Interviewing a Caregiver

Selena Fass, Owner of Absolute Best Care, helps with questions to ask when interviewing a caregiver.

Interviewing a caregiver for your children can be both challenging and exhausting. While you are seeking a candidate who is warm, loving, nurturing, and experienced, it is a daunting task to weed through candidates to find the best care for your children.

The first step in interviewing may involve a phone screening. While you may not feel you can properly evaluate a candidate over the phone, you’d be surprised how many candidates may be eliminated through this process.

Phone screening tips

• Does the candidate speak English clearly? Remember, they will help teach your children how to read and write.
• Does the candidate have experience with children of similar ages to your children?
• Are they legally able to work in the United States?
• How long did they work with their last employer?
• Why did their last job end?

The second step in interviewing will be arranging a face-to-face interview with the candidate. The face-to-face interview should be in your own home with the family present. You will want to show the candidate the environment they’d be working in, but more importantly, you want to see how they interact with your children.

Make the applicant feel comfortable. Keep the conversation relaxed and let the candidate do most of the talking. Keep your questions open-ended. Let your child spend some time with the candidate and look for the following:

• Body language and eye contact
• How does this nanny act with your children?
• How does your child respond to this individual (since it is the first time your child will meet this person, some hesitation is natural)
• How does this person handle your infant?

The types of questions to ask a candidate may vary based upon the age of your children. Here are some basic interview questions:

Nanny: Child Care Related

• How many years have you been a Nanny?
• What makes you a good Nanny?
• How long are you looking to stay in this job?
• Please describe your last job in detail?
• Why did you leave your last position?
• What are your strong points when working with children?
• How would you help my child learn?
• How do you soothe a crying baby who is not hungry or wet?
• How do you potty train a toddler?
• How would you react to temper tantrums?
• What would you do if a child kicks or bites you?
• Describe your favorite rainy day activities for toddlers?
• What indoor and outdoor activities do you do with children?
• What TV viewing habits are appropriate for a preschooler?
• What form of discipline do you use with preschoolers?
• How do you make bath time fun?
• Have you ever handled an emergency situation? How would you handle an emergency situation?
• What would you do if a child was sick with a fever?
• Have you taken any specialized training courses in child care?
• What characteristics are you looking for in a family?

Lifestyle Related

• Do you have any children of your own?
• If yes, how old are your children?
• What type of childcare do you have in place while you are working?
• Do you have backup care if your children are sick?
• Is your family supportive of your decision to work as a nanny (live-in)?
• Do you drive? Have your own car?
• Do you swim well enough to supervise children?
• Do you cook? Would you prepare meals for the child? For the family?
• Do you have a special diet of any kind?
• Describe your health.
• What are your hobbies and interests?
• How would your last employer describe you?

Babysitter: Child Care Related

• Do you have any younger brothers/sisters or family members that you babysit for? What are there ages?
• Have you had experience taking care of other children? What were their ages?
• What is your level of education? If college, what types of courses are you taking/did you take?
• What are your hobbies? What do you do in your spare time?
• Why do you like babysitting? What makes you a good babysitter?
• What types of activities do you engage the children with?
• How would you handle a sibling rivalry?
• Have you ever handled an emergency situation? Do you know what to do in case of an emergency?
• Do you smoke?
• Do you swim?
• Have you taken any specialized courses in childcare (babysitter training, CPR, first aide)?

Try to avoid salary discussions during the face-to-face interview. An interview should be a time for you to learn if the candidate is the best match for your family. Salary discussions can ruin an interview. If you are not interested in the candidate, then it doesn’t matter. If you are interested, more often than not, the salary can be worked out between both parties.

Also, have the candidate provide you with some basic information. Either give them an application, or have them write their information including name, address, phone numbers, and references. While this information is necessary and relevant, it will also give you an indication of their reading and writing abilities.

The final step of the interview process is the hiring. Make sure both parents and children agree on final choice. Call references to verify the information they provided to you was accurate. Negotiate a salary that is commensurate to the job based on responsibilities, number of children, hours, and experience of the caregiver.  Remember, while you are interviewing a nanny or babysitter for your family, the caregiver is interviewing YOU. They will evaluate your children, parenting style, salary, and work environment.  Finally, a good nanny does not remain unemployed, so act fast if you find the right fit for your family. Good luck!

Please keep in mind these are some basic tips for interviewing a caregiver, and does not take the place of a qualified Agency who can specifically match your needs to a caregiver as well as properly screen all candidates through applications, face-to-face interviews, in-depth reference checks, and background searches.

Absolute Best Care is the leading Nanny Agency specializing in placing Nannies, Baby Nurses, Housekeepers and Babysitters. They provide Live-in, Live-out, Full-time and Part-time caregivers and are dedicated to matching families with the most-qualified Care Specialists. To ensure high-quality caregivers are matched with the right families, Absolute Best Care has developed a rigorous screening process for all Care Specialists and presents only experienced care specialists with solid references to all of our clients.  With offices in Syosset and East Hampton, they can be reached at 516.802.3780 or online at www.absolutebestcare.com.