As a nanny/babysitter I have gone on many interviews over the years. There are some parents that have asked very detailed questions about my life, and others who hand me their child and walk out the door. A nanny/babysitting job is very different from any 9-5 jobs out there today. A nanny is in charge of your child's every need, and can shape their character for the future. Because of this fact, it is important to find a nanny/babysitter who has the same views of child rearing as you. So I decided to help out the Mom's and Dad's with a few important questions for your potential nanny/babysitter:
The easiest question to start with is: Tell me a little about yourself? Here, you can learn about the person without getting nosy, and the potential nanny/babysitter can choose to share as much, or as little as they wish. This question can also show you what type of personality the potential has. If they share a good amount about the family background, and education, they will be more outgoing individuals. If they share very little about themselves, and need prodding from you, then they are more shy individuals. Either way, there is a personality that will fit your needs.
The second question is: What experience do you have with children? This is an important question for obvious reasons. You want to know the depth of experience the potential nanny/babysitter has, as well as the age group they are more knowledgeable with. As a parent you know or will eventually understand that there is a big difference between caring for infants, than caring for toddlers. It is important to ask about their experiences with the past families, and the relationship the nanny/babysitter had with the parents. In my past childcare experiences I always made an effort to talk with the parents and get to understand and know their personalities and backgrounds. It is important to know who you work for, and to know more about the person whose house you will be in for hours at a time, not including the fact that the potential nanny/babysitter is caring for your child.
The third question is: Will you adhere to the schedule and rules I have implemented? This is a very important question to ask because you don't want to hire someone who has completely different beliefs in child rearing than you, and you come to learn they are not adhering to your wishes. Many parents understand the need for scheduling, especially for infants and toddlers, so this is a very important topic that must be discussed.
The fourth questions is: What questions do you have for me? This is a necessary question because as a nanny/babysitter (more so for nannies) the interview is a two way street. You as a parent may be interviewing for a nanny/babysitter, but the nanny/babysitter will be interviewing you as well to judge the compatibility of themselves in your family. Because the nanny because so much apart of the family, and more often than not spends more time in the families home than their own, they have to make sure their personalities will be compatible, as well as the nanny just liking the person. I have had numerous phone interviews where I knew at the end I would not be doing a face to face interview, even though I was given the opportunity.
I hope this helps in the hiring process.
~Katie
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