Hiring a nanny for your child: the first meeting

After preselection on the phone, allowing you to eliminate candidates who are incompatible with your research (she lives too far away, she does not want to care for an infant less than 1 yr old...), you have set a meeting with a nanny. This interview is probably the most important step in your search and the hiring process.

Prepare your questions, be available, and remember to introduce your child to her, you can observe how they behave with each other. It is normal to be nervous, the nanny is too!

During the interview, discussion and observation

The meeting is happening at your home. Sit the candidate comfortably, offer him a drink, just to lighten the mood and take your time. Throughout the discussion, using all the elements that you can, observe and understand, whether the "feeling" will work... or not.

If your child is there, pay attention to how the nanny speaks to him, smiles at him, takes him in to arms, and so on ... You can tell quite easily she is putting it on or if she is sincere in her approach.

While talking with your interviewee observe punctuality, presentation (does anyone really care for children with long fake nails and stilettos?), her speech and his level of English, her ability make herself understood, personality (pleasant? closed? enthusiastic? complainer?).

Ask for references

Unless this is her first job, ask her the contacts of previous employers. Even if she worked in another profession before. In the case of refusal, beware...

Questions to be addressed with the nanny

The answers to these questions will help you determine if the nanny is for you. Please prepare a questionnaire and add little notes, especially if you have to meet several nannies.

Introduce yourself and ask the nanny to do the same (her journey, passions, family ...), then address the following subjects with her:

About the everyday

• Meals: does she likes to cook? Will she  do the shopping with the child?
• Does she smoke?
• A typical day
• The television
• Where does she live?
• Does she prepare outings? On foot? By car?
• Does she have a possible replacement if she is absent?
• Which activities does she enjoying doing with children?
• What games does she prefer? (to check which ones she knows)
• Is she trained in any pedagogy?  (Montessori, other?)
  

Situational scenarios 

• What would you do if the child has a fever of 38 °? And 39 °?
• What do you do if a child breaks a plate? If he is upset?
• What do you do if the child is bored and it's raining?
• How do you check that the bath is at the right temperature?
• You give the bath a child, your phone rings and you think it's his mom, what are you doing?
• The child suddenly vomited, how does she react?

Finally the administrative questions

Elles permettront de préciser les différents aspects qui figureront sur le contrat:

• Hours
• Vacation
• Rates (hourly, overtime)

Emphasize  the exchange of questioning, take the time necessary to discuss any particular subjects (the bottles sterilization methods, etc.) and general (point of view on youth, on the news. ..). Above all, do not let go before asking her all of your questions! Make sure everything is clear for her too such as expectations and job duties.

We also highly recommend consulting Her Magazine's article Hiring A Nanny for further advice on what to discuss with a potential nanny candidate. 

In case of doubt, don't doubt it

Do not take the risk of starting your care with another person with whom you have one or two doubts from the start. Learn to distinguish the fear of leaving your child (natural) of a concern that is actually founded. Also trust your maternal and paternal instincts.

There are many candidates, it's tiring to set up all the interviews, but better to complete them to the fullest because then you save a lot of time and effort directly if you are able hire the right person.