Offered a trial after interview

[QueenBarbs]

I have been for an interview in a children’s nursery today. Previously worked in child care and have qualifications but I’ve been a stay at home mum the past couple of years.

I got an email back to say they were impressed with my interview and my knowledge and they would like to now offer me a 2 hour trial.

I’ve never been asked to do a trial before, is it likely they’ve also asked other applicants to do a trial too? Is it normal to do trials? I am wondering if it’s because they aren’t really sure I’m a good fit for the job.

Generally, it sounds positive.

In your interview, did you actually work with any of the children in the setting? Perhaps it was all meetings and paperwork?

As a secondary teacher, a standard part of an interview day (morning or afternoon) is teaching a lesson. In a nursery setting, I can see they'd want to check all your paperwork and meet you first before letting you anywhere near the little ones. So, after deciding that you met all the basics well, they'll want to see your cot-side manner. Go smash it! :)

My interview was just paperwork and answering questions. Didn't get to interact with the children, so I guess it would make sense to see how that side of things go too. I will definitely try look at it as a positive, thank you :)

They are paying you for this trial aren't they?

A trial is good and going forward I likely won’t take a job without one in future.

I’d rather risk 2 hours unpaid then to realise first day on a job I’ve been greatly mislead. I have been saved a couple of times with unpaid work trials personally.

Normal for childcare.

You’ve interviewed well but they’ll want to see how you interact with the children.

Normal for childcare. You won’t get paid. They want to see you can interact with the children and other staff and use your initiative in the room - help where needed, ask questions, be interested etc…..

Thanks all, I’ve worked in childcare but this is the first time I’ve been asked to do a trial so it just threw me off a bit. It does make sense why they would do it. I’m a bit out of touch with the whole interview process though, as I was in my last job for 10 years and then took time out since 2020.

It is good I will also get an idea if it’s somewhere I’ll be happy working. I hadn’t looked at it from that point of view. Hopefully all goes well at the trial!

Sounds like you did brilliantly on the interview! Hope the trial goes well.

I would try not to worry about whether other people have also been offered a trial, even if they have, you are getting your chance to show how you interact/ may fit in there and also it is good to see whether it's somewhere you'd want to work before being committed! It is usual to have trials at nurseries and I think a sensible idea given the responsibility of the job and requirements providers have to meet!
Revisit what you know, if you haven't already then get up to date on the EYFS changes and safeguarding as there are updates coming and will have been some since you last worked if you've not worked in childcare for the last 4/5 years. Some settings may already have everything in place but all will have to have updated policies and possibly ways of working from September 2025 so showing you have knowledge of this should be an advantage!
There is a big focus on meaningful interactions and extending on children's learning and knowledge, find out the nursery curriculum early on too. Anything that could typically be part of an induction process will be a lot easier if you already have an understanding!

Good luck and I hope it goes well!

@QueenBarbs Hi OP! How did it go?

I have an unpaid 2 hour trial following a successful interview last week for a nursery apprenticeship role (brand new sector/total career change for me) so I’m really hoping to impress and I assume at my level they would just be looking at how I naturally interact with the children and the staff in the rooms rather than having much knowledge etc as that is all something I would be taught if successful ❤️