Hiring a nanny can be a stressful process, especially when it comes to hand picking who to hire. All parents fear they will make an incorrect choice, and only have themselves to blame. While it may be tempting to interview nanny candidates after first submitting each to full background checks, fingerprinting, and DNA analysis, there are better ways to go about interviewing a nanny. Sticking to some of the following essential nanny questions, as recommended by childcare professionals, will help make the interview process run smoothly.

Begin by deciding how to find your new nanny. Some families find it easiest to work with an agency. Others may find it better to take out an ad on their own. However you decide to do it, first be prepared with a clear idea of what you’re looking for. When will the position start? What role will the nanny fill: educator, caretaker, housekeeper, all of the above? How much can you afford in nanny salary? What kind of experience and training do you want the nanny to have? How much is personality a factor? Knowing what you are looking for will help you ask your nanny questions that are productive right from the first phone interview.

The first step in an interview will likely always be conducted over the phone. During the phone interview it is important to get X factor questions out of the way. For example, if you need to get to work by 9 and the nanny cannot be over until after putting her own kids on the bus in the morning, it may be an automatic red flag that there will be frequent scheduling conflicts. Use your judgment during the course of the phone interview to decide whether or not a prospective nanny should be extended the invitation of a personal interview.

Begin with some of the following questions to get a good grasp on the phone interview candidate:

What is the nanny’s prior experience? Ask the prospective nanny to provide names and dates, task descriptions and children’s ages. Find out if previous employers may be contacted as references. Ask if you may run a background check on the nanny.

Does the nanny have formal training, or would the nanny be willing to undergo further childcare training during the course of a position with your family? Is the nanny certified in emergency training like CPR and First-aid? Give the nanny a hypothetical scenario and ask how it should be dealt with.

Does the nanny smoke? Does the nanny cook, and will the nanny expect meals to be provided? Will the prospective nanny need frequent vacations, or time off for a preexisting health condition? Does the nanny drive?

Next, determine whether the personal nanny interview is necessary by asking philosophy and approach questions like the following:

Why is the nanny currently available? Why is the nanny interested in continuing a profession as a nanny? What aspects of the job do the nanny like and dislike the most? What kind of family would the nanny ideally like to find?

What makes the nanny appealing to children? How would they deal with problems like getting a child to bathe, do homework, or handle separation anxiety? What discipline measures are appropriate to take? What discipline measures work best for the nanny?

With all of the essential questions out of the way by the time the nanny comes over for a personal interview, it is possible to focus on the benefits of having the nanny one-on-one. See how a conversation with the nanny goes, and let the nanny meet the children to get an idea of whether or not there is good chemistry. Ask the nanny to bring all personal and employment reference materials, as well as data to run a persona reference check, to the nanny interview. Should everything run smoothly, it’s time to offer a conditional offer of employment to your new nanny! With any luck everything will fall into place, and you will be enjoying the peace of mind of working with a top, trustworthy nanny in no time.

By: Steve Lampert

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