Parents - what do you expect potential nannies to wear to interviews?

[RahRahRachel]

And do you judge them by what they wear?

Obviously I'm assuming most parents would feel a nanny showing up in stillettos and a miniskirt is inappropriate Would you expect a nanny to "dress up" smart for an interview though, or wear the kind of casual clothes they would wear for work?

And what about piercings, tattoos, unusual haircuts - would that put you off?

smart casual to interview suit

honestly piercings, visible tattoos and outlandish haircuts would put me off ... not going to justify it but they would

I had this issue with our current (soon to be ex ) DN. She can be fairly described as a funky dresser, with one (arguably two) of the things Twiglett mentioned. I did worry a bit initially what the reaction would be to her from the preschool and other mums who are...on the conservative side. She's been such a fab nanny - I wouldn't necessarily let a candidate's clothing put me off, it's absolutely the whole picture. But I can also understand Twiglett's view.

Clothing she'd normally wear to work is fine.

I don't think I would ever wear a suit to an interview (I don't own one anyway!) as I wouldn't feel very comfortable. I normally go for something a bit smart but comfy, no jeans or trainers - so maybe a skirt and flat boots, a shirt, nice cardigan.

smart casual but I would be happy with jeans. Like Twiglett says, I would find visible tattoos/piercings etc off putting but I readily accept I am quite conservative by nature and I guess what I would be looking for in childcare I would want to be "like us" as it's an extenstion of how I want my child's upbringing to be.

That sounds fine to me personally. I guess one thing that would make a difference is clothes that were visibly dirty or an overall impression you didn't care about your appearance! Not just different tastes, etc

I'm not really meant to answer this question as it was directed at the mums but I always wear clothes that I can are comfortable enough for me to get down on the floor and have a good play with the kids.
I get far too nervous just sitting being grilled so most of my interviews end up being conducted with me sitting on the floor! I never know if thats a good thing or not, I'd like to think it is??

I used to be a bit of a crusader for the cause and had a lots
few visable facial piercings and tried to convince myself that parents should hire me regardless... I've grown up somewhat since then + toned it RIGHT down as I now appreciate that while everyone should be accepting of other walks of life, first impressionals vital and I can see how a face full of holes would put a parent off!!

I went off on one there, sorry!!

I wouldn't wear my suit - that's for an office job! I would wear my 'nanny uniform' (smartish trousers, polo shirt, sweatshirt).

missie - I too like interviews which get conducted with me sitting on the floor with the children. Alas doesn't work if the children are not present - think I'd look a bit silly sitting on the floor then!

something clean and not scruffy

don't personally care about haircuts and piercings etc but would not appreciate revealing clothing that showed lots of flesh personally (if that is relevant, regarding tattoos)

Query about the piercings - what's acceptable?

Mine are all in my ears (so no nose/eyebrow/lip) but there are a fair few of them....

I wouldn't care about piercings anywhere personally but that's because I have lots of friends with them so I don't mind them at all.

Not everyone feels like that I suppose so you might want to go for looking a bit more run of the mill

I think it is a very individual thing

I got hired as a nanny when I had a skinhead haircut but I doubt all employers would have looked past it

actually I was put off by one nanny who had perfectly manicured fingernails - which is definitely not me!

Norland uniform ,ofcourse. What else?

I wouldn't be bothered by what they were wearing so much (as long as its clean and not too outlandish) more important would be the person. The ladies on the floor playing with the kids are the ones I would want. TBH I think my kids would be conducting most of the interview!!!

Clothing - clean and presentable, not a tracksuit. Ear piercings fine, but facial piercings would be a no. Tattoos - depends on whether I found it tasteful... Would expect the nanny to be expecting to play with children, but wouldn't always do that. That said the nanny who produced an age-appropriate toy from her handbag was an instant hire!

I have my nose pierced, which I think is pretty common and unremarkable these days, but I do sometimes wonder if I should take it out for interviews. I never have though - this is what I would look like while working.

A smartish version of what you normally wear to work. If you normally wear piercings then you should keep them in. I might be slightly put off by them but would be able to look past them if I liked you enough. Think that I would feel a bit p'ed off if you didn't have them in at the interview then showed up for your first day of work with lots of metal in your face.

nannynick - I always try and get an interview when the kids are at home!! I think I've only ever had one interview recently where the kids weren't there and it was only successful as the mother was asking me how to cope with a newborn and a toddler as she didn't know how she was going to! also, total thread hijack here but I used to talk to you a while ago when I worked at a nanny agency and we were friends from nannyjob so HIYA!!

birdyarms - I have quite a few tattoos that get covered up by what I wear, now although I do not consciously cover them, they are just in places covered by the clothes I wear, would that annoy you if the same thing happened as you describe with the piercings???

No, I wouldn't feel annoyed if your tattoos were covered by clothes - if on the other hand you covered them with make up then showed up to work with them I would mind - just wouldn't want to feel that I'd been deceived. Particularly important to me that someone who is going to look after my children is completely upfront and honest - I would probably take a more lenient view with someone that I was employing at work.

As a nanny employer I think it's really important to have the children there for at least part of the interview. There was a huge difference in how well the people that I interviewed established a rapport with the children and it was the most important factor to me in making a choice.