How to Interview a Nanny

You've seen all the suitable applicants and have shortlisted the nannies that you'd like to meet - now it's time to interview them. Finding the right nanny for your family is a process to approach carefully, as you’ll be trusting them with the care of your children and your home.

In this article, the experts at Nannies Matter will provide advice on how to make sure the interview with your potential nanny is a success. 

Below you will find advice on how long each interview should be, how to create a relaxed environment, when to outline your specific child care requirements and a list of questions to ask that will give you all the details you need to make an informed choice about your future nanny.

Setting the scene

A job interview can be a nerve-wracking experience for a hopeful nanny, so before the interview gets underway, it’s best to try and create a relaxed environment. Both you and the candidate will benefit from a low-pressure interview setting, as it will enable you to get a clearer picture of how they act in a typical day-to-day setting, rather than a formal interview.

Start by offering the interviewee a cup of tea or coffee and introduce them to your children. This early meeting gives you a good first impression of how the nanny interacts with different age groups and personalities. For instance, how do they respond to a child making cheeky comments or a baby crying uncontrollably? Observing these natural interactions can reveal a lot about the candidate’s approach to childcare.

After introductions, move to a quiet room for the in-person interview. The interview should take between 45 minutes and one hour. Structure is key to a smooth hiring process, and a typical flow might look like this:

Tell the nanny about your family and children

Provide a short overview of your household, including children’s ages, any strict schedules, or typical daily routines like swimming lessons or playgroups. You don’t need to go into full detail yet, as this will come later when you discuss the specific nanny role and responsibilities.

Ask the nanny to tell you about previous nanny roles and life experience

At this stage, you’re trying to understand the candidate as a person. You’ll already have their CV, but this is your chance to hear about their life experience, hobbies, education level and childcare qualifications in their own words.

Ask about their current position, previous jobs, and any other career aspirations they’ve had. If they play musical instruments, speak other languages, or have experience with educational activities, these can be excellent additions to their skill set that could be beneficial to explore in an interview.

Remember, a good nanny is not only capable but will also feel like a personal fit for your household.

Go through the nanny’s CV

Go through your potential nanny’s work history together. Ask about their past employers, the best childcare job they’ve had and what made it enjoyable. Clarify the reasons behind any gaps in employment, short contracts or career changes.

This is also the time to ask specific questions about past experiences. For instance, how they’ve handled a crying baby, a childcare emergency, or managing light cleaning and household errands alongside childcare.

Outlining the role of a nanny

Once you’ve discussed background and experience, move on to the specifics of the role. Explain the job clearly so both sides understand the expectations. Include:

• Working hours and notice period.

• Duties and responsibilities.

• The children’s daily routines - for example, playgroups, sports or educational activities.

• House rules, with any specific policies on mobile phone use, children watching television or general routines.

During this stage, remember to follow legal guidelines and maintain non-discriminatory practices. Avoid questions about sexual orientation, marital status or spent convictions. Instead, keep your interview process professional and in line with legal employee-hiring standards.

If you’d like to know more about what a nanny does day to day, you can read our full guide here.

Asking the right nanny interview questions

Depending on how thoroughly you go through the nanny’s CV, you may have already got the answers you need. However, tailoring your questions will give you more of an opportunity to learn about how the nanny will use their abilities to approach the role. Consider creating a mock scenario or ‘day in the life’  and asking what the nanny would do in this case to understand how the nanny may deal with a normal day or a challenge. Consider asking scenario-based interview questions such as:

• How would you handle a baby crying uncontrollably or a child lying?

• How do you approach planning meals or menus for children starting solid food?

• How do you manage screen time or children watching television or playing video games?

• How would you respond in a life-threatening situation or during a childcare emergency?

• What’s your favourite age group to work with, and why?

These questions help you build a well-rounded idea of how the nanny approaches real-life challenges, including discipline, structure and parenting styles.

You can also ask about first aid training, such as baby first aid training or paediatric first aid qualifications, and whether their current qualifications are accredited.

Allow time for the nanny to ask you any questions

Interviewing a nanny is a two-way process to ensure that you and the candidate are a compatible match. You should give the candidate plenty of opportunities to ask you questions, too. Giving the candidate an opportunity to ask questions will help both you and your potential nanny to ensure there is no miscommunication about any part of the job role. Additionally, allowing the nanny to ask you questions will add to the relaxed atmosphere discussed already.

Closing the interview

Once you and the candidate are both satisfied with the interview and that you have covered everything, you should bring the interview to a close. At this time, you should let the nanny know what the next steps are and when they are likely to hear if they have been successful.

If you want to offer the candidate the job, it is worth making this clear as soon as possible, as they will undoubtedly be attending other interviews and you may lose the opportunity to hire them. If you are unsure and want to see other nannies, you should say that you will contact Nannies Matter after the interview process and the agency will let them know the outcome.

However you decide to proceed, you should contact us to discuss the next steps and provide any feedback on how the interview went. If you want to see more nannies, we can arrange that for you, too.

Checking the basic requirements

During the interview, it’s important to verify that the candidate has all of the necessary paperwork and certificates to work with children and put your mind at ease. The information to ask for includes:

• A valid DBS check

• Paediatric first aid certificate (valid for 3 years)

• Driving licence (if required)

• Ofsted registration, if you’re planning to use childcare vouchers or tax free childcare scheme

You don’t need to worry about the paperwork when hiring a nanny through Nannies Matter, as we handle all of the administration and ensure that all of the nannies put forward to you are highly skilled and ready to work.

Get in touch

If you’re looking for a nanny to help with the care of your children, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Nannies Matter today by calling 07736 337065 or fill in our contact form and we will get back to you.