Questions Nannies Should Ask During the Family Interview

Interviewing for a job can be a nerve-wracking and overwhelming experience. You’re focused on how to make the best impression on the family, how to

sell yourself to the parents, and how to standout over all the other candidates they’ve interviewed. However, it’s important to remember that you’re interviewing them too. The nanny/family match is a two way street and it’s just as important that the family meet your needs as it is that you meet theirs. Here are 5 questions you should ask during the family interview to make sure it’s a good match for both of you. What is your parenting philosophy? That’s a big question that will lead to a detailed discussion about how they raise their children. There are lots of things you should talk about around this issue. Do they tend to be more lenient or strict? Do they set clear expectations with their child? What happens when those expectations aren’t met? How do they feel about giving children choices? What’s their communication style with their children? What’s their biggest parenting challenge? Different ideas on how discipline issues should be handled is one of the biggest issues that come up between nannies and parents, so knowing you’re both on the same page is key to ending up in the right job. How do you see the role of

the nanny? How an employer views your role in the household is an important part of a good nanny/family match. Their ideas should line up pretty closely with your ideas to avoid any ongoing power struggles or frustration. Do your potential employers see their nanny as simply an employee or more like a member of the family? When faced with a discipline issue, do they see her as part of the decision-making team or do they make the decisions themselves and then expect her to carry out their wishes? Do they back the nanny up when she imposes a punishment or lets a child experience the natural consequence of his actions? How much freedom does the nanny have to make decisions about her day? Some nannies work best when they have complete control over the details of their day. They like to plan their own outings and activities, decide when they’ll do job related tasks like laundry or sorting through the play room, and create an environment that supports their ideas around what’s important. Other nannies are fine with their employers planning activities for them, giving instructions and time tables for completing tasks, and detailing what type of environment the nanny should create each day. There’s not a right or wrong approach to this issue. However, it is important that both the nanny and parents agree on one approach. Otherwise, both sides will be in constant conflict over who’s in charge. How much flexibility do you need? Some families don’t veer from the stated job description. Their needs don’t change and the nanny can count on doing only what was originally asked of her. Other families need more flexibility. They have a general schedule, but often need late nights or weekend babysitting. They have a working list of things the nanny is responsible for, but also need her to take on other tasks occasionally. They don’t expect the nanny to take over other jobs, like housekeeper or cook, but they do want someone who’s willing to pitch in when needed. Make sure that you’re comfortable with the amount of flexibility the family wants. It’s easy to get overwhelmed and frustrated when you feel the family keeps asking you to do things that aren’t part of what you agreed to when you were hired. What issues did you have with your previous nanny and how did you handle them? The family may have loved their previous nanny, but no relationship is perfect. By delving into what issues came up in their relationship and how the family handled those problems, you can gain valuable information about the parents’ employer and communication

styles. If the family had a troubled relationship with their last nanny, this question can be a springboard for talking about the things that they want to see happen differently in their next nanny relationship. If the family’s communication style was less than effective with their last nanny, this is a great opportunity to explore their willingness to tackle issues in a new way moving forward. By asking the right questions during the family interview, you can gather the information you need to make the best decision.

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