When it comes to the nanny interview, you will want to be thorough. Let no questions go unanswered. What follows are some questions to consider asking of the prospective candidates on your shortlist as you proceed through the final cuts and nanny selection process.

Questions and Statements to Get Nanny Talking:

1. Will you tell us a little bit about your experience working with children?
2. Tell me about any training or education you possess in the field of childcare…
3. What ages of children do you typically care for? Do you have a favorite age?
4. How many children are you comfortable caring for?
5. If our children became ill, how would you handle that situation?
6. Tell us about any experience have assisting children with homework…
7. Tell us about your experience preparing meals and snacks for children…
8. What sort of childcare tasks are you used to performing?
9. Why are you interested in working with children?
10. Do you have an established childcare philosophy on discipline?
11. What sort of childcare tasks are you accustomed to?
12. Tell us about your experience with pets…do you like animals?
13. Do you feel you are more of a morning person or a night person and why?
14. What sort of experience do you have navigating with children in the city and on the freeways?
15. Can you tell us a little bit about what you like to do in your spare time?
16. Can you think of a time when you were patient with children in a trying situation?
17. If we asked you to babysit in the evening, from time to time, would that work for your schedule?
18. Tell us about your experience working unsupervised…Are you comfortable working on your own?
19. What are your plans for the long term? Are you interested in attending college?
20. Can you describe a time when you had to use your own judgment when dealing with children?
21. What did you want to be when you were growing up and why?
22. Can you tell us about a favorite babysitter, growing up? Why did you like her?
23. Have you ever lived with a family before? What did you like and dislike about that arrangement?
24. Do you have any phobias or fears that you can think of?
25. Do you have any questions for us?

The Importance of the Mutual Interview

Keep in mind that you will want for your nanny to have time to ask questions of you, as well. As interviews go, usually the hiring party is in the driver’s seat asking the majority of the questions,  while the prospective employee does the talking. In the case of the nanny interview, you will want your candidates to walk away from the interview with a strong sense of you and your family’s requirements, as well. After you are finished asking questions, always present the unselfish, question, “Do you have any questions for us?” This will show your nanny that you are interested in answering her questions, and eager to hear what she wants to find out about you and your family.