Interviewing Nannies - what to expect

[polly123]

I've been working with children for many years, in nurseries, playschemes, that kind of thing. This week I have an interview for a nanny job, and I'm scared. I'm not sure what to expect.

Can anyone offer any words of wisdom? Are there typical questions that parents ask?

Polly, I am the worst in job interviews, so I supposed it is do as I say, not as I do!

As an employer, I have always looked for someone who is engaging, smiles a lot, and who is going to 'fit in' with my family.

Anyone who discusses pay, holidays, naps etc early on in the interview creates the impression with me that they are more interested in money / time off, than my children - If it is not raised by the employer, I would wait towards the end before discussing this.

There are loads of threads on MN with potential questions - I always found these a bit daunting! If I am interviewing, I would be asking about experience / qualifications, but more importantly, views on discipline, and what activities you would organise for children(recent threads have been discussing the fact that some nannies rely heavily on paid activities - I like people who are going to bake, do craft etc with mine.

Nannies usually prepare dinner for the kids, so I would also ask questions about what type of things you like to cook - don't answer turkey twizzlers!

Finally, there is nothing wrong with saying to the employer that you are nervous! Some people will appreciate the honesty.

I also watch to assess the interaction with the children.

Good luck with the interview.

there is a list of questions about, some I have been asked, some not.

nick, can you please find it

I do ask about money , normally early on only though as it if the family are paying me less than what I can afford to live on, it is pointless to carry on BUT normally get jobs through agenices or speak on phone first, so have a general idea of salary.

I normally get asked my views on disapline, what I cook, what I could do to entertain a child, my qualifications and brief summary of my jobs, and why I left, can I drive, what would I do in an emergancy,do I smoke,do I have first aid,do I babysit, to plan an average day (activities,food etc )

I have always been a nanny, but in your case, if I was a parent i would probably ask, why you want to be a nanny now.

Good luck Polly

ps have never cooked or even seen a turkey twizzler in my life

Nanny Interview Questionnaire by AtheneNoctua

I'm trying to think of what typical questions I've been asked in the past. Been some years since I've had an interview.

As well as my first aid question, which has its own thread, I would ask what you thought the differences were likely to be between the nursery/play scheme jobs you mention, and how you would deal with these differences.

My current lovely lovely nanny was actually fairly useless at interview. However DS1 got her to play hide and seek with him in the curtains, and in the end this counted for more than well thought out answers about discipline.

She also said that she was not very good at cooking because she hadn't had much practice but was very happy to learn if I could leave her straightforward instructions or point her towards a suitable cookery book. I think that was an excellent answer, and she would have been silly to say she was good at cooking, because her previous employers would say something else when I rang to check references.

There's a thread on nannyjob at the moment about the most unusual questions nannies have been asked in interviews - questions like "are you a recreational drug user" and "do you have unprotected sex"!!!

Apparently the Good Nanny Guide suggests asking male nannies if they are gay and if they've ever had an AIDS test

IMO as a nanny employer how you interact with the children at the interview is by far the most important thing. I interviewed people who more or less ignored the children but gave good answers but they are non-starters for me - my top priority is to find someone who has a genuine love of children. You need to give sensible answers to questions but don't get too stressed about them - honesty is definitely the best policy and fine to admit you don't know/can't do something. I think that most employers are primarily looking for someone who their children will be happy with and who will get on well with the whole family.

I've remembered something from my last nanny interview (hey it was back in 2005).

They asked me what type of music I listened to.
They did say that it wasn't really part of the interview. So perhaps expect some questions which are not strictly part of interview, more general getting to know you.

Thank you everyone, much appreciated.

It is an evening interview, so expect the children will be in bed. They are both under 5.
Think that may be what is scaring me. How can I show them that I am great with children when the children are in bed?

Have to say that all of my interviews have been with parents and child/ren, but some of my friends met parents first and then 2nd interview meet the children.

Guess easier for parents to decide if they like the nanny and then less stressful for the children to meet the maybes rather than meet everynanny, as it is probably confusing for older children.

One of my friends took a job on without meeting the children which i thought was very strange on their behalf - both nanny and parent.

