It is important to interview your nanny to make sure that she has the right experience as well as the right personality and attitude for your family, and most, importantly your children. Any meetings should be conducted on an informal basis when you both have the time to sit down and really talk, so preferably not when your children are tired or hungry and running around!
PC Payroll & Legal has put together a sample crib sheet of interview questions which should help you sort out the most important aspects of the job with your potential nanny and whether that nanny is the right one for you.
By writing down any notes and memories from the interview, you’ll be able to remember each nanny. This is especially useful when you have a long list of candidates to choose from.
Download the following document for your own personal interview question sheet
Here is a quick look at the type of questions and topics you should consider when interviewing a potential nanny. You can download them as a PDF on the right.
General information to cover in the interview
Start date
Hours of work
Salary
Holidays (in particular discuss whether you require her to some of her holiday when you take some of yours).
Duties and responsibilities, relating to both the children and round the house.
Routines that you would like kept (e.g. swimming lessons, playgroups etc.).
House rules (such as nannies visiting, boyfriends visiting, use of phone etc.).
Use of car (if applicable).
Babysitting requirements.
Will they be required to prepare all the children’s meals and whether there are specific dietary requirements.
Any medical issue relating to the children which they should be aware of.
Being a nanny
Why did you choose a nannying career?
What do you think are the qualities needed to be a good nanny?
What do you enjoy most about being a nanny?
What do you enjoy least about being a nanny?
Education & Development Qualities
In view of our children’s’ ages, what areas of development would you be concentrating on and what sort of activities would be suitable?
How would you plan a typical day?
What are your favourite activities with children?
How would you occupy the children during a rainy day?
Have you had experience of potty training and how would you go about potty-training children (if applicable)?
Meals
What kind of food would you cook for our children?
How would you think to approach planning menus and buying the food?
Discipline
What would you do with a child that threw a tantrum in the middle of a shop?
How do you introduce good manners to children?
Reading & Television
What books do you feel are appropriate for our children?
How do you feel about children watching television?
