What To Ask Nanny Interview

Give On The Job Scenarios

• How would you give two crying, hungry babies a bottle at the same time?
• If my baby falls down, starts bleeding, and requires medical attention, what would you do next?
• If my child isnt eating dinner, what would you do?
• If one child seems sick, what would you do?
• Say my toddler hit another child at the playground, how would you handle it?
• Say my child is having a tantrum, how do you get him to stop?

Nanny Interview Questions When You Have An Infant

Its hard enough to leave your children with anyone thats not you, but having to leave your infant? Were talking next-level hard. But sometimes, its just a necessity. Whether its because you have an unusually short maternity leave, or just feel overwhelmed and need to get away for an hour or so, hiring a nanny for an infant requires a great deal of forethought and careful screening. Which is why the nanny interview questions are so crucial.

Weve come up with a list of the most important questions to ask a nanny for an infant. Of course, there may be many other questions youll want to ask a potential nanny , but the questions below pertain specifically to the critical job of infant care. You know, that round-the-clock cycle of feeding, diapering, and putting to sleep?

This article is written by Christin Perry of MommybitesFor more on this topic, check out the full Childcare Options collection

Continue reading this article below, or click play to listen to this article being read to you!

Oh yeah, and then doing it all again? It takes a special caregiver to handle a newborns continual needs, so youll want to be sure you hire the best nanny for your infant.

Job Description And Salary

Towards the end of the interview, you want to clearly define the job description to the candidate and ensure that they understand what is expected of them while in your household. This is where you can ask whether they are willing to assist with household chores or available to work extra hours when needed. Its also important to give the applicant a chance to address their expectations from youlike their ideal salary, hours, number of children to care for, etc. Brody recommends that parents briefly introducing their kids to the prospective caregiver as well. You can tell very quickly whether someone is comfortable with kids or not, she says. Questions you can ask about the job itself include:

• What are you looking for in this job?
• When would you be available to start?
• Are you able to make a one-year commitment?
• What is your availability for evenings and weekends?
• What kind of housework are you comfortable doing?
• What are your expectations from us?

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Do You Have Experience With Kids Who Have Particular Dietary Or Medical Needs

Even if your kids dont have food allergies or a medical condition, this can be a good question to ask. It lets you dive deeper into the candidates experience, and you may learn that theyve successfully navigated challenging scenarios previously.

However, if your child does have specific medical or dietary needs, this question is essential. While a candidate whos never dealt with it before could still be a good fit, it lets you gauge their perspective on the matter. And, if they do have experience, you may feel more confident in their ability to handle what can be a precarious situation.

Learn About Their Experience

The next set of questioning comes from a place of understanding their past experience. While theres nothing wrong with a person who hasnt necessarily been a nanny, you still want to know that they can work well with children and know how to navigate those ups and downs.

There are some essential questions to consider regarding work-history. Heres what you should think about:

• Have you ever worked with children or in child-care in the past?
• What was your last position, and why did you leave it?
• When youve worked with other families, what was their routine, and how did you manage it?
• Have you ever had to work with children with learning disabilities?

Knowing what your future nanny has dealt with in the past will help you understand if they can handle the unique challenges that face your family and your children. Thats why knowing the questions to ask nanny interview are so important.

Now that you know where to start, heres hoping you find the perfect fit for your family.

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Are You Looking For A Long

Some nanny candidates view caregiving as a career. Others consider it a stepping stone, allowing them to earn a living while, say, furthering their education.

Ultimately, neither answer is wrong. However, if theres a timeframe involved, its wise to find out what it is. That way, you can see if their timeline aligns with your needs.

Questions You Shouldnt Ask

According to Green, questions about age, race, religion, sexual orientation and relationship status should be off the table. Yes, you want to get to know the potential caregiver personally, but there are boundaries. Families often dont realize that theyre becoming an employer just like any other employer in Canada, so they need to adhere to all the labour laws that go with that. Green continues: That includes discrimination law and employment laws around paying taxes and, statutory holidays and so on.

