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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

OMG I gave the most awful interview to a potential mindee ....

5 replies

lollipopmother · 23/12/2009 10:10

I had my first prospective mindee around for an interview on Sun - it was awful! I am a well educated woman, I have a daughter and I've been doing school pick-ups/babysitting for a while so I have experience of looking after children and yet I just completely bottled it!

Oh God, I can't even remember most of the stuff I was prattling on about but I know every time I opened my mouth out came something totally ridiculous and not in the least bit confidence giving .

I remember saying that half the time I want a kip mid-afternoon because my daughter can be such a handful. I can't even remember what my answer to 'why did you decide to become a childminder?' was but it certainly wasn't anything like 'ohhh well I love children' or some such derivative, and the fact that I've been contemplating training to become a primary school teacher for the last 4 years didn't even come into my head, what a nutter!!

It was a really good opportunity as well but they're more likely to contact social services and report me than to hire me to look after their LO!

Please tell me that it gets easier, or at least tell me that on the first interview I'm not the only one who came across as a complete idiot that shouldn't be allowed around children let alone look after them for someone else!!

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
allthatglisters · 23/12/2009 11:27

Don't worry, you may be surprised! I always think the "I love children" response sounds a bit inane - (even though we do!) It's a really difficult question to answer without sounding either a bit hard (e.g. it fits around my family life), or totally soppy!

chaosisawayoflife · 23/12/2009 11:29

Chalk that one down to experience!! I know the feeling when your brain just doesn't engage before you speak but I'm sure next time you'll be a bit more ready for the questions will come across much better!

Numberfour · 23/12/2009 12:33

it happens to the best of us! during one interview to look after a tiny baby, I had my 5 year old DS and another 6 yr old mindee crawling around on all fours backwards and forwards like lunatics!!

bear in mind that a lot of people go on how your and your home "feels" to them. you may even be surprised at the outcome.

good luck!

lollipopmother · 23/12/2009 13:40

Thank you for your reassurances. I'd fall over in shock if I got it but I suppose you never know. They seemed like nice people, maybe they'll take pity on me!

at your DS and mindee Numberfour, at least they were showing that your place is good fun!

Allthatglisters - I know what you mean about the 'I love children' response, if someone said it to me I'd just assume they're saying that because that's what I want to hear. I don't think I'd actually ask it if I was looking for childcare because you're never going to get a good answer, I think previous/current experience would be a better question.

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dobby2001 · 23/12/2009 13:52

If its any consolation, when i first met the Dad of the 2 most lovely and longstanding children i cared for my DD (then age 4 ) came downstairs from the bath, said hello and promptly flashed her bum at him!

It gets better, honestly and as has been said, parents will hopefully go for how it feels at your setting and if it feels welcoming to them and their child that is half the battle

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