General Interview Tips for Nannies
So you want to be a nanny and are about to land the perfect job? Congratulations on getting in the door for a rewarding and fun position in childcare. Here are a few tips and general suggestions on how to conduct yourself during the in-person interview and what kinds of questions to ask. Make sure to remember that finding a perfect fit for a family’s childcare needs always takes into account the potential nanny’s perspective, too. Is this job a perfect fit for you? An interview always goes both ways to make sure that the position offered is an attractive one, and that the candidate available fits the job well.
Dress for success
When selecting attire for a nanny interview, it’s crucial to strike a balance between professionalism and practicality. Opt for neat, clean clothing that is appropriate for a professional setting, avoiding overly casual attire like t-shirts or jeans. Choose comfortable fabrics and footwear that allow for ease of movement, as nannies often engage in active play and childcare tasks during interviews. Aim for a conservative look, avoiding clothing that is too revealing or flashy, and opt for neutral colors or simple patterns that are not distracting. Pay attention to grooming and personal hygiene, ensuring that your appearance reflects professionalism and respect for the interview process. By presenting yourself as a capable and reliable caregiver while maintaining a professional demeanor, you can make a positive impression on potential employers.
Read the room
Get a sense of what the family is like as much as you possibly can prior to the interview. Remember, many interviews will be conducted in the actual home which will be your workplace and this is a much more intimate environment than most interviews. Use the information-gathering tools available given the setting to get a sense of the family’s needs. Are they an active family? Do they travel often? Are they possibly multi-cultural and would they likely speak several languages? Taking in the decor of the home and the general sense of the family’s lifestyle will all clue you in on what kind of family they are and what they might be looking for. So before you jump into listing off all your wonderful work experience, take a moment to soak in the qualities of the family you might be caring for so you can tailor your interview answers to their lifestyle. Remember, we’re all getting accustomed to transitioning back to in-person work from the pandemic and more remote work, so there’s a lot more of an opportunity to create personalized connections in an in-person interview than there ever was with video conferencing – make sure to use that to your advantage.
Be confident
You will likely get a lot of questions ranging from more casual questions aimed at figuring out what type of person you are to more job-related questions that seek to understand what type of tasks you’re comfortable with. Make sure to think about your answers to these types of questions beforehand. For instance, are you including other household maintenance tasks such as light cleaning, grocery shopping, cooking, drop-off/pick-up (and accompanying mileage for gas reimbursement) into your service offerings and rate? You might want to have a clear answer ready for these kinds of questions so that your answer can seem polished and sensible. However, make sure you don’t come off as too rehearsed – many families seek camaraderie with the individual since you will become such an integral part of their family dynamic. It’s okay to show off a bit of your vibrant personality so that they can get a sense of the type of person you are and the values you might be bringing into their home.
Ask questions
Asking questions doesn’t always necessarily make you come off as less knowledgeable, in fact asking great questions can show your professionalism and reveal that you’ve thought through everything and you’re prepared to do the job. Allow your potential employer to lead the discussion, and they will likely give you a brief overview of the position requirements. Then they might ask you if you have any questions. If it’s not all covered by the overview, be prepared to ask any questions you might have about the family’s preferences: is there a fixed bedtime, and what is the bed-time routine? What are some of the rules of the household and what is their parenting style? What’s something the kids might “think they can get away with” with a nanny and what might be a model response to any of this kind of behavior? Maybe even simply ask: “How would you describe your ideal nanny?”
What is the compensation?
In any job interview, the question of compensation should come up, which is sometimes a tough conversation for many people to navigate. Many nannies choose to be represented by an agency, like us, to help handle this conversation and they can confirm an agreed-upon rate prior to the interview. If anything comes up in the interview that might affect your rate, you can go back to your agency after the interview and they can negotiate on your behalf. If you’re not represented by an agency, make sure you’ve done your research to find out what the average pay is for a nanny in your area, and that you have an idea of what your rate is given your childcare experience. Have this rate in the back of your mind for when the topic of compensation comes up. As the childcare industry is still predominantly facilitated by workers who are female-identifying, remember that we as a culture have not fully achieved pay parity. Don’t be afraid to know exactly what your experience is worth and to take pride in giving a fair but competitive rate, especially if you’re confident you’ll be an asset to the family – and trust us, you will be.
Overall, you’ve got everything you need to land this job and maintain a happy and healthy work environment with your new employer. Feel free to check in with us at A Perfect Fit Nanny Agency to make use of all our resources available to you so that you can come into the interview well-versed and knowledgeable about the childcare industry as a whole. Good luck!
Revised 5/9/2024
