Looking to get into a new career in childcare but don’t have the experience? We’ll be going over what you can do to increase your chances of getting a nursery nurse job when you don’t have the experience, as well as what you can do to get some experience without having worked in the role before.
Get a qualification in childcare
Without experience it can be hard to get into a new job, so it’s important to fill out the gaps in your CV with the knowledge and skills that you’ll need, and one of the best things you can do if you don’t have the right experience is get a qualification in childcare.
Having a Level 2 Childcare qualification means you’ll know what to do and how a nursery environment works, even if you don’t have the practical experience. It will assure employers that you’re both committed enough to the vocation to get the qualification in the first place and that you already have the knowledge that they’re looking for.
It will be useful if you also have some supporting qualifications to help you in your work. Having a Level 2 Safeguarding qualification will equip you with the knowledge you need to fulfil your safeguarding responsibilities at work.
Safeguarding is extremely important in any workplace where you’ll be interacting regularly with children, and will always look great on your CV if you’re hoping to enter a career in childcare.
How to get childcare experience
To get into the role of a nursery nurse you won’t necessarily have to have worked in a nursery before. Instead, you could get some experience in the field in several ways, including:
- Offer to volunteer at local nurseries or schools. Even though you won’t be paid, you can get the experience that nurseries are looking for while showing your passion for the role (since you’ll be giving up your own time).
- Working as a babysitter can give you some experience working with young children. Even if you’re just helping out family, you’re acquiring some of the skills needed for the role.
- Look for lower level positions at nurseries. Try looking out for nursery assistant roles where you’ll have the opportunity to get some qualifications. If you need help on how to get into the role check out our nursery assistant career guide!
- Enter onto a nursery nurse apprenticeship. Going down this route means you won’t be expected to have the experience when you start and will get to learn as you work.
- Highlight any of the transferable skills that you have from other work or that you might have gained through your education, but make sure that anything you mention is relevant to the position.
Start your job search
Each role you apply for will have its own set of requirements depending on the nursery, so it’s important to take a look at what you’ll need on every job advertisement you come across. Ensure that any positions you apply for are starter-friendly and don’t require a lot of experience.
The most important step is to make sure you meet all the requirements of the job, as your application will probably be rejected outright if you don’t! If you need certain qualifications then research how you could get them and if it’s possible to get them while working.
If you need any more help on how you can become a nursery nurse make sure to take a look at our early years careers advice!