It is hard to talk to parents/answer questions etc and play/talk to children if nervous BUT all nannies should be able to mulitask

im typing&empting the dishwasher

Sure you wil be fine Polly

i write a list of things i want to ask them and this helps as they can see you have thought about what their children like or dislike.say how much you are looking forward to meeting charges.

just be yourself, they will be nervous as well so go with the follow.
when is interview?

Interview is tomorrow.

Not really sure why I am looking for another job. Just happened to see it being advertised and it pays almost a 1/3rd more than I currently get. So the money is clearly a factor. But jobs are not all about money are they? Though I do feel I am underpaid in my current job.

My mum says to just go along for the interview and worry about things IF they actually say they will give me the job. She feels that I should not worry about things until they actually matter.

I do the first interview alone and only introduce the children if I think she might be ok - its not really fair on them otherwise.
Obviously don't mention pay as a factor when they ask why you fancy a change. Whilst your mum is right about not worrying about things that haven't happened, I would say you definitely need to think things through and be prepared! I am always amazed when I ask rather basic and obvious questions and people respond ' oooh I don't know, I haven't thought about that!' So I would think through quite carefully what is likely to be different about being a nanny rather than working within a structured setting - challenges as well as good things. This will not only help you with the interview but will also clarify whethre or not you really want the job! (and if you don't want it, don't go for the interview - nothing more annoying than wasting time on someone who is clearly not really interested!)

So are you saying it is wrong to change job because the new job is paying a lot more money? And are you saying that if I am asked why I am looking for a new job, I should lie?

I wouldnt lie, but maybe if asked say you wanted to build up a stonger bond and do more one on one with children.

Working in a nursery is much more controlled environment and everything must be planned - as a nanny, if its a nice day I will go to the park/feed ducks/swimming etc and just do things spur of the moment.

One thing though, if the nanny job was paying the same amount of money that you earn in the nursery, would you still be going for the job?

Do you really want to do nannying and if you didnt want/get the job, would you look around at other nanny jobs or stay in the nursery or look at a better paid nursery job?

I would look around at other nanny jobs which paid more than I currently get. But I would not change my current job, if the new job was not offering better terms.

I don't currently work in a nursery, thus I am fully aware of the role of a nanny.

sorry Polly, thought you were in a nursery at the moment

where do you work now?

I'm a nanny/housekeeper have not had a job interview for many years. In the past have often got jobs word-of-mouth, thus no real formal interview.

then i assume as nanny/housekeeper you have older children at school, so if asked at interview why you are leaving/looking for new job, say that you want to work with younger children (no lies there )

Nope, that won't work alas. Have little ones and big ones.
Think perhaps I'm just a bit bored, but guess I can't really say that either.

Would saying "I feel like a change" and avoid any talk of salary. Would that be acceptable do you think?

not sure i feel like a change would work, as maybe then parents would think you might think the same about them

not sure what to advise tbh

can you pin point what is bugging you?
apart from not being appreicated and you are on less money then you would like

how long have you been in your present position?

I think you need a positive reason for liking the new job. If you say you feel like a change, that suggests to me you might get bored with my job too. If you say you have developed as far as you think you can in your current role, hate to leave such a lovely family especially the children whom you adore but really do need a new challenge after x years, that is something quite different.

I think its fair enough to say that you've done all you can in your current position and that you'd like a change and a new challenge.

I have interviewed a lot of nannies, but only employed 3.

What I'd say regarding interviews, which I don't think has been said (I've attempted to read / skim all your replies!) - is you should be given some straight forward questions, you know, simple facts type things, but you should also be given the opp to talk about certain aspects of your previous jobs - things you've done with the kids, problems you've tackled and overcome, achievements and examples of being calm and effective in a crisis etc. That's what I'd always like to hear about and I've enjoyed interviewing the nannies who have been good at talking, (but not railroading!)

Good luck. Try not to be too nervous, remember you are interviewing THEM too! If they are up their arses in interview, that's what they'd be like to work with and no one wants that.

My last interview was a 3 hour phone call with MB, of which 50% of the time we chatted about nothing really job related! Then a 20 minute phone call with DB (says alot huh LOL). Then a week later they flew me over for a weeks trial. And 26 months later I'm still here LOL

Polly,
How did the job interview go?