so she had to search in the states. She didn't realize at the time (and much to my benifit) that she could have gotten an English nanny with qualifications and they would have been able to work there without issue. However, through some creative problem solving on the part of the HR department in her company I'm to be hired by her company (a european baby food company) as a consultant for six months. Appearantly because it's for such a short time there won't be a problem getting a permit for six months which will take me right up to the end of my contract anyway. I'm still trying to figure out if I can put that on my CV. LOL
If on the other hand you want to attend to possibly refresh on the latest in the Nanny related profession I would highly encourage you to attend the NAN Conference as it's shorter, cheaper, and a heck of a lot more fun. The reality of the American Nanny schools is that they aren't really even recognized in the US let alone anywhere else. The also have a tendency to not stay around for very long. Mine closed the year after I graduated which luckily make's it very hard to check transcripts (at least I hope it does). Hey, I've got my certificate plus 10 years+ experience, the grades are irrelevant now! If you do decide to attend a school I would highly suggest talking to them extensively before hand. The school I went to (National Academy of Nannies INC, Denver, CO- in case there are any fellow alums out there)placed you with a family where you worked and lived and then had classes at night. I particulary like this as it meant I was learning in a very hands on way. Everything we learned in school, or a lot of it anyway, we were able to apply in a real nanny setting. Mind you the money was not good as most of it went to the school, but I rationalized that as everyone pretty much has to pay their dues early in their careers. Like it or not, taking the time and trouble to attend a Nanny school or program shows a real dedication to the profession, though it doesn't necessarily get you jobs. Sometimes it makes it harder actually as families feel you have very set ideas on the way things should be done and don't feel they can mold you to their way of doing things. They also sometimes feel that you are overqualified for what they need, which in reality you may be. Anyway I hope this has helped in some small way.
Besos de Madrid,
Bonnie
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