Writing A Letter of Recommendation for your Nanny
Many nannies enjoy long careers that span decades. For this reason, providing a comprehensive letter of recommendation is a great way to share the important details and memories of your experience while they are still fresh in your mind. A letter of recommendation is an opportunity to recount details of your nanny’s employment, such as their schedule, and responsibilities; and it is a great way to memorialize your overall experience. As time goes on, a letter of recommendation frees you up from providing a verbal reference to every family or potential employer your nanny meets. Lastly, a letter of recommendation serves as a detailed thank you note to your nanny following a positive experience!
What should I include in the letter?
Be sure to include the mundane but crucial facts, such as:
– The date the letter was written
– The start date and end date of employment
– The schedule and any pertinent scheduling details
– The average number of hours worked in a week
– Children’s age at the start of the position and/or birth dates of children born during the position
– General job duties she performed, including care for special needs children
– An explanation of why the employment ended
– Your contact information (phone number and e-mail)
How do I make the letter personal?
To make your letter of recommendation personal and meaningful, be sure to include what you believe are the nanny’s best attributes. Also, include specific memories or anecdotes that support your experience with her. These stories and memories help to paint a clear picture of your experience!
How long should the letter be?
The length and detail of a reference should correspond to the length and significance of the position held. It is certainly appropriate to keep the letter to one page, however if you have more to say, keep going!
In summary
Providing a letter does not free you from speaking directly to your nanny’s future employers or representing agencies, but it can eliminate a lot of unnecessary conversations. Be prepared to confirm the letter’s validity or provide further details about aspects of your experience that were not included in the letter.
Most importantly, keep it simple and heartfelt, and… just do it!
