Looking Professional on Paper – Electronically that is.

REVIEW PART 1 HERE. 

3. Attitude gets Altitude.

In this modern day world we rarely, if ever use ‘snail mail’ to send our résumés or other interests to a company for employment. I would say that almost everyone sends their information to apply for employment online and through email. When sending things over the internet it is imperative that you look over your email, content, and attachments to be sure everything is perfect. In addition, you want to be sure that all of your communication sounds professional, confident, and does not have any attitude.

Lets imagine you received an email that only said, “i done your application. open it and get back to me.” The applicant didn’t use complete sentences, correct grammar, or capitalize the words in the email. In addition, there is a bit of attitude in those eleven words. The Windsor Agency believes that nannies and other household staff are professionals just like any physician or lawyer is in their respected fields of work. As a professional it is expected that you can write and sound professional. What if this person was required to work with multiple contractors on a project or send a note to a colleague for their boss? Yikes, is right! This would be a huge red flag to any company that would want a person representing them. As an employee you are a representation of your company and owners name. In the private service industry all household staff are direct representation of the family they’re employed by.

A little food for thought:

1. 1. Would you be a great ‘spokes person’ for your employer? Many times nannies, house managers, and other staff are required to work on different projects on behalf of the family. Do you think you would represent them correctly and confidently?
   2. Would you present yourself as a professional and make a customer/client trust you and the company’s product/brand/service? This same question could be asked of a nanny – would a parent trust you to take care of their child based on your personal presentation to them during interview? The most amazing nanny in the world could walk into an interview and fall short because of her presentation.

We will use the above email example as a learning experience of being assertive, yet professional in your email and writing. Address your email to the person you are sending it to, have the correct subject heading, and check your writing before you send it. I ALWAYS read important emails out loud before I send them (I will read this post out loud before I submit it). This may be silly to do but you always want to be sure it sounds great; no attitude, incorrect grammar, or sound too direct as the above story did. Remember that your first impression is a lasting impression. As an applicant for any company you will be judged starting with your very first email or phone call. What grade do you think you would get based on just communication? Are you pleasant to speak with? Do you have a personality that would work well with other? This is a no attitude industry and you must be able to work on a team. One day you may be working with a housekeeper, the next a contractor, and perhaps tag teaming with a stay at home parent. Your communication from the very beginning will paint a picture of how you will work with others in a household position or within a company.

After you have applied for a position be sure to follow up. With emails and phone calls I generally have a 24 hour policy (or next business day) on replying, however, I will confess that I have failed at this before. Not every company can get back to you quickly, but I am certain they strive to do so, as I do. If you are not replied to within a week, send a follow up email or call. I had a very nice lady call about her résumé and to follow up with me about what she could offer to our team of nannies. Sadly, I never received her email (technology is not always dependable) and we had a great conversation. During our conversation I took down her contact information so I could call if I did not receive her resume by the end of that day. She did everything right by calling to follow up – you should too! By doing this it shows that you are professional, truly interested, and you will get noticed for that.

Ask yourself:

1. 1. How ah-mazing is my résumé? There are many ideas on what a great résumé looks like, but I think the ah-mazing ladies at Westside Nannies (a fab.u.lous nanny agency in California!) have the best idea of what a nanny resume should look like. Check out their great tutorial here! PLEASE NOTE: never send your résumé to a ‘virtual family’ with your address and other personal information. Only include a picture (if required) and address if you are working with a company. Be wise with your personal information!
   2. Is my cover letter complete? Your cover letter should be  attached appropriately to your email with your reference letters and other documents.
   3. Did I spell check everything? I always recommend that you have a couple other people look it over too! Having an extra set of eyes can help catch things that you otherwise would have missed. Printing things out can also help avoid items being overlooked.
   4. Did I read it out loud? I promise reading out loud will help you get noticed. By time you read it out loud and make corrections it will sound just like a fabulous conversation that you could have had on the phone. Be professional. Be confident.
   5. Did I check with the company’s requirements to be sure they are complete?
   6. Most of all make sure your email and other content show your passion for the position that you are applying for; being enthusiastic, thorough, and professional will move you to the top!

Be sure that you cover all these points before submitting your interest to a company. These may be just small tips but will make a big difference. The smallest mistakes can be huge mistakes in the eyes of a company. Have a cheerful and enthusiastic attitude!