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Interviewing

The Telephone Interview:

It is a good idea that your first contact with a prospective childcarer is over the phone. This means you can weed out unsuitable candidates without having to go through a lengthy face-to-face interview - essential if you have chosen to advertise privately. Good nanny agencies will have taken care to match you with any childcarers they send so candidates you see should match your basic requirements, such being a as non-smoker.

Below are some basic points you need to know about a nanny before you decide to go ahead with a full interview. It may be handy to keep a written list of questions by the phone in case you forget to mention an important point.

  • Full name.
  • Date of birth.
  • Contact details.
  • Smoker/non smoker?
  • Qualifications?
  • References? Remember, no references no job.
  • Experience: how long? How many children? What ages?
  • Driver/non-driver?

You should also give a brief outline about your family and the job you are advertising, including the following points:

  • Number of children, their ages and genders.
  • Description of your home and the accommodation you are providing, if relevant.
  • Give details of pets.
  • Give details of any special circumstances or illnesses that the childcarer would have to deal with.
  • Explain exactly what sort of help you are looking for.
  • Give details of other help you have at home - cleaner etc. This can be a big plus for a nanny.

If any of these points appears to be a stumbling block you know that the match isn't going to work but atleast you haven't wasted valuable time on a face to face interview.

Interviewing in person:

When you find a candidate you think you would like to take to the next stage make sure you allow plenty of time to interview them in person. Conducting a properly thought-out interview may seem like a hassle when you have several childcarers to see but it could save you a lot of trouble in the long run.

It is definitely worth making a list of questions before the interview but don't forget, it is important to make the interviewee relaxed and comfortable. You won't want to scare off any candidates with interrogation-style questioning but there are dozens of different points that may be of particular importance to you and your family. Karen Murphy from Ideal Nannies in London suggests that you offer a cup of tea and start off with some easy, general questions to help interviewees relax. "Find out what they’ve been doing and why they like nannying so that they feel at ease before you start with the more probing questions - that way you'll get better answers". Karen also suggests that you need to be realistic about the sort of answers you expect. If you are asking questions about first aid you can only seriously expect a thorough knowledge of basic first aid - remember you are employing a nanny, not a nurse.

Questions to Ask:

  • What was your last position - how long were you there and why did you leave? Were you happy? If not why not?
  • Training - Did you finish the course? Do you have the original certificate? Which aspects of the course did you enjoy most?
  • Do you have First Aid training? Check that it is still valid. If it is not, would you be prepared to retake the course?
  • Have you had to deal with any emergencies? How did you cope?
  • What would you do if a child was choking, burnt itself, had a high temperature or a rash?
  • What age of children are you most experienced with, does this fit in with your age?
  • What sort of activities would you suggest as suitable for your children?
  • What are you views on discipline? How would you discipline a child of ......... insert age of your child.
  • Why do you like being a nanny? (This question has been known to elicit some illuminating responses).
  • What do you feel is the most important responsibility in the job?
  • What do you think children like about you?
  • Do you forsee a long-term career in childcare?
  • What do you consider to be a nutritious, healthy diet - can you cook?
  • Do you insist on 'sole charge'? Are you aware of the full responsibility it entails? (If you are a mum at home you need to make sure that the childcarer can work in tandem with you)
  • Are you prepared to help out with light household chores?
  • Do you smoke?
  • Do you drive?
  • What is your family background? Are you close to your family etc? Do you have a long-term relationship where you expect your partner to visit you?
  • Discuss your babysitting requirements.
  • How do you feel about accompanying us on holiday?
  • Ask for references - question the applicant closely about referees. Make sure you have their telephone numbers and addresses and speak privately with them. If you can manage it try and see them in person.
  • Do you have a CRB police check? Would you be prepared to obtain one?
  • Talk about any house rules that are important to you. How do you work the use of the telephone, what are your rules on friends visiting, TV during the day, use of the car, nursery duties etc. All these points need to be discussed for the match between parent and nanny to work happily.

This is a starting point for your interview. Think about what you need from your childcarer and add other questions that are relevant to you.

Ask the childcarer if they have any questions and be prepared to answer openly and honestly. There is no point in trying to 'sell' the job if the reality of what you expect and want is different, it will only lead to a falling out if the childcarer finds you cannot live up to your promises.

Let's Talk Money: (also see Pay and Conditions):
Most nannies will not accept a penny less than that they were earning at their last employers. Find out what salary they are on and the hours they are working and make your offer accordingly. Now is the time to discuss perks, time off and holidays as well as pay. (See contracts for more information.)

Second Interviews:
It is always a good idea to do second interviews for serious candidates. They should meet all members of the family and any nagging doubts can be dispelled or confirmed on both sides. At the second interview you may go into greater detail about your routine and what you expect in terms of house rules. Most nannies agree that they would rather thrash out issues including ones that may seem embarrassing such as: "can my boyfriend stay overnight?" before they start a job. Again it prevents potential problems on both sides.
Spending a day or the afternoon together is a good idea. As one of our bestbear mother's says, "It is possible to keep up a front through an interview but it is really difficult for a whole day." Try and arrange an activity such as taking the children to the park together. It will give you a chance to asses the childcarer in an informal situation, see him or her with the children and give you a much clearer insight into whether the candidate’s personality will suit the family and vice versa.