Interview like a Pro

Interviewing potential nanny or babysitter candidates is a critical step in the hiring process. When my husband and I interviewed potential nannies, we chose to conduct preliminary phone interviews to narrow down our list of candidates followed by interviews at our home to introduce the candidates to the entire family and allow them to get a better sense of their possible future work environment. We finally conducted a working interview where I spent several hours with our new nanny and my son at home to help her settle in and become familiar with the new environment. The working interview also allowed me to witness my new nanny’s interaction with my son and made me feel more at ease when I left on my first day back to work. Here are some tips from my personal nanny interviewing experience that I’d like to share with you.

When you’re ready to begin interviewing potential nannies and/or babysitters, you should prepare yourself by reviewing your list of interview questions that will guide your discussion. During the interview, take ample time to take notes and ask follow up questions – you will find yourself going back to your notes to compare candidates and make your final hiring decision later on.

Before you setup in-person interviews with the nannies and/or babysitters on your list, I recommend you schedule short phone interviews to get a better feel for the candidates’ personalities and ask some preliminary screening questions including possible start date, experience, exact availability, salary expectations, job preferences such as ages and number of children, transportation, and other particulars of your job.

The next step is to set-up in-person interviews with candidates that meet your criteria and made a good first impression during your phone interview. Usually, in-person interviews last about 30 minutes, but 1 hour is not too long. There are several ways in which you can conduct the in-person interview, but the three most common are:

1. In-person interview at your home
2. In-person interview in a neutral / public place
3. A working interview

Each approach has its benefits and drawbacks. Scheduling the interview at your home has the advantage of being able to familiarize the candidate with their possible work environment, introduce them to your family, and provides for a quieter atmosphere. Some people prefer to conduct the in-person interview in a more neutral location such as the local library, café, or restaurant. This approach is preferable if you are hesitant to bring a stranger into your home for the first interview and may allow the candidate to be more relaxed and open given the casual nature of the meeting. The working interview often provides the greatest insight into a candidate’s suitability for your job, but also requires more time and effort on your part. During a working interview, the nanny or babysitter spends several hours with you and your child(ren) at your home where you can evaluate his/her interaction with your family first hand. The candidate in turn has the opportunity to get to know you and your family, your home, and expectations. Many times, the working interview represents a third meeting after the phone interview and the in-person interview.

Make sure you assess all the details of the meeting and interaction including the candidate’s timeliness, appearance, and preparedness. At the meeting you should review the details of your job description, requirements, and both parties’ expectations. Also don’t forget to thoroughly explore what the nanny or babysitter is looking for in a job, any existing limitations (time, health, transportation, etc) and special considerations. You may also want to ask the nanny or babysitter about age, marital status, and cultural background if these factors are important to you. You are allowed to ask these types of questions since you are hiring a household employee. Many families pay particular attention to a candidate’s educational background and experience. There is no doubt that this factor plays a critical role in your selection process, but education is not necessarily a predictor of how well the nanny or babysitter will fit into your family and how loving and nurturing he/she will be with your child(ren).

Your final selection will depend on many factors, but at the end of the day I recommend to:

FOLLOW YOUR INTUITION to hire the best nanny or babysitter for your family.