Employers are increasingly asking to see prospective nannies’ video profiles before shortlisting for interview. It’s no wonder, really – we have Skype, Snapchat, Stories and Facetime, so as a society we’re becoming more and more comfortable with presenting ourselves on-screen and in moving image. You may, like all our nannies, have a superb CV with glowing references, but a video profile enables a potential employer to gain a snapshot of you in as little as two minutes. We understand that this is both an encouraging and an intimidating prospect, so here’s a quick guide to recording a great video profile that’ll bag you that interview – and hopefully your next dream nanny job.
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DRESS CODE: Our clients come from all faiths and all corners of the globe. Play it safe and make sure your shoulders are covered and that you are dressed conservatively. You needn’t put on a suit to record your video; it’s highly unlikely that you wear a suit for work and you so won’t feel comfortable like this, but do put some thought into your outfit. Think comfortable and smart and not too distracting.
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PRESENTATION: Talking of distractions, make sure your hair is tidy and keep make up to a muted minimum. Ideally, remove any facial piercings and give your nails the once over. A neat manicure and perhaps a little clear polish = practical for childcare. Long, neon talons = not so much.
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BODY LANGUAGE: Resist the urge – no matter how great – to fiddle. If your hair is already neat and tidy you’ll be less likely to need to push it out of your eyes or tuck it behind your ears, and likewise if your nails are clean and filed you won’t find yourself picking at them if you feel a little nervous in front of the camera. Choose a place to sit that’s comfortable without looking like you’re about to settle on the sofa for an afternoon of Netflix; though sitting up straight (shoulders back, hands in lap) on a freshly plumped sofa is fine and a little more ‘natural’ than sitting at a desk or table.
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SETTING: Following on from the previous point, think about where the camera is positioned and also what’s happening in the background: –If the camera is too low the viewer can potentially see straight up your nose! Not a good look. –And choose a time that you won’t be distracted by other people or noises, and scrutinise your background. –Filming your video at home is absolutely fine (it would not look good at all to be found recording a profile whilst at work at our current employers’ house…) so make sure there’s nothing distracting or untidy in your background. Check the lighting and if in doubt, illuminate the room a little more than feels natural – it’ll look better on screen.
- LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!
And away we go! Prepare a short script introducing yourself and detailing your training and work experience. Here you can inject a little personality where the CV cannot, so consider this short video (two minutes is plenty) your ‘mission statement.’ Take some time to think about why you love childcare and what special skills and talents you possess which you could bring to a new role. Have a friend hold the script out of shot while they film you, and have a few goes before submitting your final cut. Practising talking to the mirror first will help normalise the feeling of talking to nobody!
And always review it afterwards – it doesn’t have to be perfect, but do watch it again to make sure yu have addressed all the above helpful points.
Have you recorded a video profile before, or interviewed over Skype? Let us know your dos and don’ts for video communication and we’ll share your best tips with the community!