So you’ve vetted your list of nanny applicants, picked your favourites, and scheduled the interviews. Now what? Make a list of questions to make sure you ask all the right ones and find the best nanny for your family.
You want the conversation to flow naturally, but having some questions ready can help you figure out what kind of nanny each one is and how much experience they have. You also need concrete answers regarding important aspects of the position. The in-person interview is often the last step in the hiring process, so be thorough. To make the interview easier, you can use this list of sample interview questions.
Start any interview by getting to know the candidate. As a basic sign, make sure that the conversation is going well and that they are answering your questions correctly. You don’t want one-word responses, but you also don’t need their entire life story.
Expand the discussion here if you want, but the answers to these questions should be fairly straightforward.
Make sure you dive into what training and qualifications make your potential nanny suited for the job. Try asking:
You can add questions that are specific to your kids’ needs, like if they speak a second language or have a medical condition.
Now it’s time to talk about the candidate’s past jobs. Before making an offer, you should also call their professional references. Even if the families they’ve worked with before are very different from yours, you can still get a sense of how their experience fits with yours by asking:
They may also ask more about your family at this point to see if you meet their needs. If they are serious about the position, expect to answer a lot of questions.
Finding and hiring the perfect nanny for your family is no easy task. As a parent you want to make sure you find someone you can trust to properly care for your children and be a positive role model. The key to finding that special someone lies in asking the right questions during the interview process.
I’ve used Care.com to find nannies for my own family over the years, and I’ve learned that you need to cover all your bases during the interview. There are basic questions to get background information, questions about experience and training, and more in-depth questions about caregiving styles and philosophies. It can feel overwhelming preparing a list of questions for the big interview!
That’s why I’ve put together this comprehensive guide to help you ensure you ask the right nanny interview questions on Care.com. Read on for tips sample questions, and topics to avoid.
Why the Nanny Interview Questions Matter
The interview is your chance to truly get to know your applicants beyond what’s in their profile. Of course you want to see if they have the necessary experience, training, and availability. But you also need to delve deeper to understand their approach to childcare and make sure it fits with your family.
Asking the right questions helps you learn things like:
- How do they handle discipline and challenging situations?
- What activities and learning approaches do they prefer?
- Are they willing to follow specific routines and rules?
- Can they provide specialized care if needed?
You want to get a good sense of their personality and childcare philosophies. And the interview questions are your chance to explain your own expectations and requirements to see if they’re comfortable with them.
The right nanny will likely ask you lots of questions too! A good interview should feel like a two-way conversation, with both sides assessing fit.
Start with the Basics
Kicking off the interview by learning about candidates’ backgrounds lays the foundation. Try starting with these types of basic questions:
- How long have you been a nanny or provided childcare?
- What ages have you cared for?
- What do you enjoy most about being a nanny?
- Why did you leave your last position?
- Can you tell me about your education background?
Get a sense of their experience, what ages they prefer, and why they chose this career. Look for warm, thoughtful answers as opposed to short, cold responses.
Confirm Training and Qualifications
One major advantage of finding nannies through Care.com is that you can easily search profiles for key credentials. But you still need to verify training and qualifications during the interview. Important questions include:
- Are you CPR and first aid certified?
- What other relevant training or certifications do you have?
- Are there any courses or training you’d be interested in if we requested it?
- What languages do you speak fluently?
Also ask about any experience with special needs, newborns, multiples, and so on if applicable to your situation. The right training and skills are must-haves for certain families.
Learn About Previous Nanny Jobs
Understanding a candidate’s recent positions will tell you a lot about what to expect if you hire them. Ask questions like:
- What were your responsibilities in your last nanny job? Walk me through a typical day.
- What did you enjoy most about your last position? Anything you disliked?
- Why did you leave your last job?
- What’s the longest you stayed with a family? Why were they a good fit?
- Have you ever experienced conflicts or challenges with a family? How did you handle it?
Listen for thoughtful responses. Beware of badmouthing previous employers. And make sure they seem interested in a long-term commitment.