Once youve concluded the first round of interviews and are able to narrow down the list of candidates to the top two or three, the next step from there is to arrange a kind of trial run, during which you invite the top candidates to spend a few hours or a day watching your children, during which time you can see them in action. Green explains that he and his wife will pay the candidates during this round. Depending on how those go, you can continue to funnel down your list until youre confident in the last nanny standing!

Read more:

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What Else Should I Know Or Do

Its also important to give your potential nanny or sitter an idea of who you are as a family and what they can expect from being a part of your household. For instance, if you maintain a strict diet , follow certain religious or cultural practices, have a child or family member with special or medical needs, or have personal issues that might impact your children or family life, your nanny should know.

They might not be familiar or experienced with your specific practices, but all you need to ensure is that they are willing to learn about your family and will respect your wishes. After all, a family/nanny relationship is one that typically requires a lot of learning and growth on both sides.

Interview Questions To Ask Your New Nanny

I am in the process of hiring a nanny for my little Pencil and these are some of the questions that I ask potential candidates in a bid to gauge their frame of mind and experience.

5. Why did she leave her previous workplace? Hoping she is honest, this will give you an idea of the kind of person you are dealing with. Either way, her answers will help you understand how she views employers

6. What does taking care of a baby mean to her? This will help you gauge her mindset.

7. What challenges did she face as a nanny in her previous engagement? This is mostly for your benefit as the employer. You can pick up on things to improve to make her stay more comfortable. You will also understand her attitude towards

Importantly : Ask her what she would do if your child began choking.

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Are You Comfortable Working While I Am Around

I’ve been a nanny for parents that want me to take charge even when they’re there and I’ve worked for some who preferred to have me in the background while they’re around. Each family and nanny is different so deciding what you want beforehand and bringing it up during the interview will establish lines with both the nanny and eventually, even the child or children.

Questions To Ask A Nanny In An Interview

When hiring a new nanny or replacing your current nanny, you may feel stressed or nervous when making your final decision. It’s important to ask the potential nanny the right questions during the interview. Here are some tips on how to structure your interview and what questions to ask.

When hiring a new nanny, whether it’s the first time you’re doing so, or you need to replace your current nanny, you may feel stressed or nervous when making your final decision. After all, you want to make sure your children are in the best hands when you’re away. To make the decision-making process easier for yourself, it’s important to ask the potential nanny the right questions during the interview. Here are some tips on how to structure your interview and what questions to ask.

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Nanny Interview Questions You Should Be Asking

Want to find the right nanny for your baby? Discover the nanny interview questions you should be asking before you hire.

I hadnt been this nervous in a while.

Ive never had to hire any employee in the past, much less a nanny or even a babysitter. I was scared to hand my twins to a strangersomeone Id hire only after a brief time of getting to know her. And I was clueless about what exactly to look for or ask during an interview.

Like most jobs, a nanny needs to be vetted for several factors, from competence to reliability to how you get along with her. But making a decision can be difficult, especially when you have little information to go by.

What Household Tasks Are You Willing To Perform

Each family has unique requirements. Some families may want you to do light cleaning, laundry and cooking. The best way to answer this question is honestly. If you are not interested in doing dishes and other household tasks, you’ll want to make the interviewer aware of this. The goal is to find a family that matches well with you.

Example:“I am willing to carry out various household tasks as needed, and I can prepare light snacks and lunch for the children. I do not mind cleaning up after the children or washing their clothes when needed.”

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Questions About The Nannys Personality

• How would you describe ?
• Can you give me an example of how they showed initiative to solve a problem with your child?
• Can you give me an example of how they were organized?
• How did they handle stressful situations?
• On a level of 1-10, how would you describe their energy level?
• Did you do the planning, or could you leave the daily activities in their hands?
• What types of games and activities did they plan for the kids?
• Did you feel comfortable talking with them about your concerns?
• How did they respond to constructive feedback?
• Did they ever show up late?
• Were they good at following house rules?
• Would you hire them back or refer them to a family member?

