Nannies are always told to include a photo on their resume, but they are never told the tricky truth about nanny resume photos…
- Skip the photo? Many families will reject your application before reading it and many agencies will skip your application entirely.
- Include a photo? You open yourself up to judgment based on looks rather than skills or experience. You risk unconscious bias based on age, race, or appearance.
It makes sense that families want to get a sense of who will care for their children — that’s completely reasonable.
But making decisions about someone’s abilities based on appearance? That’s unfair.
Red flags to watch out for:
- Requests for a full-length photo — often a subtle way to check your weight.
- Requests for videos — sometimes used to scrutinize things like teeth or other personal features.
What to say if you’re not comfortable:
- “I prefer to keep my photos and videos private. I’d be happy to provide references and discuss my experience instead.”
- “I don’t usually include a photo, since it doesn’t reflect my qualifications, but I’d be glad to share more about my experience and approach.”
How to handle the nanny resume photo dilemma?
Even though resumes technically don’t require a photo, nannies often get asked for one anyway—families want to put a face to the name. To stay ahead of the back-and-forth, it’s smart to include a simple, professional photo from the start.
Pro tip: If you decide to include one, keep it professional and neutral.
Pro tip: Focus on families who value your experience, references, and personality over appearance.
