Once Happy Nest gives your profile to the family they may want to see you for an interview. So, you have been invited to have a meeting with them but the thought is daunting and you’re not sure what to ask; we are here to help. Have a read of some tips and advice for your exciting trip out to see your potential future employer.
Plan your route: take a copy of the address and phone numbers so you have all the information to hand. Also take a physical map as backup from your sat-nav as we have had instances where devices have failed on route and the nanny missed their interview.
Charge your phone and your chargers and turn it off/mute it. If you’re using public transport download relevant apps to buy tickets and track your journey, rather than solely relying on the internet (Google, Safari) app. It’s quicker this way and may send you important notifications. It’s more user-friendly and less stress = happy nanny!
Your portfolio: your documents will need to be shown to the parents and we urge you to put them together in a neat folder and present them professionally. A4 document wallets are more travel-friendly than ring binders and offer individual sections still rather than a zip bag. In the folder please include your:
ID (passport)
your National Insurance Number
any certificates of training
any written references you have
anything else you feel will be of interest to the parents
This is a great way to fill in some time during the interview, by offering your folder to the parents and talking them through it (and good practice for show and tell/story time!).
Smart appearance: it goes without saying, look and dress confidently.
The parents may ask you questions such as why did you choose childcare as a career? What are the qualities of a good nanny? What do you enjoy most/least about being a nanny? They may want to find out more about you as a person (personal life, interests) and also find out about how you manage emergency situations, such as your key first aid knowledge. This is where they may touch on any allergies the family may have. Families may also touch on the suitable and relevant developmental, educational, social and play activities for the children. However it may be hard for the parents to think about what to ask during the conversation so help them out with giving specific details in your answers. No matter what you are asked always be truthful, honest and try to avoid responding with just a yes or no. Happy Nest advises you to prepare some questions to ask the parents that demonstrate your knowledge and enthusiasm.
The interview is a meeting for both of you, help parents out by filling any gaps in conversation about family life and the duties they expect of a nanny. It also shows you are personable, easy to get on with and very keen for the position. Here is some suggested questions that might help:
What are the children’s interests?
How do you want your child/children to develop?
What activities do they enjoy doing?
If they have never had a nanny before reassure them and sell yourself.
Remain professional but have fun and shine bright! We clearly have the confidence in you being a perfect match, now it’s time to prove it.
We look forward to hearing all about your time!
