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How to Effectively Interview a Nanny
by Jill Starishevsky
www.HowsMyNanny.com
EDITOR'S NOTE: Jill Starishevsky is an Assistant District Attorney in New York City, where she has prosecuted hundreds of sex offenders and dedicated her career to seeking justice for victims of child abuse and sex crimes.
Outside the courtroom, Jill's fondness for writing led her to create www.ThePoemLady.com, where she pens personalized pieces. Her mission to protect children, along with her penchant for poetry, inspired My Body Belongs to Me, a children's book intended to prevent child sexual abuse by teaching 3-8 year olds their bodies are private.
A mother of three, Jill is also founder of www.HowsMyNanny.com, a service that enables parents to purchase a license plate for their child's stroller so the public can report positive or negative nanny observations.
Please see: www.MyBodyBelongsToMe.com
Ms. Starishevsky appeared as a Special Guest on our "Stop Child Abuse Now" talk radio show in Sept, 2011. Here is the link to the "on-demand" version of her appearance: Stop Child Abuse Now - Episode 146 |
~Nanny Interview Process~ Care of HowsMyNanny.com
We suggest you have at least two initial contacts with the prospective nanny, via e-mail and phone, and then two or three in-person meetings before you hire a nanny. This will help ensure that the nanny/family relationship will be a good match.
Here are some suggestions:
*Via E-mail:
~ Ask a few basic questions to determine if you want to pursue a phone interview.
• Why are you interested in this job?
• What is your n anny background/childcare philosophy?
• How long have you been a nanny?
• Why do you wish to be a nanny or why did you choose to become a nanny?
• What qualities do you think are important in a good nanny?
• What appeals to you about taking care of children?
• What kind of training in childcare do you have?
• What do you enjoy doing most with children?
• Are you a member of any nanny associations?
• Do you have CPR certification, First Aid training? If so, when will it expire? How many times have you been certified?
• Do you drive? How is your driving record? Have you had any accidents/tickets? If so, please describe.
• What are you looking for in an employer?
• When are you available to start?
• Request a personal background statement and resume. |
* Phone Interview:
~Conduct a phone interview to make sure you click and that the nanny is qualified, experienced, knowledgeable and articulate. If you are comfortable with the responses, then you should invite her for an in-person interview.
• Ask the nanny to tell you about herself and her nanny background using several of the questions above.
• Make certain the nanny meets your general requirements and that the job you are offering is what she is looking for.
A. Starting date
B. Hours and days of emp loyment
C. Additional hours or flexibility needed (Will you need her to travel with you? Or provide overnight childcare?)
D. Mention if you have pets
E. Ask if she/he smokes
F. Explain job responsibilities
G. Explain the basic daily family schedule
H. Ask the nanny what salary range she/he requires
I. Discuss vacation time and holiday policy
J. Discuss whether cleaning is a task that is expected
K. Ask for references |
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*1 st In-Person Interview at Public Location:
After you have contacted the nanny's references, have an in-person interview. We suggest you have your initial meeting in a public place, such as a quiet coffee house or café, to protect your family's privacy and so that you don't have nannies coming in and out of your home. Moreover, many nannies prefer to meet just the parents out of the home first, since there are fewer distractions and the parents can give their full attention to interviewing.
GENERAL QUESTIONS:
What appeals to you about taking care of children?
Describe your last childcare experience.
How long and how often did you care for those children?
Why did that childcare arrangement end?
What was your worst experience in childcare and how did you resolve it?
What do you find to be the most challenging (or interesting) part of working with children?
Have you ever had to handle an emergency while caring for a child? If so, what happened and what action did you take?
If my child were choking on something, what would you do?
If my child fell down and cut herself, what would you do?
How do you handle temper tantrums? What type of things would you do to entertain an infant, toddler, pre-schooler, etc.?
What type of educational activities did you engage in when you last cared for a child(ren) in the age range of _________? (insert your child(ren) ages)
What indoor activities would you engage a child in the age range of ________?
What methods of limit setting or discipline do you find effective for the ages of ___________________?
Tell me how your choice of discipline methods has worked for you in the past.
How were you disciplined as a child?
What would you do differently with your own children?
How much TV viewing time and which shows do you feel are appropriate for children aged ________?
If my child were watching TV, what would you be doing? What TV shows do you enjoy watching?
Tell me about your childhood and your current relationship with your family.
What do you like to do in your free time?
How do you think your closest friends would describe you and your personality?
Ask to see originals of the nanny's driver's license and CPR/1st Aid cards/diplomas (a good nanny will be proud to show her accomplishments!) |
*2 nd In-Person Interview at Family's Home with Children:
If you are still interested in the nanny, invite her/him to your home to meet the children and see how everyone interacts.
