The Ins and Outs of Napp Sitter Profiles & Family Gig Posts
(Written by Emily Thomas)
We all know how daunting it can be to write up a description of ourselves when asked. We want to show our best side, especially if we haven’t even met the person reading about us! When you post your personal sitter profile or your family gig on your Napp account, you are working alongside a lot of other members for the attention of the families and sitters who use our network. Your personal profile tells others what you're all about before meeting you. This description will help you find a family or sitter that is the perfect match! We are here to help you navigate making the most of your sitter profiles and family gig posts.
For Our Napp Sitters…
Sitter Profile Tips, Tricks and Prompts: This is your big chance to catch the attention of parents, to show that you're the perfect sitter they're looking for. When writing your Napp sitter profile focus on being positive, specific, and descriptive while maintaining a brief overview. You don't want to write out your entire resume, you really only need to write a short paragraph that may include your qualifications, previous childcare experience and your strengths as a sitter. Try to make your application read less like a resume and more like a story.
Say Cheese! Your profile photo is the first impression to parents on the site, which is why it can be a big part of the hiring process. It can make a huge difference in getting families to look through the rest of your profile. Be sure to use a clear and in-focus photograph. Avoid using any pictures from social media that might look unprofessional or "action shots" showing you doing something. A recent professional-looking photo or a shot of you and the kiddos is the best profile pic!
Make Your Profile Shine: Use some of our tried and true prompts to build an unforgettable profile that will have parents hiring you right off the bat!
Who are you? How many years of childcare experience do you have? Do you have any additional qualifications that make you stand out from others such as First Aid/CPR, 90 hr Certification, etc. Take the opportunity to share why you choose to be a sitter, and why you love working with kids. Make mention of how other families may describe you as their childcare provider.
What age range of children have you cared for in the past and how many children you are comfortable caring for at one time?
Do you have experience working with children with specific needs or disabilities such as allergies, special needs, Autism, etc.
If you are a driver, do you have a clean driving record and have access to a safe car that can accommodate car seats for the children if needed?
What do you enjoy most when spending time with the kiddos? Do you love doing arts & crafts, exploring outdoors, playing games, helping them with homework, etc? Touch on any unique talents, hobbies or skills that you have.
Share what additional duties you are willing to do for families while working a gig. Pick-ups and drop-offs, homework help, laundry, running errands, or preparing food are all bonuses for busy families looking for some extra help. This would be a good spot to mention whether you are comfortable with pets in the home as well.
Proofread and then proofread again! Prepare your bio ahead of time in a document and paste it into your Napp profile to help avoid any typos or errors.
Sitter Profile Sample:
“Hi! My name is Emily, and I am currently a junior at TU. I have been babysitting for over 5 years and find caring for children incredibly rewarding. I have the most experience with toddlers, but have cared for children from infancy through school-age. I am comfortable caring for up to 3 children at a time. I enjoy hands-on fun with the kids such as baking, exploring nature and creating art. I am CPR/First Aid certified, experienced in working with children with severe food allergies, have a clean driving record and comfortable doing light housekeeping. My previous childcare employers have described me as dependable, responsible and engaging.”
For Our Napp Families…
Similar to encouraging our sitter’s to have impressive profiles, thorough gig postings are imperative to the success of families utilizing our network to the best of its ability. There are a lot of Napp families vying for the attention of sitters. Your gig post is able to give sitters a glimpse into what makes your family so amazing and great to work for. Gig acceptance can be dependent on how many children you have, requirements of care, location and other details about your family as well as the pay rate you offer. Napp strives to help families make the most of our network so here are some tips and tricks to get your family to the top of the sitter list!
Family Photo Op! There is a human element of being able to see the family you're working with prior to accepting a gig. Shall we even go to say that a type of positive energy can be felt when viewing family profiles that have a great photo posted. A recent family photo that includes all members of the family is the perfect first impression. And don't shy away from photos that show your family members true personalities. We know that it’s luck of the draw to get a family photo with everyone smiling - so show off those kiddos goofy faces and silly smiles!
Stand Out From The Crowd: Using some of our well-versed prompts you can build an unforgettable post that will have sitters eagerly accepting your gig!
Briefly describe your family dynamic. How many children are going to be in the home at the time of care? Is anyone else going to be home? Pets in the home? Are there any dietary restrictions in home or religious requirements that a sitter should be aware of?
Be sure to mention any special needs or specific experience requirements such as caring for children with allergies, Autism, special needs, behavioral challenges, etc.
Note all sitter responsibilities that you are requiring of the caregiver at the time of your post. Children’s meal prep, diapering & bottles for the babies, any types of activities or interests the children have and your family’s philosophy on discipline are all great details to note in your gig posting.
If you are looking for a helping hand with the household please mention any additional duties that you would like help with. Some sitters are open to these additional tasks, others are not, so it is considerate to mention anything along these lines.
Family Gig Post Sample:
“We are looking for care for both children. Duties include kids' meal prep, cleaning up after the children and diapering. The kids enjoy art, reading, neighborhood walks and playing outside. Our 2 yr old has a dairy intolerance (will discuss with sitter). Dad works from home (basement office) and Mom works out of home. We have a cat but no pet care is required. Prior sitters have described our family as pleasant, easy going and that the kids are fun to be with.”
It is of utmost importance to keep your Napp profiles and gig postings up to date. Parents and sitters alike may only spend a few moments looking over a profile before making the decision to add that individual to their go-to childcare list. We are here to help you present your best self when working with our network!
Your friends,
Claire & Katie, Co-Founders, Napp
info@nappnetwork.com