How to Create The Best Nanny Interview Checklist
When it comes to hiring a nanny, there’s nothing more important than getting to know the person you’re interviewing. After all, they may be the one who will care for your child soon. Interviews allow you to meet face-to-face with a potential nanny and provide the perfect opportunity for you both to get to know each other on a personal and professional level.
But what if you’ve never had to conduct an interview before? That’s where things can get tricky. Interviews, though simple in structure, often have multiple steps that can make planning and conducting one hard to handle — especially if you’re trying to take care of your kids throughout the whole process. But never fear! CanadianNanny.ca is here!
In this article, we’ve compiled a complete list of tips and tricks into a comprehensive “how-to” guide and your own master checklist for nanny interviews. If you want to learn more about conducting a nanny interview, finding the perfect fit for your family’s needs, and all the do’s and don’t of nanny interviews, read on!
Before the Interview
Before you even begin the interview process, you need to have a clear idea of what it is you need. Being prepared with all the right information in advance of an interview is critical if you want to have the best interview possible.
So what do you need to know? Start by mapping out the “5 W’s:”
Who are you looking for? Understand the type of nanny and the personality you feel would be the best fit for your family.
What will they be required to do? Create a clear outline of their duties and responsibilities.
Where will they be living? If you are hiring for a live-in position, you need to be able to provide full details on their accommodations.
Why do you need a nanny? Outline all the reasons that your family will benefit from having a nanny to better prepare both yourself and the nanny for a successful interview.
When do you need a nanny to start? Pick a date and stick to it. Also be sure to know how long you’ll need a nanny for (i.e. only a summer, or permanently).
Another step is to do some reading up on proper interview techniques to get a better feel for how things should go. For some helpful resources, check out these articles:
During the Interview
An important thing to remember about interviews is that they are about getting to know each other. A sign of a great interview is when both parties leave feeling like they have a full understanding of how you might be able to work together.
Ultimately, an interview is both about ensuring the candidate understands the responsibilities of the role they are applying for and for you to get to know them and their abilities. That is why you should always be prepared to create the right environment for a successful interview.
Eliminating distractions, creating a welcoming environment, being open and honest about the role’s requirements, and understanding that they’re likely a little nervous goes a long way in setting the stage for a positive interview experience for you both.
If you’re struggling to come up with the right questions to ask, check out these helpful guides to all the nanny interview questions you may need to know:
After the Interview
During an interview, it’s always good to observe a nanny’s behaviours and make note of how they answer specific types of questions. By the end of an interview, you should be able to answer the following questions about them:
What are their interests?
How does their previous experience help your family?
What special skills do they possess?
How do they show respect and professionalism throughout the interview?
If you can answer all of these questions with confidence, you may have found the right nanny. However, it’s always good to back up that gut feeling with some examples from previous employers. Be sure to get a list of references you can contact to ensure that the nanny you saw in your interview is the nanny that others have seen as well.
You may also want to invest some time in having the nanny come in for a trial day. This will help you observe in advance how they interact with your children and give your kids the chance to say yay or nay to the potential hire as well.
Whether or not you choose to do a nanny trial, ultimately, your gut feeling is what you need to follow. As long as you feel they will be a good fit, you’re all set to offer them the job.
The Ultimate Nanny Interview Checklist
Before the Interview:
Make notes on:
Arrange:
Obtain:
Will your child(ren) be in attendance?
If no:
If yes:
During the Interview:
General Questions:
Childcare Knowledge:
Open-Ended Questions:
Other Questions:
Employment Details:
At the end of the interview:
Request a list of references
After the Interview:
Can you answer the following questions about this nanny after the interview?
- What are their interests? - How does their previous experience help your family? - What special skills do they possess? - How do they show respect and professionalism throughout the interview?
Would you like to offer them the position?
If no:
If yes:
Do you want them to take part in a nanny trial?
If yes:
If you don’t require a nanny trial:
