Nanny: Interview Questions for a Nanny – How to Interview Nannies

The main role of nannies is to provide full time care for children. In most cases the nanny works in the family’s home. The role may vary  depending on the family’s requirements and the age or ages of the child or children.

These duties include children’s activities, cooking, shopping, light housekeeping, schoolwork, laundry, helping children get dressed, and cleaning up after them. Hours of work may vary from 2-12 hours.

This article provides interview questions for hiring a nanny.

Nanny Interview Questions

The following are 22 important questions as an interview checklist for hiring a nanny:

1. Why did you choose this job?
2. Why are you interested in becoming a nanny?
3. What childcare experience do you have?
4. Describe your last childcare job. Where did you work before and why did you leave your last nanny job?
5. What are your qualifications as a nanny?
6. What are the ages of children you’ve worked with?
7. Do you have references? Can we contact your references for recommendations?
8. What do you do on your days off, leisure time, and after work?
9. What are your most challenging aspects of working with children?
10. Describe a typical day with a child. What is the day’s schedule and the activities you engage with a child of such-and-such an age?
11. What are your philosophies on  discipline, nutrition, and child rearing?
12. What sort of food can you prepare for the children?
13. What are your likes and dislikes in childcare?
14. Do you have any issues which you do not like with children, parents, or pets?
15. Describe an unexpected or stressful situation you’ve experienced with children.
16. Have you ever had to handle an emergency? In emergency situations such as accidents or illnesses, what is your standard procedure in handling the situation? Did you learn first-aid?
17. How would you handle a situation in which children hit or hurt others, lie, cry, shout, etc.?
18. How do you communicate information to the parents about how the day passed with the children and other issues?
19. What other household tasks, aside from childcare, can you do?
20. How would your former employers describe you?
21. Please give us your social security number, government identification number, phone number, deriver’s license, and other identity and qualification documents.
22. Do you have any questions?

The Nanny’s interview
Tips on Answering These Questions

Families have different requirements and expectations when hiring a nanny. However, these are the common features that one should address:

► Experience and skills for nannies
Parents are usually looking for an experienced nanny, or at least for a worker who has relevant childcare experience. Therefore, tell the parents about your background and experience working with children. Provide information on your knowledge, qualities, skills, and your strengths on caring for children.

► Why do you want to become a nanny? 
You should show an interest, commitment, and motivation for childcare. Tell about the fun and joy you have working with children, helping them grow, and seeing them develop more capabilities. You may also go into details about your approach on playing creative games with children and other personal interactions that are so important for children’s growth. Don’t hesitate to tell about your greatest achievements as a nanny.

► Your knowledge
It is important that you have vast knowledge of different methods of childcare, such as understanding and handling child behavior, important activities with children, and knowing about children’s needs like nurturing, food, etc. You have to describe and explain your approach on these matters and why you take this approach. You may also provide examples to support your answers.

In conclusion
Parents are very sensitive to every aspect of their child’s care. However, more than anything, they want to build trust. They therefore seek a profile of reliability, good communication skills, flexibility, sensitivity, multitasking, patience, and kindness. If you have these personal characteristics, show them by all means.

And of course, show an interest in their child – don’t forget to ask questions about their child.