
How to Write a Cover Letter for Any Job in 8 Steps (2023)
So you need a cover letter. Where do you start? How long should it be? Do yourself a favor: follow our guide on how to write the best cover letter the recruiter has ever seen.
You can make every LO smile no matter what. Time to make the same positive impression on MB & DB with the best nanny cover letter and land that perfect job!
Even if you have several years of experience as a nanny, it can be hard to find a steady job with an understanding, welcoming family.
All too many ads feature a mile-long list of duties, which you’re expected to do 7 days a week for a measly $12/hr.
Still—
Now and then, the ideal opportunity comes up. Conscientious parents, lovely kids, reasonable expectations, and great pay.
You know you’re perfect for this job, but how can you get them to actually call you in for an interview this time around?
Simple—
With a professional nanny cover letter that stands out like light-up sketchers on an evening walk.
This guide will show you:
Want to write your cover letter fast? Use our cover letter builder. Choose from 20+ professional cover letter templates that match your resume. See actionable examples and get expert tips along the way.
Sample cover letter for a resume—See more cover letter examples and create your cover letter here.
Considering applying for other positions? Check out some of our guides:
Want to explore your options further? See our full selection of cover letter examples for every career: Best Cover Letter Examples
Here’s a nanny cover letter that would have Jo Frost asking you for pointers:
Your Name
Your Job Title
Mailing Address
Phone Number
Email Address
Date
Hiring Manager Name
Job Title
Company Name
Mailing Address
Dear [Hiring Manager Name],
As a dependable, flexible nanny with 8+ years of experience, I was thrilled to see the job opening at ABC Nannies. I’m proud to share that I have received excellent recommendation letters from 100% of my past employers, having worked as a live-in nanny for 5 different families. It would be wonderful to apply my abilities and expertise to keeping your client’s children safe, happy, and on the right developmental path.
Every child is an individual and each family has different needs. Thanks to my BA in Child Development and extensive experience, I’m able to provide personalized nanny care to young children of all ability levels as well as older children eager to learn and explore the world around them.
Highlights of my achievements as a live-in nanny include:
It’s incredibly important for the family to feel confident and secure entrusting their children to a nanny. Your approach of tailoring your services and matching families with the right caregiver is worthy of utmost respect and closely matches my own beliefs and professional principles.
I’d love to discuss in more detail how my skills, knowledge, and professional approach can help ABC Nannies to continue providing reliable, comprehensive nanny services and giving children the loving care and attention they need.
Best regards,
[Your name], Nanny
P.S.: I’m eager to share how two children (Grade 7 & 8) improved their math scores by 20% thanks to my tutoring.
Huh.
If Mary Poppins and Nanny McPhee co-founded a nanny agency, they’d hire you on the spot with a cover letter like that.
Good things come in (au) pairs. Create a perfect nanny resume to match your cover letter: Nanny Resume: Examples and Tips
Now, let’s get down to some age-appropriate educational activities and learn all about writing the perfect cover letter.
Here’s how to write a job-winning nanny cover letter:
Appearance matters a lot when you’re a nanny. Keep your cover letter tidy with proper formatting, including:
That’s it for the ground rules. Let’s get to writing!
Read more: The Best Cover Letter Format: Guide & Examples
Showcase your attention to detail and proper etiquette with the right cover letter heading.
Here’s what to include:
You’ll notice that the nanny cover letter sample above is addressed to an agency (hence the term Dear Hiring Manager). You can easily use the same format to apply directly to parents, using the details they provide in the job ad.
Read more: The Right Way to Address a Cover Letter
The goal of the first paragraph of your nanny cover letter is to grab and hold the reader’s attention. Don’t worry, it’s easier than it sounds.
Here’s how to write your nanny cover letter introduction:
See? Far easier than putting dress shoes on a grumpy 3B!
Read more: How to Start a Cover Letter: 25+ Great Opening Lines
You know you’re responsible and great with kids—no one can avoid a trip to Temper-Tantrum-ville better than you. Now, it’s time to prove that to the employer.
In the second paragraph of your cover letter:
If you’re writing a nanny cover letter with no experience, you can mention transferable skills, academic achievements, work ethic, and relevant certifications (such as First Aid and CPR). Most employers want a driver’s license and a clean driving record, so that’s also worth mentioning.
Short as a Twizzler or long as the drive to the dentist? Read more: How Long Should a Cover Letter Be?
...this particular job. The trick to getting this paragraph right is tailoring your cover letter to the ad. Here’s how:
Are we there yet?
Almost—just two more quick stops on the way to the perfect cover letter!
What if the agency you want to work for isn’t hiring right now? Apply anyway: How to Write a Cold Call Cover Letter
Thank you for your time, please invite me for an interview anytime.
That’s how most cover letters end. For the recruiter, who has seen this line 100+ times in the past hour, it’s more painful than stepping on a Lego.
Instead, make two offers in the final paragraph of your nanny cover letter:
Look out Sittercity, here we come!
Read more: How to End a Cover Letter: 20+ Examples
You’re done!
All that’s left is dotting the i's and crossing the t's, and then we can get ready to tidy up:
If you want to treat your cover letter to some extra care, include a P.S. with an additional achievement.
Want to check in with the employer after sending your cover letter, but not sure what to say? See our guide: How to Follow up on a Job Application: Tips and Samples
Congratulations!
You have the perfect nanny cover letter.
But without a resume to match, your application will be as eye-catching as Waldo in a Christmas store. So—
All that’s left to do is getting your resume dressed up for the occasion, and you can start readying yourself for your interviews!
When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building a professional resume template here for free.
When you’re done, Zety’s resume builder will score your resume and tell you exactly how to make it better.
Thanks for reading! Did you run into any problems with writing your nanny cover letter? Can you offer more pointers on how to write a nanny cover letter with no experience? Drop us a line in the comments. We’d love to chat!
So you need a cover letter. Where do you start? How long should it be? Do yourself a favor: follow our guide on how to write the best cover letter the recruiter has ever seen.
Cover letter writing tips—sure to turn any boring letter into something employers want to read.
You juggle kids as well as parents do. Learn how you put babysitting on your resume correctly and soon you’ll be juggling job offers instead.