A Day in the Life of a Household Employee: Chicago Personal Assistant / Nanny
In this series we reach out to a Personal Assistant/Nanny that has made a career out of working in private households in Chicago.
Whether they are nannies, housekeepers, private chefs, personal assistants, house managers, estate managers, or chief of staff, the candidates featured in this series have demonstrated professionalism and expertise in their craft. The candidates we feature are all candidates registered with our agency and have made a positive impression with our recruiting team at My Household Managed.
The goal of the “Day in the Life of a Household Employee” blog series is to give anonymous candidates a chance to share their experience in order to provide awareness & education for anyone curious about beginning or expanding their career in the field of private domestic service.
What is the job title that you feel best describes your role?
“I am a career Nanny, but in my current role I am a Personal Assistant to two busy CEO’s during the day and I am the nanny for the children in the evenings when they get home from school.”
What led you to this path?
"I grew up in a large family, so working with children has always been a passion of mine. I love working with children, and truly enjoy the nurturing aspect of my career. "
What is typical work day like for you?
"The part I love most about my career is that every single day will be different, especially in a hybrid role. As a nanny, I love to follow the same morning routine to get our day started with something we’re used to, and then I will decide our day from there. Sometimes it’s an outing to the zoo or museums, and other times it’s an indoor activity like painting and lots of fort building! "
What advice would you give to someone just starting out in this career?
"My biggest piece of advice would be to be your biggest advocate. Having such a personal career can sometimes be a bit confusing and complicated. You don’t technically have a “HR” if there’s a problem, so that means you really have to be open with your communication. It’s important that you trust your employers and your employers trust you, and that starts with honesty and open communication. "
“Is there something you wish more people knew about your industry or specific role? ”
"I wish people knew that my career choice is one I plan on keeping for the foreseeable future. Some people think this is a temporary “job” until I find something different, but I love what I do and I’m not sure I ever want to change my career path. "
What is the most rewarding part of the job?
"The absolute most rewarding part of my career is seeing children grow up to be such wonderful little humans. I love being able to sit back and know that I had a hand in helping them grow and learn. "
What is the most challenging part of the job?
"I’d say the most challenging part of being a nanny is that there will always be a time for the dreaded goodbye. Sometimes families are no longer needing a nanny, or schedules change. Saying goodbye to your nanny family who most of the time turns into family is a very hard part of my career. Thank goodness for social media! "
You’ve got enough on your plate in your day-to-day life — let us make your life easier by handling your unique household staffing needs.
If you are a family looking to hire a household employee or other home service, register with My Household Managed.
If you are a professional nanny, house manager, personal assistant, or other household employee looking for a job, apply at My Household Managed.
Want to be the next candidate we feature?