DISCUSS CHILD(ren):
A. Ages and current developmental stages
B. Personalities
C. Special needs and requirements
D. Interests and activities |
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FAMILY PHILOSOPHIES AND RULES WITH REGARD TO CHILDCARE:
A. Discuss family values
B. Modes of discipline
C. Parenting style D. Basic household rules - (these are just a few to consider)....
*No smoking
*Must watch child at all times if in the bathtub/pool
*Must watch child at all times if outside
*No boyfriends or friends of the nanny are allowed to enter the home or interact with the children |
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*3 rd In-Person Interview – Working Interview at Family's Home:
If you are seriously considering hiring the nanny, conduct a “working interview”. Have the nanny come for a few hours or a day. If the nanny is going to be a live-in nanny, have her/him come for a weekend and be in charge of the children to see how the nanny performs. (Of course, she must be compensated for this time.) Let her/him get a feel for your home and the children's schedule. If the working interview goes well and you are ready to offer the position, ask to do a background check.
Here are two reputable nanny background-checking services:
Here is a service that does reference checking:
For families that have sourced their own nannies or babysitters, Crunch Care, a San Diego based company offers a service called "Candidate Crunching" which includes a behavioral based evaluation and interview, professional reference checks, an appropriate background check, assistance in obtaining appropriate certifications such as CPR and First Aid , and a detailed summary report with an analysis of their findings.
http://www.crunch-care.com |
*After You Hire Your Nanny– Following Up:
Be certain to follow up periodically. As your child grows from an infant to a toddler, his or her needs will change and you should be certain to confirm that your nanny is meeting those needs.
*Call home at different times during the day to check in. If your nanny often sounds frazzled or upset or if the children are usually crying- that should be a warning sign.
*Drop by at unexpected times.
*Have neighbors, friends, or relatives drop by unannounced while the nanny is working.
*Ask your child's teacher for their first-hand feedback regarding what they see while the child is with the nanny.
* Meet up with the nanny during the day for lunch or at your child's classes or have someone else you know have a playdate with them and then give you feedback on how they feel the nanny and your child interact.
*See how your child responds to the nanny- and how the nanny responds to your child. Are they happy to see each other? (Of course there can be certain separation anxiety issues, but on a whole, is the child comfortable with the nanny?)
*How does your home look at the end of the day? Is the nanny able and capable of completing her required duties each day? Does the nanny take care of your child's things or does she just throw them around?
*Communicate and let your nanny know she/he can talk openly with you at anytime.
*Have the nanny keep a daily detailed written child/nanny log, it does not have to be fancy, a notebook works well, with a run down of your child(ren)'s day. It will help greatly to open the lines of communication as well as help you keep an on-going record of your child's day. In addition, it will offer the opportunity to write notes back and forth to each other on various issues/topics/reminders.
*Have the NANNY video tape and take pictures.
A serious nanny will:
If a parent has a bad feeling regarding the care their child is receiving from the nanny, they need to act on that and go with their gut immediately. It is strongly suggested that families should only hire nannies with at least two full years of nanny experience and stellar references if their children are less than 4 years old.
*Other good signs to be certain your nanny and your child are a good match are:
~Is your child thriving under the nanny's care?
~Is the nanny enthusiastic to share new developments and milestones your child has reached?
~Does the nanny give you feedback on how to help your child? |
*Conclusion – Keep the Lines of Communication Open: These are the things that are going to give you peace of mind. Finally, for the ultimate confidence, there is HowsMyNanny.com. Through our site, parents receive a license plate for their stroller that enables the public to anonymously report good or bad nanny observations. Registered parents instantaneously receive an email alerting them to the confidential report. Reports can lead to bonuses for diligent nannies and constructive criticism for the negligent nanny.
Featured on Good Morning America, Fox News National and endorsed in the New York Daily News, HowsMyNanny.com has been hailed “an honest solution to a tough problem.” Check out our most recent endorsement at http://www.popularbabyproducts.com/howsmynannycom/ and feel free to contact us at info@HowsMyNanny.com if you have any questions. At HowsMyNanny.com we are working hard to keep children safe and open the lines of communication between parent and caregiver and believe this is a step in the right direction.
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These interview techniques and suggestions have been compiled from various sources as well as from personal experience. It is our hope that by employing these techniques, you will find a trusted and responsible caretaker for your child.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to dispense medical, legal or professional advice, nor does it prescribe any treatment or strategy that should be tested without the advice of a professional. Information presented in this article is for educational or entertainment purposes only. You are responsible for your own actions should you use any information found in this article.
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How to Effectively Interview a Nanny (MS Word doc for downlaod and printing)
Web site: www.HowsMyNanny.com
Please see: www.MyBodyBelongsToMe.com
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