Ram's Blog: Find a Nanny - How to Interview a Nanny

To find a nanny that you trust AND like is a difficult task, and many people are disappointed with their decisions. They end up going through numerous nannies, which is hard on both the parents and the children. The best way to avoid all of the hassle and the shattered expectations is to ask your nanny prospects these seven key questions. What they say is sometimes as revealing as what they don't say. Here are the seven questions to ask when you are performing a nanny search:

1. Do you have previous experience?
This must be the first question. Experience does matter. No matter how eager, confident and terrific a young person may be, the reality of taking care of babies, infants, toddlers on up is no picnic, especially when it is a job. Moms and Dads know that the difficulty of raising a child is made up for in countless ways by the amazing, unpredictable, and sweet actions of sons and daughters when they are just learning about the world. Experienced nannies also know how wonderful it can be to care for children, to teach them, and to play a large role in taking care of them. But what about the applicant that has not cared for a child full-time. There are many young people who have a lot of experience babysitting, but it is more of a weekend and evening type of experience. Sometimes they will be in for a rude awakening when they witness the spit-ups, the tantrums, the diaper changing or the strong-willed children that like to test all boundaries.

To the experienced nanny, this is literally "child's play". There are no surprises to a nanny with a couple of years under her belt.

2. Do you live close by?
A nanny that lives nearby can better manage her life around your lives. Sometimes there will be a candidate that is an hour and a half away but is perfect in all respects. In that case, hire her and be glad that you have found what you are looking for! But having your nanny close by is always a plus. Why? Well, on occasion, when her life throws her for a loop and she must be late, it is more convenient if she is closer to you. In addition, if she is local she'll be more familiar with the area. This benefits you most importantly in the event of an emergency, but also in small ways too, such as when you need to find a cake, or a grocery store, or a pharmacy.

3. Do you have references?
References are very important. An experienced nanny that doesn't have references is a reason to ask more questions. Think about it: If you have a nanny that is wonderful, and you move or your kids grow up to the age where they no longer need a nanny, you would of course give that nanny an excellent reference, correct? Of course!

4. Will you provide your ID and fingerprints for a background check?
Background checks are important as well. Even with references, it should still be one of the things on your nanny interview checklist. When you go through nanny classifieds, or do a nanny search, you will be hiring somebody who will be helping you take care of those who are dearest to you. They should have no hesitations about providing ID, fingerprints, and other information for a background check. If they are hesitant, the question must be asked - what are they trying to hide? Many nanny search services provide background checks as part of their service, and this is recommended.

5. Do you have a driver's license and a car?
Many nannies will not have a car. That is a reality, but if they have a driver's license and you feel comfortable with them driving your car, then there is some benefit in their ability to take your child or children to the park, the market, parties, classes, etc. Some nannies will not have a driver's license or a car. In this case, you should consider how close you are to home when your nanny is watching the children. In the event of an emergency, you want to know that somebody is available to help get your child the emergency care that they need. Perhaps you have a friend or neighbor that can provide that extra support, your local medical facilities are nearby.

6. What was the best thing about your previous job?
This question and the one that follows it seem to be "conversational" types of questions, however they can be the most important questions that you ask when you want to find a nanny. Sometimes the innocent questions are the ones that get to the truth about how somebody feels about their chosen occupation. People feel free to be themselves when they are asked a question that is more personal, subjective, and conversational. When hiring a nanny, somebody who will be in your home, and spending as much time with you as your significant other in some cases, every question is worthwhile to ask.

So, when you ask a nanny what the best thing about their previous job was, she will hopefully open up about her previous employer, and the way that she was treated. Does she struggle to thing of something good? This is not necessarily bad - perhaps she worked for somebody very difficult, and the job was thankless. This question is just the appetizer though, because the next question is the real big one...

7. What was the worst thing about your previous job?
Everybody has had bad jobs. It is inevitable. There are some people though, that have bad attitudes that they bring with them from job to job. They can be experienced, have degrees, and are as qualified as they come, but they are unflinchingly negative. If you ask a number of nannies this question (the worst thing about your previous job), many might say something benign, such as that it was a long commute, or that there were no parks nearby. But some might see the opportunity to launch into a tirade against their previous employer. In this case, just listen and learn. Perhaps you will be entirely on the nanny's side, and think that they have been through a terrible ordeal. Perhaps you will think the opposite, that the nanny's expectations of the job that you are offering are way too high, and that you are not going to be a good match. This question is often the telltale one, though, and it can help you find out a great deal about the person that is going to become a very big part of your daily life!
One final comment for this article: sometimes experienced nannies (much like grandmothers) are unwilling to change their style of caregiving, believing that what they are used to doing is the best way to do things. Because of this, if there are certain things that you require of a nanny, it is best to put them on the table up front.
Finding a nanny can be hard, but if you ask your potential nannies the above questions, it can take some of the stress out of the process. The relationship between a family and a nanny can be a wonderful and long-lasting relationship for both you and your children. I wish you the best of luck, and hope you have found this article informative!

If you would like to learn more about how to find a nanny, visit: http://www.getananny.net
© 2010 Jon Lake.

Jon Lake is the owner of the nanny search resource, http://www.getananny.net

With twin two year olds, he is rapidly becoming more knowledgeable about real life.

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