Let’s be honest; hiring a nanny is never easy. You have to pick someone you trust with your children, vet them, and ensure that they cover all the bases during the interview process. One of the most important things to consider are the questions to ask the nanny in the interview.
The way to get ahead of this is to write down some of the more important topics you want to cover. Think about what you want to know and how the nanny’s experience impacts your final decision.
Let’s get started taking a look at the questions to ask a nanny during the interview process.
Nanny Interview Basics
If you’re having trouble figuring out where to start, stick to the basics. Think about the interviews you’ve been on in the past and the questions that come up most often. Those work just as well for a nanny as they do for any other job.
Still, having trouble? Here are a few of our favorite questions to ask during a nanny interview:
- Why do you enjoy working with children?
- How long have you been a nanny?
- What other childcare experience do you have?
- What age groups do you like caring for most?
- What made you want to become a nanny?
- Tell me about a family you’ve worked for and how their children had an impact on you?
You might recognize some of these questions because they’ve come up during a regular interview. They come up because they provide insight into who someone is and why they do the job they do.
Don’t forget about education
Another aspect of hiring a nanny is understanding both their education and training. That means asking them questions about what truly qualifies them to work with children.
Now, when it comes to being a nanny, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re asking about a college education. Someone can be a great nanny without a college degree. Here are some education questions for you to consider:
- Have you been CPR certified?
- Are you first-aid certified?
- What is your highest level of education?
- Do you speak any other languages, and can you teach children additional languages?
- What childcare classes have you taken in the past?
Understanding how someone has been educated gives you insight into what drives them and the type of interests they’ve had when it comes to learning.
Learn About Their Experience
The next set of questioning comes from a place of understanding their past experience. While there’s nothing wrong with a person who hasn’t necessarily been a nanny, you still want to know that they can work well with children and know how to navigate those ups and downs.
There are some essential questions to consider regarding work-history. Here’s what you should think about:
- Have you ever worked with children or in child-care in the past?
- What was your last position, and why did you leave it?
- When you’ve worked with other families, what was their routine, and how did you manage it?
- Have you ever had to work with children with learning disabilities?
Knowing what your future nanny has dealt with in the past will help you understand if they can handle the unique challenges that face your family and your children. That’s why knowing the questions to ask nanny interview are so important.
Now that you know where to start, here’s hoping you find the perfect fit for your family.