Clearly Explain Your Expectations
Now it’s your turn to share details about the role to see if your needs line up with the nanny’s. Be clear and specific about:
- Schedule, hours, flexibility required
- Responsibilities like cooking, driving, errands
- Number and ages of kids, pets in household
- Your parenting style and rules
- Any specialized or medical needs
Pay close attention to how receptive they seem to your requirements. A good fit means you’re both on the same page.
Learn Their Caregiving Approach
Diving into caregiving style and philosophies is so important. Ask things like:
- What’s your discipline style? Where do you think the nanny role ends and parental decisions begin?
- How would you handle a difficult behavioral or medical situation?
- What activities, learning approaches do you prefer? How much structure versus free play?
- How do you like to communicate with parents? How often?
- What makes you passionate about childcare?
Look for detailed examples that align with your priorities, not just generic responses. You want someone thoughtful who seems excited to care for your kids!
Leave Time for Lots of Questions
A successful interview allows time for the candidate to ask you questions too. They’ll likely want to learn more about things like:
- Your kids’ personalities, interests, schedules
- What you’re looking for in a nanny
- Expectations for communication, responsibilities
- Benefits like paid time off
The right nanny will come prepared with smart questions. Be ready to answer openly and honestly.
Avoid Illegal Interview Topics
As an employer, you need to follow anti-discrimination laws. Steer clear of asking about things like:
- Age
- Race
- Religion
- Marital or family status
- Disabilities
- Health conditions
- Sexual orientation
The interview should focus on qualifications, experience, and caregiving fit – nothing more.
Bring the Kids Into the Interview
If I really like a candidate based on our initial interview, the next step is introducing them to the kids. See how the nanny interacts and engages with them. And get your kids’ impressions afterward!
Just a quick 20-30 minute introductory meeting can seal the deal if the match seems great. Save this step for your top choice or two.
Trust Your Instincts
Even if a nanny looks perfect “on paper,” trust your gut. You’ll spend lots of time around this person and entrust them with your most valuable treasures – your children! The right match leaves you feeling comfortable, confident and reassured.
Don’t feel pressured to hire someone you don’t completely trust. Keep interviewing until you find that special person.
Take the Next Steps after a Successful Interview
Once you meet a promising candidate:
- Contact references to help confirm a good fit.
- Run any necessary background checks.
- Clarify details like schedule, pay, responsibilities.
- Have a trial period to further evaluate compatibility.
Then you can confidently offer them the job!
Sample Nanny Interview Questions to Ask on Care.com
Here’s a handy checklist of nanny interview questions to guide your process:
Basic background
- How long have you been a nanny? What other childcare experience do you have?
- What ages have you cared for? What’s your favorite age?
- Why did you decide to become a nanny?
- Tell me about your education.
Training/qualifications
- Are you CPR and first aid certified?
- What other relevant training or certifications do you have?
- What languages do you speak fluently?
Previous experience
- Tell me about your last nanny job. What were your duties?
- What did you like most and least about your last position?
- Why did you leave your last job?
- What’s the longest you stayed with a family? Why were you a good fit?
Job requirements
- Does my typical schedule and flexibility requirements fit with what you’re looking for?
- Are you comfortable with all responsibilities I outlined like cooking, transportation, etc?
- Have you cared for children similar to mine (ages, gender, personalities)?
Caregiving approach
- How would you handle discipline and challenging behavioral situations?
- What activities and approaches do you prefer? What does a typical day look like?
- How do you like to communicate with parents? How often?
- What makes you most excited and passionate about childcare?
Questions from nanny
- Make time for the candidate to ask questions about your family, needs and expectations.
Remember to get a mix of basic background, logistics, caregiving styles, and scenarios. Allow time for open discussion and lots of questions. Trust your instincts too!
Asking thoughtful and thorough questions is the key to finding that ideal caregiver your kids will love. With the right nanny, you gain peace of mind knowing your children are safe and happy in their care while you tackle the other demands of work and life.
