Summer Nanny interview

[kimberlybb]

I’m interviewing a high school student this evening to potentially nanny for us this summer. Other than asking for references and any planned vacation/conflicts she may have, anything else I should make sure I ask? My kids have always been in a daycare setting so this is all new to me.

[mommyatty]

Is she CPR and first aid certified? If she’s going to take the kids swimming, does she know water safety? What kinds of activities does she do with the kids? If your kids have quirks (and what kid doesn’t?), is she comfortable with those quirks and can she deal with them?

[librarychica]

Apr 26, 2018 8:42:51 GMT -5 mommyatty said:

Is she CPR and first aid certified? If she’s going to take the kids swimming, does she know water safety? What kinds of activities does she do with the kids? If your kids have quirks (and what kid doesn’t?), is she comfortable with those quirks and can she deal with them?

All of this. Plus I like to run a few likely discipline scenarios by the candidate.

[186momx]

I would ask what idea she has to entertain the kids all day every day.

Last year my sitters didn't like doing more than one day in a row because they couldn't come up with stuff to keep DD entertained. DD wasn't down with 24/7 gymnastics.

[2chatter]

I ask if they are down with: swimming, baking, tie dye, painting, going to the playground when it’s 90 degrees, riding bikes/scooters, facilitating play dates, walking to drop kids at play dates, walking in the creek, if they have any special skills or play any sports they would like to share with the kids and if they have any friends/siblings who would be interested in being their backup for travel/sickness - this has way paid off in that a nanny who cancels provides me with a sub I have met in advance. And I don’t scramble at all.

[waverly]

Will she be driving? I would ask about her record, hopefully she is honest, but think you could ask your car insurance company to check her record if you were adding her to your insurance? Maybe?

I might ask her what a day in the life would be with her as the nanny? How does she envision the day going? Of course ask the standard reliability, flexibility questions. Give her some problems and ask her how she solved them in the past or how she would solve them. Since the job market has been so slim with lesser quality applicants, you want to be very clear as to expectations.

If I were to interview again, I would post it with the exact hours, and then also do a hand out at the job interview with facts about the job with the schedule very clearly on there and the salary as well, since that was an issue 2 applicants had (despite me telling them in writing and verbally at least 3 times and reviewing it in person twice).

[kimberlybb]

Thanks for all the suggestions! The interview went well but she is also meeting with a few other families so we will see.