Sample Nanny Interview

When interviewing a nanny, your aim is to find out as much about them as you can. You need to know about their background, experience, qualifications, and expectations as well as getting a good feel for their personality.

It can also be helpful to have a sample sheet of interview questions at hand to refer to, so we have put together a set of good, basic questions to ask any prospective nanny applicant.

Background

First of all, even if you already have the basic statistics of your applicant, it is good practise to check that you are speaking to the right person and that the notes you have are correct – particularly if you are speaking to more than one nanny. So do check their full name, age, date of birth, address and contact details. Once this is done choose from one or all of the following sample questions:

• Tell me about your background?
• Do you come from a large family?
• What hobbies do you have?
• What has been your favourite holiday so far?
• Do you have a partner/boyfriend/children?
• Do you play a musical instrument?
• Do you have any special skills you could bring to the job (e.g. horse-riding, dance etc.)?

Qualifications and Insurances

• What qualifications do you have?
• Do you have first aid?
• Do you have a food hygiene certificate?
• Do you have an Enhanced Police check (CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) form)?
• Do you have a clean driver’s license?
• Do you have separate nanny insurance?
• Do you have private health insurance?
• Do you have checkable references?

Motivation for the Job

• What made you decide to become a nanny?
• What steps did you take to achieve your goal to becoming a nanny?
• What do you love about being a nanny?
• What do you most dislike about being a nanny?
• What frustrates you about the job?
• Why do you want this job?
• What attracted you to our family?
• What do you think might be the challenges of the position we’re offering?

Experience

• Please tell me about your previous experience as a nanny
• Why did you leave your last nanny position?
• How have you learned from your past experience(s)?
• What did you like/dislike about your previous nanny job(s)?

Safety

• What would you do if my child burned themselves on the cooker?
• How would you perform emergency resuscitation?
• What are the signs for Meningitis?
• What would you do if my child developed a high fever?
• What would you do if my child cut themselves badly?

Children

• What is your preferred age range of children?
• Do you connect better with girls or boys?
• What activities do you enjoy doing with children the most?
• Give me an outline of what a typical day might be for you as a nanny
• How would you support the children in their home work and school activities?
• How would you encourage the children?

Disciplining

• What is your preferred method of disciplining children?
• Please take me through the steps of how you would discipline my child(ren).
• What would you deem age-appropriate discipline techniques for a 2-yr-old (or supplement age)?
• How would you deal with a child who is not respecting your wishes, in favour of ours?

Communication

• How do you prefer to consult and communicate with us, the parents?
• How would you deal with a difference of opinion with us?
• How would you deal with a child being rude to you in front of us?
• What support would you expect from us?
• Can you give an example of how you resolved a difficult situation with your previous family?

Job Expectations

• Are you ideally wanting a sole charge or shared charge role?
• Do you mind doing general housework as part of the role?
• Ironing?
• Cooking?
• How long would you commit to this position?
• Would you do overnights if needed?
• Would you do extra babysitting if required?

Salary

• What were you earning in your previous job?
• What are your salary expectations?
• What are your goals for the future?
• Would you sign a contract which guarantees a minimum length of employment?
• Do you need to give notice to your current employer?
• When would you be able to start work?
• Are you in negotiation with any other families at this time?

There is not really a typical format for interviewing a nanny, but any good nanny agency should be happy to guide you through the procedure and give you ideas of what to ask.