Preparing for a nanny interview

When you are in the process of interviewing with a family, it is important to communicate your experiences, talents and skills. You will need to sell yourself!  We know for some caregivers this can be a hard task. Not to worry – we can help you! NOW has created a list of helpful hints to keep in mind so that you can have a successful nanny interview.

1. Know the Family.

Success in a nanny job interview starts with a solid understanding on the nanny’s role with the family. You should carefully read the family summary provided to you. Understand the family’s needs, the requirements of the job, and any information shared about the children. The better you understand what the family is looking for in a caregiver, the better you can answer questions asked of you.  To clarify, knowing the family DOES NOT mean trying to research the family online and cyberstalk them. This is highly inappropriate and could result in the cancelling of your interview.

2. Review Common Nanny Interview Questions & Think About Possible Responses.

Another key to interview success is preparing responses to expected interview questions.  Your goal is to try to determine what you’ll be asked and to compose detailed yet concise responses that focus on specific examples of care and accomplishments. A good tool for remembering your responses is to put them into a story form that you can tell in the interview. No need to memorize responses (in fact, it’s best not to), but do develop talking points. You want to be authentic with your responses but prepared.

3. Dress for Success.
Select an outfit that fits the job! Strive for the most professional appearance you can accomplish. Remember that it’s always better to be overdressed than under and to wear clothing that fits and is clean and pressed. Keep accessories and jewelry and perfumes to a minimum. Try not to smoke or eat right before the interview and if possible, brush your teeth or use mouthwash.  The goal is to make a good first impression. You want to be professional but conformable.

4. Arrive on Time, Relaxed and Prepared for the Interview.
There is no excuse ever for arriving late for an interview. Short of a disaster, strive to arrive about 15 minutes before your scheduled interview. When interviewing with a family at their home, you may not want to be as early, but don’t be late! Map out your drive time ahead of time. Use an app for driving directions (such as Google Maps, Waze, MapQuest, etc.).

5. Be Authentic, Upbeat, Focused, Confident, Candid, and Concise.
Once the interview starts, the key to success is the quality and delivery of your responses. Your goal should always be authenticity and responding truthfully to interview questions. At the same time, you want to get to the next step in the process, so you’ll want to provide focused responses that showcase your childcare skills, experience, and fit for the family. Provide solid examples of solutions and accomplishments you experienced. Stay on topic.

6. Remember the Importance of Body Language.
While the content of your interview responses is paramount, poor body language can be a distraction at best or a reason not to hire you at worst. Effective forms of body language include smiling, eye contact, solid posture, active listening, and nodding. Detrimental forms of body language include slouching, looking off in the distance, playing with a pen, fidgeting in a chair, brushing back your hair, touching your face, chewing gum, or mumbling.

7. Ask Insightful Questions.
Experience has shown that families will make a judgment about an applicant’s interest in their job by whether or not the nanny candidate asks questions. So, EVEN if the family was very thorough in their review of the job and what is expected of the nanny, you must still ask a few clarifying questions. Asking questions show that you have reviewed the family summary and that you are curious about the nanny role and the family.

8. Sell Yourself and then Close the Deal.
The most qualified nanny is not always the one who is hired by a family; the winning nanny candidate is often the one who does the best job responding to interview questions and showcasing his/her fit with the family. We know it can be hard for some people to talk about themselves and things they have accomplished; but it is important to genuinely speak to who you are and what you have done. If you don’t share these things and help others discover your value, the family may never know what solutions you offer. You have to promote yourself!!

9. Thank the Family!
Common courtesy and politeness go far in interviewing; thus, the importance of thanking the family for their time and for selecting you for an interview should come as no surprise. Thank the family before you leave and if you’d like to send a thank you message afterwards, contact the agency to assist you. Writing thank-you emails and notes shortly after the interview will not get you the job offer, but doing so will certainly give you an edge over any of the other nanny.

We are hopeful that you will find these tips helpful when preparing for your interview. Should have additional  questions about having a successful information. Feel free to contact us NOW at 832.482.4639.

Nannies of The Woodlands, LLC

1095 Evergreen Circle, Suite 200

The Woodlands, TX  77380

832-482-4639

Nannies of The Woodlands

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