What to ask at interview??

[Goostacean]

Thanks for those who replied to my earlier thread re where to find someone.

I’ve got a few candidates who have contacted me, and now I need to have a chat with them and then proceed to interview. What did you ask? Or wish you’d asked, in hindsight?? Would be so grateful for any advice, this is definitely my first rodeo

Nanny here.

It depends on what you require but here are a few things I would ask them as it's good be on the same page:

• do they smoke?

• have they got children of their own?

• what lead them to becoming a nanny and what do they love about the job?

• what sort of activities do they do when at home with the kids e.g. baking, craft, planting seeds, making dens etc

• are they happy to do housework? If so agree on what tasks they will undertake (for example I wash the parents laundry and bedding as well as the kids but some nanny's will only do the kids stuff which is fair enough)

• agree on how much holiday they are entitled to and how you will split it (bare in mind if you take extra days the nanny will still need to be paid if she/he is available to work

• will they use your car or their own? Agree on mileage

• ask why their previous jobs have come to an end

• ask them to bring their dbs and first aid certificate for you to see as well as ofsted registration if needed also ask for them to bring a paper copy of any references they have

• agree on how the children are to be disciplined (it's really important to be on the same page with this one so that you don't undermine the nanny and she/he doesn't undermine you!)

Other than that I would just have a chat with them and see if they are the type of person you can get on with and be a positive role model to your children.

Hope this helps and good luck finding someone!

We asked how they’d deal with a particular scenario - it’s a safety related one that arises for us all the time as a result of having a 1.5 year old and a 3 year old. It was v telling.

Rainallnight ooh what was the scenario I'm intrigued?

Ah I read that's as it arises for everyone all the time but now I see you meant it's specific to your family, ignore my nosey question!

You're not allowed to ask if they have children of their own.. You're a future employer, it can seen as discrimination.

Most nannies with children take their own child to work with them so it could be relevant in that respect, also newborn experience etc

As an employer can only echo what @nellyjambam said. Having said that it's also a simple gut feel. I once interviewed a many I really liked initially and halfway through the interview asked a simple question about her family (ie her childcare arrangements, she had older kids) and although the answer was fine, the way she talked about her kids was off in a way I can't even pin down. Went with someone else, and chatting to a pcso friend a few weeks later, she said, oh, what street did she live on....yeah, we know her...

@PassMeTheNutella I don't think that's the case. They will often want to bring children and any agreement on that forms part of the contract. Obviously if they don't mention it then you just ask whether they can do the hours stated.