Homebodies' tips for interviewing a nanny

 

Remember the interviewing process is a two-way process, so try to make the interviewee relaxed and ask open ended questions. 

How to approach the interview

• Ask the candidate if you can take notes as this will be helpful to look back on later, especially if you are interviewing a few different candidates.
   

• Choose a time that works best for everyone but remember that late in the evening after a long day might not be ideal!
   

• Aim for around 30 minutes to 1 hour but try to have enough time if it is needed.
   

• Many first interviews are on video but you will always get a better feel for someone face to face. When you meet face to face, try to meet in your home as this will be the nanny’s workplace and she needs to see the environment.
   

• Be warm, friendly and welcoming
   

• Ask questions starting with How, When, What, Why? 
   

• Encourage the nanny to also ask you questions during the interview process.

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A good way to start an interview is to tell them that you have read their CV and would they mind telling you about themselves. Start off with an easy question so you put the nanny at ease.

 

Here are some suggested questions you can ask​


General Questions

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Why did they choose this role as a career? 

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What qualities do they have that make them good at their job? 

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What do they enjoy the most about their job? 

 

Is there anything they find challenging?

 

Why are they looking for a new position?

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Availability​

What are their preferred working hours and are they flexible if overtime is needed?

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Are they open to supporting with evening babysitting or proxy-parenting (overnight stays)? Discuss how often this is needed and for how many nights the overnight stays might be?

 

Are they happy to travel with you, how regularly you will need it and for how long each time?  You need to discuss how this will work and explain the role will be different when travelling, e.g., more flexibility required and different hours or schedules.  Talk about sleeping arrangements, time off and pay during the night or overtime.

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Activities

​​Find out what their favourite developmental, educational and social play activities are based on your child’s age group. 

 

Ask the nanny to give you some examples of how she could plan a typical day for your child. 

 

How does she balance free play and structured play as well as both indoor and outdoor play time?

 

Your Approach

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Do you have a specific childcare philosophy or approach?

 

For roles with babies and toddlers, can they give you examples of how they have worked with previous families to support with feeding and sleep routines.  Talk specifically (if relevant) about the way they suggest weaning a baby. If you like a baby led approach, ask how they do this.

 

Do they prefer a structured routine or a more baby led approach?  What examples can they give you to demonstrate this.

 

Discuss their approach to discipline and how they would deal with sibling rivalry or tantrums and what approaches have worked well for them to manage children’s behaviour.

 

Safety

​How does the nanny ensure the children are safe with her? What would they do in case of an emergency? Ask them if they ever had to deal with an emergency and how they handled this.

 

What was the most challenging situation they have had to deal with in any of their previous roles and what did they learn from this?

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​Duties

​Do they consider themselves a foodie? Are they happy to cook healthy nutritious meals for the children, meal plan or follow simple recipes? What are some examples of meals they could cook for your child and when do they usually have time for doing this.

 

If you have any allergies, dietary requirements or fussy eaters, ask them to explain how they managed this and gauge if they can support you with your specific needs.

 

What duties are they happy to take the lead with and is there anything they don’t feel comfortable doing? Do you need the nanny to do children’s laundry, general tidying and organisation for the children?

 

Do you have any pets? Wil you expect the nanny to be involved with the pet in any way and are they comfortable with this?

 

Try to get a feel for their flexibility, if they are proactive, prefer to follow instructions or if they like taking initiative. Do they have a ‘can-do’ attitude and are they happy to muck in? Remember, a nanny is not a cleaner or housekeeper so be clear about what you need.

 

Working Style and Communication

​Are they happy to work alongside you if you are not working or do, they prefer to take sole charge?

 

How comfortable do they feel if you are working from home and what experience do, they have of this in the past?  Do they have any concerns about this set-up?

 

How do they like communication with their employers and how would they raise concerns if there were any?

 

Will they be open to feedback (this works both ways) and what has worked well with previous employers?

Live-out Nannies

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How far is the commute to your home and how long are they used to commuting to work in previous roles.

 

If you need a driver, are they confident to drive children and have they done this before? 

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Do they have a valid driving licence, and will you provide a car, or will the nanny need to have her own reliable vehicle? Do you have parking for a nanny who prefers to drive to work, even if you don’t need her to drive?

 

If the hours start early and finish late, ask if they have done this before and if they have any out of work commitments already?

 

Live-in Nannies

​For live in positions, talk about the accommodation on offer and if you have any curfews or expectations you want to set out regarding living together. Can they go home on their days off?

 

Talk about the working hours and if the nanny can take a break during the day – will this allow them to leave the house for some fresh air, or will they be expected to be ‘on call’ while a child is sleeping?

 

Make sure you are clear about expectations as many live-in candidates can get burnt out as they are expected to be working very long hours.  Everyone needs a break!

 

References, Salaries and Contract

​Can they provide references from previous families they have worked with?

 

Have they got a recent police check (DBS) in place or are they on the update service?

 

Questions around salaries can be awkward so make sure the nanny is aligned with your expectations, and you are on the same page.  If you are interviewing a nanny through Homebodies, you can leave us to guide you with negotiating the salary.

 

Once you are ready to offer the job you will need to ensure you have a legal contract in place.  We offer a small range of bespoke nanny employment services.  By using our contract service, we will help you meet all the legal requirements you are committed to when employing a nanny with expert advice and tailored documentation.

Expectations​

Are you looking for a short-term or long-term position?

 

What are your career goals for the future? Let the nanny share her ambitions and plans for the future in terms of both career and life generally.

 

Ask them about their previous roles and their reasons for leaving. 

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What made her happy in previous roles? What does it take to feel comfortable in your role? Asking these questions will encourage the nanny to share her expectations of you as an employer.

 

Are there any areas she wants to improve or develop in the future? Can you support her with this.

 

Get a feel for the nanny you are interviewing but seeing the nanny in action will tell you much more.  Some candidates are more reserved in an interview and come to life with the children. Keep this in mind!​

Next steps

Hopefully it has been a great interview for both of you and you may want to ask the candidate to come back, either for a second interview to meet you and your child/children in person or for a trial period. This will allow you to see them interact in your home environment.

 

We will guide you with the trial stage and offer support, so you get the most out of this next stage. Please note that you need to pay the nanny for her time doing a trial but not if she is coming to meet you for a one hour in-person interview.

 

We believe it is very important for both sides to get a feel for each other and hopefully you will have a lovely connection!

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