Our guide to moving overseas to nanny

There's no question that moving abroad to work as a nanny is a great way to travel, earn money and experience another culture. We work with hundreds of nannies moving overseas every year so here are our top tips on preparing for a successful move:

1. Consider your goals We have lots of candidates contact us about working overseas who tell us they want work abroad as a nanny for about 6 months. Unfortunately, if you're thinking of heading to the UK or Europe, most of the parents expect at least a 12 month commitment. You may be able to get an au pair job for 6 months, but these generally pay much less than a nanny role. If you get the standard 2 year visa, you may also end up wasting up to 18 months worth of valuable visa time- which you can never get again!

So, it's important you think about your goals. If you are happy to go for 6 months, use your visa up and experience another culture without earning much money to contribute to travelling, then yes, consider a short term au pair role. However, if you want to work, travel and even save some money then you might want to consider staying in a role for 12 months or more. It's a good idea to put thought into this decision as you don't want to waste your visa!

2. Find a good support agency
There are lots of good companies (including KiwiOz of course!) who can help you make the move overseas. Kiwioz will only be able to help you if you can commit for at least 12 months to your nanny job. We have offices in Sydney, Auckland and London and candidates from across Australia and NZ, so wherever you are, we can help. And best of all, our services to nannies are completely free! Our consultants have all lived and worked abroad as nannies and can offer you excellent support.

3. Organise your documents
There are a few things to organise to help you make a smooth transition overseas. Firstly, you'll need to find out what visa you'll be travelling on, and how long it will take to get that visa. Once you have your visa you'll need to book flights, so start saving! To get a Tier 5 Visa for the UK, you will also need money in your bank account (around £2000) to prove you can care for yourself should you need to. It's also a good idea to see if you can open a bank account before you leave, get an overseas calling card so it's cheap to call home and find out if you can use your phone.

4. Making your application
Most companies, including KiwiOz, will only consider your application for jobs overseas once your visa is in process and/ or your flights are booked. This is because parents don't want to waste time interviewing nannies who change their mind about moving overseas- they only want to interview you if you are a definite option for them. When you are living overseas your application has to be even better than usual, as you are competing against nannies who can interview in person. So you need to ensure that your work documentation- CV, first aid certificate, police check and references are all well presented and in order. Your consultant will guide you through this but being organised yourself will show that you are a proactive, reliable candidate.

5. Interviews and choosing a family
Many nannies like to interview before they leave home in the hopes they have a job lined up for their arrival abroad. This is a great option but one that we would only suggest taking up if you are 100% sure that the family is right for you and will treat you well. If you are heading the UK our consultants can usually have you at interviews within a couple of days of arriving, and starting work within 1-2 weeks so there is no pressure to have a job lined up before you leave. The benefit of this is that you get to meet the family in person, including the children, and see the home and neighborhood before making your decision.

6. Settling in
It's important to remember that moving overseas is a big change! Many nannies experience homesickness and it can take at least 3-6 months to settle in. Before you leave you should try and find local nanny groups you can join, plan some trips, and find out things you'd like to do in your local area- for example joining a sports team. If you aren't proactive with your time then you might find the transition more difficult than it needs to be!

7. Establishing trust with your familyJust as you are probably nervous about moving overseas, the family who have taken you on will be nervous about how it's all going to go. They may have invested significant money on agency fees and turned down other suitable applicants, so it's a risky move taking someone on from overseas! It's up to you to establish trust with  the family you work for from day one. You need to show your employer that you are dedicated to your new job and will work as a professional. If you need help finding out how to work as a professional nanny and really impress your new employers, we suggest completing the Trainee Nanny Certificate before you start your interviews.

Good luck with your move!