Question to Ask at a Nanny Interview

 

_______________________________________________________________________________

 

 

.

Questions to Ask At a Nanny Interview

Now that you’ve made your top nannies candidate list, you need to learn more about each one of them in to decide who’s the best child care provider for you. The nanny interview process is an important step in finding a good, reliable nanny. From this process, you can learn more about your candidates and better understand the pros and the cons of each. Which questions to ask a nanny interview? Basically, the nanny interview process has three steps:

 

Step 1 – Preparation - Do Your Homework!

Understand that a nanny interview should be conducted like any other job interview. As the boss, you should look for someone who you think can do the job in the best possible way, not necessarily someone who shares your full interests.

 

In order to prepare yourself for the nanny interview, first ask yourself why you reached the point where you said to yourself, “I need a nanny”, i.e., which needs do you want your nanny to fulfill? As soon as you clearly define for yourself the nanny job description, it will be much easier for you to adjust your expectations accordingly. From this input you will be able to

prepare the right nanny questions.

 

Next, define which factors you want to focus on, i.e., characteristics and personality? Experience? Education? Lifestyle? On top of everything, let your gut guide you in this process; allow your instincts to help you in judging who the person sitting opposite you really is. nanny interviews are a great way to really learn about the candidate in front of you. You need to prepare good questions to ask a nanny interview to make sure you don't miss small

details like life style ect.

 

Step 2 – Prepare the Nanny Interview Checklist

How to interview a nanny? The initial contact should be made by phone, in order to introduce yourself to the candidate and to arrange the first meeting. A good interview should consist of two or three meetings, i.e., the first Interview should be conducted outside your home and away from your family and kids. The purpose of this interview is to learn as much as possible about the candidate and present your nanny job description. At this interview, ask for the nanny's references. For this meeting you should come prepare with some questions to ask your potential nanny.

 

Assuming you find the candidate who fits your needed nanny's profile, arrange a second meeting, which should take place at your home. Before this interview, call the nanny's references to cross-check and verify that no significant issues previously arose.

The second meeting should include your kids and other family members, including pets.

 

Step 3 – Questions to Ask in a Nanny Interview

To conduct a successful nanny interview (same for any childcare provider no matter if

it's a babysitter, pet sitter, eldercare nanny or newborn and infant nanny), ask the right questions. With the help of interview questions for nannies, you’ll achieve the interview's goal: learning as much as possible about your candidate's background, experience, expectations, and personality. The information you obtain will help you to compare candidates; this is why it's important to ask them all the same questions no matter what their backgrounds.

 

In addition to the basic questions you need to ask, such as age, location, driver’s license, working hours, and salary, you need to ask more informative questions.

 

Here are 70 questions you can ask caregivers candidates:

 

General

1. Name

2. Contact details

3. Full Address

4. Are you a USA/Canada resident?

5. Do you have a driver license?

6. How to find you on Facebook

7. Date of Interview

 

Personality, life style and Experience

8. How many years are you a nanny?

9. Why did you choose this type of work?

10. Have you ever worked at a daycare center or as a preschool/kindergarten teacher?

11. Do you have proper education in child development?

12. Do you intend to participate in additional child development courses?

13. CPR/First aid training?

14. Can you provide updated references? Can I speak with your last employer?

15. What do you like in this job and what not?

16. Do you smoke?

17. Do you drink alcohol?

18. Have you ever been arrested?

19. Do you have a criminal file?

20. How would you describe you self?

21. Do you go out much?

22. How many languages do you know?

23. Tell me about your family – parents, brothers and sisters

24. What do you think people will say about you – good things and bad things

25. Do you have children of your own?

26. Are you married?

 

Duties and Responsibilities

 

General

27. How would you define the nanny role?

28. Are you interested in being a live-in or a live-out nanny?

29. What is your definition of a good and professional nanny?

30. What is your definition of a good and professional employer?

31.Describe you last nanny position - the good, the bad and the ugly

32. How do you handle and force discipline?

33. Are you willing to cook/clean/do laundry?

34. Are you comfortable with a home working parent?

35. What is your view on nutrition for children – junk food…?

36. How do you handle emergency situations?

 

Newborns

37. How do you handle a crying baby?

38. What methods do you use to help a baby to fall a sleep?

39. Do you have a fixed agenda for each day of the week?

40. What do you like to do with newborns and what you don’t?

41. What do you think is the difference between a nanny and a baby sitter?

42. Are you willing to watch over a sick child?

43 .Are you ok with night sitting with sleepless nights (for a live in nanny)?

 

 

Age 2-3

44. Do you spank a child and when?

45. How would you react if the child will hit you?

46. How would you react if the child will hit or bit another child?

47. Do you think kids should watch TV?

48. Do you think kids should play video games/i-Pad/computer and for how long?

49. Would you be willing to take care of a child with special needs?

50. What is your favorite outdoor activates?

51. What is you toilet training method?

52. What type of educational activities do you prefer do to?

 

 

Age 3-5

53. Do you think television shows are educational?

54. Would you read a bed time story and if yes – which ones do you like (live in nanny)?

55. Are you willing to invite the child friends in the afternoon and watch over him as well?

56. How would you handle a child that curse?

57. How would you solve a dispute between to children over a toy?

58. How would you handle a child that scream at you?

59. What type of toys do you think they child should pay with?

60. What type of activities you think should be forbidden?

 

Expectations, Contract and fee

61. What do you want to start working?

62. Can you also be a summer nanny and travel with the family?

63. Would you be willing to sign a confidentiality agreement?

64. Salary – what is your expected weekly nanny wage?

65. Do you expect any extra payments – bonus, holidays, summer?

66. Do you like to be independent or prefer to be instructed?

67. Do you charge by hour or expect a weekly fee?

68. Would you be willing to tutor my child (Math, English, Science…)?

69. Would you sign a nanny employment agreement?

70. Do you know to handle tax issues?