Questions You Cant Ask A Potential Nanny During The Interview

Like any employment interview, potential nannies cannot be asked intrusive, discriminatory and illegal questions. You may find it helpful to take a moment to review the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commissions Prohibited Employment Policies/Practices.

In addition to not asking about religious views, sexual orientation and any medical or disability information, heres a list of other questions to avoid.

• “Are you a U.S. citizen? It is illegal to make a hiring decision based upon an applicants citizenship status. However, you should ask if someone is authorized to work in the U.S.

• How old are you? It is illegal to discriminate against candidates for their age.

• Do you plan to have children soon? Instead, ask about their future plans, how long of a placement are they looking for and what their career goals are in the near future. This will give you an indication of what you might expect from them for the next few years.

• Have you ever been arrested?

Once youve completed your list of interview questions, end the interview by giving the applicant the chance to address any concerns they may have by asking, Do you have any questions or anything youd like to bring up with me?

Before you say goodbye, offer a timeline for when they can expect to hear back from you about the position.

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Suggested Nanny Interview Questions

When it comes to hiring a caregiver for your child, there’s no such thing as too many questions. Use these questions as a guide and adjust to your specific family needs.

Initial contact information

overview questions

training, education, and background questions

additional questions

Nanny Interview Questions And Tips

A warm welcome can help to break the ice and set the stage for a relaxed interview process. Offer your candidate a cup of tea or coffee and take the opportunity to introduce the children so that you can get a brief picture of how the nanny interacts with your children. It is then best to conduct the rest of the interview in private without the children dominating the process. Start off by asking the nanny to introduce herself before moving on to questions relating directly to the job on offer.

Tell me about yourself

Tell me about your childhood and any siblings you have

What made you decide to pursue a career as a nanny?

How long have you worked as a nanny and have you had any other work experience?

Tell me about your best childcare job to date and what made it so enjoyable

Why do you prefer working as a nanny rather than in a childminding or nursery setting?

In your opinion, what makes a good nanny?

When considering a job offer, what qualities important in a family?

Do you see yourself working as a nanny and continuing your childcare education in the long term or do you have other career aspirations?

We will carry out a detailed background check on the nanny we hire, is there anything that you would like to make known at this stage?

Do you have a valid, enhanced DBS check? it is a requirement for this position

Are your current qualifications accredited?

Do you hold a full, clean UK driving license and if not, please explain

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Questions On Employment Details And Nanny Job Description

Review details of the job including start date, schedule, duties and responsibilities, routines, hours, and ages of your children. Go over the expectations of the position so everyone is on the same page and give your candidate an opportunity to ask questions. Also, be upfront about your family requirements including religious or cultural practices, and dietary restrictions as well as anything unique about your children such as special needs, medications, and allergies.

All About The Position

Now that youve established that this nanny is a potential finalist, you can get into the nitty gritty of the job description or your requirements. This could include discussing the hourly schedule, days off or benefits packages that werent discussed before.

You should also ask questions to see how well your position requirements mesh with their expectations. Ask questions like:

• How flexible is your schedule? Would you be available if we occasionally need you to arrive early or stay late?
• Are you willing to cook/do light housework/take care of pets/? Does your salary requirement increase if so?
• Do you play sports, play musical instruments, have any specific hobbies, ?
• Are there any activities or responsibilities that you cant or wont do?
• Are you comfortable with the physical demands associated with the position?

You should also always be upfront about any unique requirements your family has, whether cultural, religious, dietary and so on. You can ask about their experience or ability to work with:

This might be a breaking point for some nannies, so stay tuned into how theyre responding. If you feel theyre not willing to meet your job requirements, you can always politely end the interview.

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