How to Interview a Nanny
It is a struggle that every working parent faces, finding quality childcare for your children. While parents have several choices when it comes to child care, erratic work schedules or a need for personal or special care as well as the comfort of having your child remain at home while you are gone make nannies an attractive option. Without the stringent regulations in place to ensure that a day care center or home is safe for your child, extensively interviewing a nanny might be the best way to find out if the nanny will fit well with your family.
Instructions
Contact a local nanny agency or look for nanny candidates on online websites like Care.com, Sittercity.com or Nanny.com. Conduct phone interviews with several potential candidates. During the phone interview ask about availability, flexibility, experience, salary requirements and if the candidate is legally able to work in the United States. The phone interview process might help you eliminate candidates that do not fit your financial, schedule or experience needs. Use the phone interview to let the potential candidate know about the age or ages of your children, your typical schedule and any special needs your children might have. Schedule an in-person interview with the candidates that you like after the phone interview. You might want to schedule the interview to take place in a neutral place like a coffee shop or restaurant to avoid giving your address to an applicant that you might not hire. According to Care.com, schedule one interview per day to allow you time to reflect on each applicant without feeling rushed to meet the next candidate. Prepare a list of questions you want to ask the potential nanny. Include questions about the last family the nanny worked for such as why did the nanny leave their last position, what they liked or disliked about the job, child care philosophies, CPR or other first aid certifications, education, long-term plans and if the nanny plans to work for one family for a while or has plans to move on in the near future. Also, ask about any special accommodations that you might need to make for the nanny such as allowing the nanny̵7;s child to come to work with her or times when the nanny plans on a vacation or holiday. Ask about transportation, the willingness to do light housework and whether the nanny is willing to work nights and weekends. Answer any questions the nanny might have about the position and provide ample information about the personalities, needs, medical conditions and temperament of your children. Plan a time for the potential candidate to meet the rest of your family if the in-person interview went well. This will give you an opportunity to see how the potential candidate interacts with your children. Conduct a background and reference check if you find a nanny you like. Prepare a contract that spells out pay, days off and expectations for the nanny and you to sign if the background check comes back clear.
