The Nanny Interview - Getting it Right

I have seen many a nanny, who is highly experienced with  much to offer a family, lose an opportunity to someone with less experience just because of the way they performed during the face to face interview with the family. Generally the objections are mild, such as the nanny being shy or not asking any questions but occasionally I hear some real bloopers like the time the nanny candidate chewed gum all the way through the interview!

Of course, when you work with a nanny agency  there are a lot more hurdles to cross because you need to make a good impression on both the agency and the family. If you really want to land the perfect nanny position you can drastically improve your chances if you follow a few simple rules:

Rule One - Communicate

Whether you are using an agency or applying directly to the family your first line of communication with either be a phone call, email or application form. This is your first opportunity to capture the attention of the person making the hiring decision. It is also the most important. First impressions really do count.

Out of every ten emails I receive from candidates approximately 7-8 of them have spelling and grammatical errors. Many emails are written like a text message i.e. "hello, my name is jo and i was wondering if u r still looking for a nanny." Its no surprise that these emails are deleted without further consideration. Part of a nanny's responsibility, if she is caring for pre-schoolers might be to teach basic writing and reading skills!

Be sure to follow up your application with a phone call if possible or a second email. Nanny agencies can receive upwards of 200 applications a week and you need to make sure yours stands out. Don't take it personally if the agency or family doesn't return your call but whatever you do don't give up. 

Rule Two - Look like you want the job
You are not applying for a position working in an office and therefore you don't need to necessarily wear a suit but you do need to look smart and understated. Remember, as a nanny you may be required to step in for the parents at school events and the parents will want to see that you are able to represent the family in a strong light.

Rule Three - Make an impression
The first 30 seconds are the most important? Yes definitely! When you arrive for your interview be sure to get there on time, smile, make eye contact and give a firm handshake. Be sure to acknowledge everyone in the room, especially the children.

Rule Four - Nail the interview!
The family will have lots of questions to ask you. Liston carefully and only answer the questions they ask avoiding going off track onto other subjects. Have a list of questions of  your own, ideally with regards to the children and the responsibilities of the job. If the children are present, its okay to play and interact with them - the parents will want to see this.

Rule Five - Finish on a good note
Before leaving, let the family know if you think the job is an ideal fit for you and ask if they would like to set up a time for you to visit again and have more interaction time with the children. Always, always, always follow up with a thank you email reiterating your interest.

Good luck out there. If you follow these simple steps you will dramatically increase your chances of nailing the perfect nanny job.

After school

When I found out I was pregnant with triplets (boys no less) I spent many a happy hour imagining my idyllic future with them. I always had this particularly vision of the three of them getting off the school bus, running into my arms, delighted to be home. Then we would all sit down around a table, have a (healthy and nutritious) snack and play a lovely game of Candyland.

Hmmmm.... not quite.

In reality, my children are exhausted when they get off the bus and I even got that part wrong because I drive them to and from school now. They don't like the bus anymore and they are only in Kindergarten! The healthy snack has been replaced with dinner because by the time we get home its 4:20 and they are hungry, irritable and just want to plop in front of the TV and watch cartoons.

I've come to the sad conclusion that school is a whole new business for our youngest generation. A very serious business. By the end of Kindergarten our children are now expected to be able to read and write and sit quietly. All day. And, they better be sure to leave gaps between their words, write in a straight line and know how to spell at least 30 words.

In my opinion, children need more of a balance between academic work and play time. After all, we know that children who are allowed to express themselves through imaginative play do better in the long run and boys especially need plenty of exercise, preferably outdoors if they are going to learn anything (I call it brain therapy).

So anyway, back to the topic of after school, my advice is to allow your children some downtime when they get home. Let them choose what they want to do and if that means watching TV for forty minutes then so be it. Encourage them to play outside or take them to a local park but try not to over schedule them with after-school activities. They are on task all day long so give them what they really need when they get home...their freedom (and it doesn't cost a penny!).