You may be hard pressed to find anyone who fantasizes about becoming a professional nanny. Career days in classrooms are not often filled with students being wooed by the ins and outs of childcare.
But what many people don’t know is that when placed with the right family, a nanny can be one of the most rewarding and exciting roles of a lifetime.
My career in childcare started at a young age — my first jobs growing up were all babysitting and childcare related. Growing up with six siblings fostered in me an innate sense of responsibility, and this formative experience eventually led to a five-year career as a high-profile nanny for families in New York City, Los Angeles, and the Hamptons. What started as a summer job invariably led to professional and familial relationships with a myriad of wonderful, caring people and their families.
Throughout my time nannying I earned anywhere between $80,000 to $90,000, depending on the specific role.
At the time, I wasn’t fully aware of how influential my nannying experience would be in shaping my long-term career. In the moment, it’s easy to see the shortsighted perks to such a position, but the career trajectory is sometimes the hidden asset that can lead to lifelong benefits.
Here are three secrets of a high-profile nannying career, which helped shaped my profession:
The perks are incredible
Childcare roles are oftentimes the most involved and front facing of all domestic positions. Since you are directly responsible for the care and well-being of the family’s children, you will be involved in the activities of the family, as well. First-class travel. Michelin-starred fine dining. Early- and VIP-access to the world’s best art, music, and theater. If the kids experience it, so do you.
For me, this meant living abroad (in Chelsea, London, with one of the families I worked for), spending summers in an oceanfront home in Southampton, seeing Taylor Swift perform live at a family birthday party, and going to Disneyland with VIP access and concierge service.
There were dinners, catered by private chefs. There were vacations. In short, there were countless memorable experiences that were truly unbeatable.
The salary is incomparable
Aside from the experiential aspect of the job, it is always nice to remember the salary that accompanies this type of role.
In the world of high-net worth individuals and their children, no price is too high for the right fit. Although many of these positions require a minimum of an undergraduate degree, the majority of nanny jobs will pay double — or even triple — that of a starting salary right out of college.
Read more: The incredible perks nannies enjoy while working for rich families
The connections are invaluable
When considering a position as a nanny, it’s always smart to think ahead. Planning your career track, even if you deviate, is never a bad idea. Any family will tell you that domestic roles are meant to last, but, the truth is, kids grow, and so do roles within the home.
As connections develop, the worlds of business, finance, art, education, and beyond can be opened if you maintain a good rapport with your employer. In these exclusive worlds, one good reference could land you an interview at a Fortune 500 company, or a spot in the next cohort of JD students at an Ivy League. Experience is vital, but a good connection can offer endless possibilities.
As I found myself far off track from my original plan, but deep into my revised version, I realized that the experiences and enjoyment I had as a nanny were what I wanted to use throughout the rest of my career. The families I worked with deserved the best possible care for their children, and I wanted to play a bigger part in making that happen.
With years of experience in the field, some great references, and an education in business, I launched into the corporate world and joined the team at Hire Society. Managing and facilitating the placement of quality domestic and corporate staff members allows me to continue positively influencing the lives of high-net worth families, but it also affords me long-term growth.
I can owe my career to many things in this life, but the years I spent working as a high-profile nanny shaped who I am and where I am today. And, for that reason, there’s not a doubt in my mind that I would do it all over again.
Source: “Los Angeles” – Google News