Interviewing Tips: Nanny Edition
You have an interview with a family coming up. Congratulations! Interviewing with a potential family can feel exciting and overwhelming at the same time. Interviews are the time you want to learn a lot in a small amount of time. Asking certain questions will help set you apart from other candidates that the family is interviewing with. With proper preparation, it will help you feel confident walking into the interview, which will be noticed by the potential family.
Preparing for the Interview Tips
Review Family Bio
Nannies that work with 904 Nannies will be given Family Bios. Review it and familiarize yourself with the parents names and the family’s specific needs.
Plan your Interview Attire
In this industry, while you want to present yourself as professional, you want to be sure that you’re able to sit comfortably while potentially having little humans climbing on you. Be aware of any tops that could be tugged down and hanging jewelry that could be choking hazards.
Introduce yourself first.
Introducing yourself first can help show that you’re confident and eager to meet with the family.
Bring your physical resume/references and notebook with questions.
Even if you have emailed your resume/references, it’s helpful to have a copy. That way you or the family can easily access it compared to pulling it up on phones. It also helps relay the message that you’re proactive and prepared.
Do not slander any past employers
There is always a positive talking point in every dark situation. As a professional, you can find a respectful way to explain differences with past employers. If you speak negatively of a family you’ve worked for, it can create concern that you may do the same with them in the future.
Conversations/Questions to be Prepared to Share with Family
Be sure to read our Family Edition blog here.
How did you start nannying?
What’s your favorite/ least favorite thing about nannying?
What are some past obstacles with previous families & how did you handle it?
Why did you leave your past job?
What’s been your biggest obstacle with a child you’ve cared for?
Have you ever had to handle an emergency or been witness to a life-threatening situation with a child?
If yes. What happened & how did you react? If not, what would be your plan of action?
Do you have experience with children who have medical needs or behavioral challenges?
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Questions For the Family
About the Family
What are some of your parenting philosophies?
How do you approach misbehavior?
Are you planning on expanding your family in the near future?
Are you religious or spiritual?
Do you want the nanny to not discuss anything?
Does the family or children have any dietary requirements or food allergies?
Ex. Kosher, gluten allergy
Do any of the children have allergies?
Need to carry an epi-pen?
How do/will you handle misbehavior?
How do you want the nanny to handle discipline? Time outs, redirection, taking away toys/privileges?
How do you feel about screen time?
Do you consider video chatting with family screen time?
Can you tell me a time you disagreed with your former nanny & how did you handle it?
Can you tell me your favorite attributes of previous nannies?
In your mind what is an ideal day that your child(ren) will have with your nanny?
Can the nanny take the kids to play dates, parks, play spaces?
What are the top three things you’re looking for in a nanny?
What’s your communicative style?
Home Life
What does a daily routine look like in your household?
Do you allow screen time?
How would you describe your household?
Are you homebodies/always on the go? structured? go with the flow? Etc.
What do you consider light housework?
Do I have to provide my own lunch or can I eat what the children are eating?
Are you looking for someone long term?
Do you own any weapons, including guns?
Do you have a safe and all weapons will be locked up?
Do you have nanny cameras?
Do your nanny cameras record sound?
Nanny Related
What are your expectations for your nanny?
What do you expect of a nanny?
What are the expected duties?
What do you have planned for backup care?
Do you have family nearby or a separate babysitter for date nights?
How do you handle when you are going to have a late day at the last minute?
Do you want/need the nanny to take care of sick children?
Will you contact the nanny at the first symptom of anyone in the family? What happens if the nanny gets sick from taking care of a sick child and needs a day or so off? Does that count towards the nanny's sick days?
How do you want to handle expenses?
Ex. rafts, tickets, lunch etc?
Is the nanny expected to travel with the family?
How will the nanny be paid for this time and will the nanny get free time?
Will the nanny be provided with a private room?
Contract/Pay Related
Are you willing to sign a contract?
A signed contract is required of clients working with 904 Nannies LLC
What are you looking to pay for the hourly rate/what is your budget?
How long are you hoping to have a nanny?
Do you pay weekly or biweekly?
Are you willing to pay guaranteed hours?
What kind of sick pay, vacation pay and personal days are you willing to offer?
Do you offer any other benefits such as an insurance stipend?
How do you handle purchases made while I am on the clock?
credit card, petty cash, etc.
How will you handle backup care if I am sick?
Do you have family nearby or a separate babysitter for date nights?
How do you want a nanny to contact you when they are sick?
The first symptom? Only when they are going to call off sick?
Will you provide the nanny with a vehicle?
If not, clarify the IRS mileage reimbursement is untaxed.
What holidays will the nanny have off?
Black friday, Christmas Eve and New Years Eve
How do you handle vacation time?
What happens if you planned a vacation and the nanny also plans to go away and your (family) vacation gets canceled? Do you expect the nanny to cancel? Who pays any cancellation fees or deposits that the nanny may lose out on?
Overnight rates and travel fees
If you’re interviewing for a long term job, a family’s needs change over time. It’s always smart to discuss it now, so if they need to increase hours down the road, you know you’ll both be on the same page- just in case of an emergency.
Questions for Family’s Previous Nanny
What is your favorite thing about the family?
What would you say are their greatest qualities?
What was your least favorite thing about the family?
Did you have any pet peeves?
Can you tell me about a time you had an issue with the parents & how you all worked through it?
Were they respectful of you and your time?
What kind of parents are they?
What type of discipline do they have in place?
Do they follow through & respect your time with the kids and any discipline you impose?
What kind of activities did you do with the children?
What kind of household do they keep?
Ex. clean, messy, dirty, cluttered, etc.
What would you want me to know if you were in my place?
Anything you'd change?
Interviewing in the nanny industry can feel intense. As nannies, we want to be the perfect mix of professional and personable. We want to share how we can be trusted with the family’s most precious treasures, and we want to make sure our needs are being met at the same time. Being prepared for an interview and armed with questions for the family can help you do just that.
Best of luck!
