Part of the process of hiring a nanny can include coming up with a job description so that potential candidates can assess whether a nanny position with your family is an ideal match. In order to come up with the best possible pool of candidates, being clear on what you’re looking for in your nanny job description is essential. Here are some of the things you should think about.

Before you write a nanny job description, first sit down and write a list of essentials that your nanny must have. Then create a secondary list of “pluses”, which include things you would like your nanny to be able to do, but aren’t essential.

The nanny job description should clearly identify key important areas that you’d like your nanny to have. These include what types of hours you’d like your nanny to fulfill, whether she’ll be live-in or live-out, the age of your child or children, the amount of experience she has, and whether you require any special certifications like CPR training.

Next on the order is listing items that would be perks for your nanny to have. For instance, it would be a bonus to have a nanny who is bilingual if you want your child to learn a second language at home.

Finally, narrow down the list of applicants to a nanny who meshes with your family’s lifestyle, it’s also a good idea to briefly indicate your childrearing preference. For instance, if your family is very laid back and easygoing, it’s fine to include that in your nanny job description.