Nanny Agency JobsPrepare your nanny references by checking the agency’s instructions, asking each person’s permission, and organizing accurate employment details in a private document. Your aim is to make the reference process straightforward without surprising a former employer or exposing a current job search.
A useful reference list is more than a set of names. You should know how each person knows your work, whether they have agreed to participate, and which contact details they want you to share. Start with the process below, then submit only what the agency requests.
Check the agency’s reference process
Read the application instructions and candidate FAQs before approaching an agency with questions. Look for the required reference types, submission method, and stage at which references are contacted. Follow the stated application route; do not assume the agency welcomes calls or emails before you apply.
Timing deserves particular attention. For example, Adventure Nannies’ candidate FAQ says it speaks to references before introducing candidates to families and cannot wait until a job offer. It also verifies submitted recommendation letters. That describes one agency’s process, not a rule for every agency.
Where the instructions leave something unclear, use the agency’s permitted question channel to ask:
- Which professional relationships meet your reference requirements?
- When will you contact them, and will I receive notice first?
- How should I flag a current employer who does not know I am looking?
- How should I submit contact information or an existing recommendation letter?
Keep the answers with your application notes. For broader preparation, see questions to ask a nanny agency before applying.
Identify people who can describe your work
Make a private list of people who directly observed your childcare work. Against each name, note the role, employment dates, and what that person could reasonably discuss: daily communication, reliability, planning activities, or managing the responsibilities you actually held.
Choose according to the agency’s requirements. A friend who knows you well is not interchangeable with an employer who supervised your work. If you have experience in a childcare setting outside a private home, ask whether the relevant supervisor would be an acceptable reference rather than assuming they qualify.
Describe relationships accurately. Someone who coordinated your schedule but rarely saw your childcare work may offer a different perspective from a parent who worked with you daily. Do not present either person as having knowledge they do not have.
Ask permission before sharing details
Contact each proposed reference privately. Explain that you are applying through an agency, ask whether they are comfortable providing an honest professional reference, and confirm the phone number or email address they want shared. Ask about preferred contact times and time zone, while making clear that the agency controls its own process.
Example permission request, to adapt:
“Hi [name], I’m preparing an application for a nanny role through [agency]. Would you be comfortable being a professional reference for our time working together? If so, may I share your preferred contact details with that agency? Please let me know which details to use and any contact preferences. I’m confirming the agency’s timing and will pass along what I learn. There’s no pressure if you’re unavailable.”
An old recommendation letter is not a reason to assume someone is available for a new conversation. Reconnect where possible. If a person declines or does not respond, keep their status unresolved and ask the agency how to proceed if that creates a gap.
Build a private reference worksheet
Use one entry per person. This is an original preparation worksheet, not an agency application form. Keep it private and transfer only requested information into the agency’s designated system.
| Field | What to record |
|---|---|
| Reference and relationship | Name and accurate relationship to your work |
| Role and dates | Job title, start and end month/year; flag dates needing confirmation |
| Work they observed | Brief factual notes on responsibilities they know firsthand |
| Permission status | Asked, agreed, declined, or awaiting response; date checked |
| Approved contact details | Only the phone number or email they agreed you could share |
| Contact preferences | Preferred channel, time zone, availability, or stated limits |
| Agency instructions | Required submission route and known contact stage |
| Open issue | Missing detail or question to resolve before submission |
Keep children’s names, home addresses, medical details, photographs, and unrelated family information out of this preparation document. Do not place reference contact details on a public résumé, portfolio, or shareable job-search page.
Resolve gaps without inventing answers
Compare your dates and role descriptions with your résumé. If you find a discrepancy, check your records and correct the information you can verify. Do not ask a reference to repeat an inaccurate date or rehearse praise. A short factual reminder of the work you did together is enough.
If your current employer does not know about your search, flag that concern through the agency’s stated process before authorizing contact. Ask what options are available. Do not assume the agency can defer the check, and do not expose confidential information to fill an application field.
For an unavailable former employer or a missing reference, explain the situation honestly and ask what alternatives the agency accepts. Use the nanny résumé preparation guide to check that your employment history is clear.
Submit carefully and keep your references informed
Before submitting, confirm that permission is current, contact details are accurate, and unresolved restrictions are visible to the agency. Follow its requested format rather than sending your entire worksheet.
When you learn that contact is expected, let your references know the agency’s name and any confirmed timing. Thank them for their time. If another agency later requests references, check permission again rather than treating one agreement as unlimited permission to circulate their details.