You applied for the nanny or childminding job and you got the interview. That’s great! Of course, interviewing—and being in the so-called hot seat—can be somewhat uncomfortable, regardless of your experience. The trick, of course, is preparing for a nanny interview, and being ready to answer tough questions will help with that. But how do you know which challenging interview questions might come your way?
It’s recommended to have an initial call to learn about the family’s goals and parenting philosophies. This not only helps determine if you click—and therefore if an in-person interview would be worthwhile—but also gives you insight into what’s important to the family so you know how to best answer questions at the formal interview.
In addition, be prepared to answer these six common interview questions—and follow our tips on how to best answer them.
1. Tell me about yourself.
This vague request is deceptively tricky. Regardless of what you share, be honest and transparent, because your workplace will be someone else’s sacred space—their home—and eventually they’ll find out exactly who you are.
Skip the fluff and share aspects of yourself that are important for the job. This includes your fundamental principles, your skills and your passions, which may encompass positive attributes, such as your ability to empathise or your ability to set boundaries.
But don’t try to be something you’re not. For example, don’t sell yourself as a punctual person if you’re always running a few minutes late, and don’t say you operate well in high-stress situations if you don’t. If in a few months they find out you misrepresented yourself, you might get fired.
Be your authentic self from the start, and if it’s not a fit, another home will be. After all, it’s naive to think there’s a one-size-fits-all model for families.
2. Why did you leave your last job?
This question can be difficult if you left your job because of differences or disagreements with your employer.
Answer vaguely but honestly, for example by saying, ‘We had some differences and our philosophies didn’t match toward the end, and I was ready to move on.’
3. What are your weaknesses?
When answering this question, balance being truthful about your weaknesses while highlighting your strengths.
Here is an example: ‘I’m very committed to my job, though as you know, working with children can be stressful. I want to help the family and be there for them and make sure they’re content, but occasionally I find myself not being able to say “enough is enough” or “no”. For example, if I’ve had a tough week and am exhausted and I’m asked to work on Saturday, it’s hard for me to say no even though I need that day off.’
This response doesn’t make you seem weak. Instead, it shows you’re very committed to the family you nanny, and it also opens the door for you to discuss setting healthy boundaries in the future.
These honest acknowledgments that caring for children can be stressful make you appear more trustworthy.
Sometimes, we forget that the people who are interviewing us are actually human beings like us who get stressed and who understand that caring for children is a demanding task.
4. What do you charge?
As simple as it may sound, being asked your rate can be tough, especially for experienced nannies who may be scared their number will be a deal breaker. To help justify your rate, we suggest saying something like this: ‘Although I charge £XX per hour, I bring with me a level of expertise that (fill in the blank).’
You can fill in the blank by discussing your experience, your education, your skills and your moral construct, because the combination of all of those makes an exceptional caregiver.
If you prefer not to give a number and the parents push to know your previous pay rate, explain that your last salary isn’t really relevant: ‘At my last job, my tasks and job description were different and the kids’ ages were different, and that of course is reflected in my pay grade.’
5. How flexible are you?
Being too vague or accommodating in your answer can backfire and set you up to be taken advantage of. For example, if you say, ‘I’m flexible and can do whatever,’ you might get stuck with a family that comes home late every day.
Instead, say you can be flexible every now and then, and explain what flexible means for you. For example, if you have a two-hour gap on some days where you can come in or work late, let them know that’s the only window in which you can be flexible.
6. What is your citizenship status? Are you planning to have kids? And any other questions that could lead to discrimination.
Employers aren’t permitted to ask about certain factors that are irrelevant to the job and could result in hiring discrimination, such as race, national origin, age, marital status, religious affiliation, citizenship status, or if you have or plan to have kids. Some families might not realize this, so be prepared just in case.
To answer these questions, you can make a friendly joke about it: ‘I’m happy to tell you, but I don’t think you’re supposed to ask me about those things.’ It’s a nice way to make it clear they’re overstepping the mark and shouldn’t ask those kinds of questions. Then, it’s up to you as to whether you want to answer or not.
If you’d rather be more serious and leave no room to answer, tread carefully, because you need to be diplomatic. You don’t want to lecture or sound arrogant—you want to be informative and conversational, especially with parents who are new to hiring and oblivious to the laws.
Avoid something vague like ‘I can’t answer because of the law.’ Instead, try saying something more like this: ‘I don’t know if you’re aware, but the law states that these are questions that I’m not able to answer.’