Questions for potential nanny jobs.

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Does anyone have any good questions for me to ask families about potential jobs? Want to make sure this time I get a family I really fit with, and get on well with.

Look around, do they have books, fresh fruit, spice rack, a bread board, pristine furniture or a bit shabby, get a feel for if the home is lived in or if it is more a show-house. A home with children in I always find is a bit messy, perhaps better phrased as lived in.

Talk about your education and in so doing ask them about their education. Is your education similar in any way? I find things work best if we are fairly similar.

What do they like their children to do? If you are a nanny who likes to be out and about, where as they want a nanny who will stay at home all day, it is not going to work well. What do they think about you taking their child swimming?

Are they keen gardeners - look at the garden.

Try to get a feel for what they like and see how similar it is to your likes. Won't always result in harmony but it can help.

That's a good idea about looking lived in I never thought of that, the family I'm with atm didn't have anything like measuring jugs or scales when I started which I found rather frustrating.

Looking around the house is a good tip. I always avoid anywhere that's too pristine.

Ask why the previous nanny left or if they haven't had a nanny before why they're changing childcare.

Ask if they have friends with nannies/ if they know of a local nanny community. Would they need you to build your own links in the area?

I read somewhere that a good nanny should interview the family as well as being interviewed. In a friendly, polite way of course, but don't seem too desperate for the job. Asking them questions to ensure a good fit shows you're not desperate and willing to take any job regardless of whether it's right ir not.

Alas things like measuring jug are often not on display. What is on display though can help show that someone likes cooking so may be expecting a nanny who can cook from scratch.

Hard to know what makes it work at interview stage. Being on the same wave length helps so ask about their views on things and if you can find out some of their history.

I always ask about their best and worst experiences with a nanny, and then ask them to describe their ideal nanny to me. It usually illustrates whether we'll be the right fit for one another pretty quickly.