Wishing you the best of luck in your nanny search! Trust the process – and Care.com’s services – to connect your
Questions not to ask
When you ask questions during a formal hiring process, you have to follow the law and be fair to everyone. When hiring a nanny, it’s very important that you don’t ask about traits or characteristics like the ones below.
- Age
- Race/ethnic background
- Religious views
- Sexual orientation
- Marital status or plans to become pregnant
- Health or any disabilities
Things like these can’t be used as good reasons not to hire the candidate, even if they come up during the interview.
You’ll find the best nanny soon now that you know what questions to ask them.
All about the position
You can go into more detail about the job description and your needs now that you know this nanny is a good fit. This could involve discussing the daily schedule, days off, or benefits that weren’t mentioned before.
You should also ask questions to see how well your position requirements mesh with their expectations. Ask questions like:
- How flexible is your schedule? Would you be able to help us if we need you to come in early or stay late sometimes?
- Are you willing to cook, do light housework, take care of pets, or do something else? If these tasks are part of the job, will your salary go up?
- Play sports, music instruments, have any hobbies, or do [insert other activity that is important to your family]?
- Are there tasks or responsibilities that you don’t want to or can’t do?
- Are you okay with the extra physical work that comes with the job?
You should also always be upfront about your family’s unique requirements, including cultural, religious, and dietary considerations. You can ask about their experience or ability to work with:
- A strict diet (food allergies, vegetarian, or kosher diets, etc.).
- Your religious or cultural practices.
- Special needs (autism, ADHD, or other conditions).
- Needs for medicine (like insulin, epilepsy emergency medicine, inhalers, or regular medicine for kids who are sick)
- Your family, school, or work situations (like a divorce, a recent move, a child who needs help at school, or a busy work schedule), ).
Pay attention to how the nannies answer these questions; some requirements may turn away some applicants right away. If you feel they’re not willing to meet your job requirements, you can always politely end the interview.
If the candidate meets your job requirements, you can discuss the most important part: meeting the kids. Many families choose not to have their kids there for the first part of the interview, so this part can be very important for deciding whether to make that important introduction.
You’ll know it’s time to introduce them to the kids if you like their answers to these questions:
- What do you like best about being a nanny?
- What do you find most challenging?
- What was the worst day you’ve ever had as a nanny, and how did you deal with it?
- What do you think works best for kids? Do you like lots or few rules in your day?
- You work with parents to help them raise their kids. What do you think works best? How would you handle a medical, behavioral, educational, or other situation with the kids? How would you talk about it with me?
- What do you think is the best way to discipline a child? What should the nanny do?
Did you enjoy their answers? Now it’s time to bring in the kids (or set up a time to meet them). What did you think of the interview? If not, talk to the next candidate. You will find someone you can trust in the end, so don’t settle.
Tell Me About Yourself – A Good Answer to This Nanny Interview Question
FAQ
What are the duties of a care com nanny?
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Babysitters
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Nannies
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Certification
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CPR and first aid, basic childcare training and/or experience
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CPR and first aid, advanced childcare training and/or years of experience
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Duties besides childcare
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As agreed upon
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Often includes meal prep, housework, sometimes driving and errands
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How to answer why you want to be a nanny?
What questions do nanny interviewers ask?
Related: “Tell Me About Your Work Experience” (With Example Answers) In-depth nanny interview questions may include specific questions about your work experience. Interviewers may also ask you hypothetical questions about how you think you may respond to certain situations.
Should you bring your a-game to a nanny job interview?
It goes without saying that, when you score an interview for a nanny job, you want to bring your A-game. However, even though you’re, technically speaking, the one in the hot seat, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t come armed with a list of questions of your own. You do, after all, want to know what you’re potentially getting into.
How do you prepare for a nanny job interview?
When you’re interviewing for a nanny job, the hiring manager is likely to ask you questions about your relevant skills and personality traits. To make a good impression on your interviewer, it’s a good idea to prepare your answers in advance.
What does a Good Nanny candidate look like?
A good Nanny candidate is someone who combines a deep understanding of child development with a nurturing and patient demeanor. They should be adaptable, proactive, and possess strong communication skills.
