Tips for Parents Interviewing Nannies

When a nanny is invited to attend an interview some parents like to meet the nanny on their own without the children around so they can focus on getting to know the nanny and have the time to read through her CV and references etc. If you like the nanny after the first meeting, invite them back for a second interview, to meet the children and ask any questions you forgot the first time round.

Some important Interview questions:

• How long have you been a nanny?
• How old were the children in your care?
• Do you have any child care qualifications, was this a full time course or were you working whilst training?
• Do you have paediatric first aid training and have you ever had any medical emergencies in your career?
• What do you like most about being a nanny?
• What are the good/bad bits about being a nanny?
• How would you structure a week of childcare for my children?
• What kind of activities in and out of the home would you do?
• Do you like art and crafts/baking?
• What are your views on discipline?
• What is your ideal family/position?
• Are you a good cook, what sort of healthy, nutritional meals do you like to prepare for children?
• Are you looking at a long term nanny position?

At an interview, a good nanny will usually have lots of questions to ask you, relating to your children and your family life. This will give the nanny a good idea of the children’s characters, their likes and dislikes and a sense of if they would fit in with your family.

A good nanny will usually look at being in a job for the long term. This offers the nanny job security but more importantly they are thinking that a long term nanny is also what is best for the children.

At an interview, look for the nanny to interact with the children, so you can see how comfortable they are.

It is important that a nanny shares your approach to discipline and care.

Make it clear at an interview exactly what you are looking for in a nanny, what the role will include and clear facts about the job, eg the days and hours you need.

It is also important for both nanny and employer to have a contract, this is something Little Laura’s can provide.

What Makes A Good Nanny?

Be on the look-out for answers that confirm the following, as they are the common traits we see in all good nannies.

• Someone who can encourage a child’s development, independence, interest, knowledge and understanding.
• Someone who cares for a child’s everyday needs and provide stimulating, educational and fun activities.
• Someone who is totally reliable and trustworthy.
• Someone who wants to know all the details of how the parents like things to be done, and will also provide plenty of details on what she does with the children when the parents are not there.
• Someone who has a good knowledge and understanding of the different stages of a children's development.