Nannies, prepare for the interview. Remember, the interview should feel just natural.

Nanny interview outfit:

Many US nannies are originated from other countries like European, Asia and South America. For some countries it is very important to dress up with a professional look for a job interview. While in the US might be totally acceptable that people arrive to the interview dressing casually, for example wearing shorts and sandals or showing a deep cleavage and open shoulders, for other countries people, wearing more conservative outfits to their job interview is the ideal.

Classic nanny job interview outfit from head to toe:

Colors: all year colors, preferable not bright colors. 

Head: no hairs airing to the wind maybe held with a nice pin or a ponytail is just fine.

Face: natural looking makeup. No heavy reds on lips and cheeks or heavy blacks on eyes and eyebrows.

Ears: no jewelry or, small earrings will be okay. Nothing should hang heavy or long from ears.

Neck: a tiny chain will be okay. Not a long heavy collar and especially not with insignias or messages.

Arms: covered at least bellow the shoulder.

Hands: a watch will be okay or, a small bracelet with no insignias or messages.

Chest: covered. No cleavage at all.

Torso: covered. No shirt should be above the belly button length that let see the belly button.

Waist: covered. A nice slim belt will be okay if waist will show.

Hip: covered. Wear nothing that let the skin bellow the belly button show.

Legs: covered at least to the knee. A knee length skirt, trousers or nice cocktail pants will be okay.

Feet: covered. No open toe shoes preferred. No sandals preferred. 

Heel: no super high heels. Flat soles or, ¾ of a inch heel, or 3” inches heels will be okay. Five inches heels are considered too high on less your high is five foot, five inch heels may not look too showy. 

Take your entire set of documents with you to leave with them providing you would absolutely love to work with them.

Have samples of art like drawings and paintings and pictures you made with children you worked with and cards sent to your from parents.

Make sure you are at the door on time. Arriving three minutes early is okay. Don't think that arriving ten minutes early will leave a good impression. Parents have other things to do. They scheduled at their most convenient time. Try your best to arrive punctual.

Ring or knock at the door and gently normal walk some steps away. Whoever opens the door shouldn’t see your face first thing.

Hear the door open, turn and smile. After the proper introduction, you may prefer to ask if is okay to shake hands or not. Normally the nanny will follow to a table with chairs or to a couch and wait for the interviewer. Do not stare at the walls or the objects in the house while you wait. Seat properly with your back erect, put your documents on your lap or if you have them on a large purse place them near your leg on the floor.  If apply, introduce yourself again when your interviewer arrives. 

Nanny questions:

Nannies, who speak first? Parents speak first.

Nannies who ask their questions first? Parents ask their questions first.

It is totally natural to speak about the weather, the view behind their huge wall-to-wall glass window, your commute to their home or anything else that happened on your way or in the morning or just before entering their home that day not in the past, not in the future. Keep it short and clear.

On less you are prompt to ask anything, you can ask in the middle of the interview. Other ways, you may write down your own questions while they are being generated or, just keep them in your frontal mind. Nannies, you wait until parents ask if you have any questions to start asking.

Start by referring to the generated questions in your notes or in your frontal mind. 

“When you said: ( “____  fill in the line ____” ), I understood that (____Fill in the line_____”).

I am double checking that you meant::___such___” when you said: “___such___” am I right?

Let me make sure that I understood correctly: _______

Help me understand this: _____

Did you refer to “____such ____”?

Regarding “___this ___” you said:

Refrain from asking questions like:

What do you do for a living? Or, what is your profession? Nannies, these are not your business.

Is it okay if I bring my daughter to work? Nannies, please don’t ever ask this question. The answer is no.

Will you pay my rate? Parents know how much your rate is. Avoid this question. Assume they will.

How much do you pay? Never ask this question. They ignore how much is too much or too little.

Questions related to the employment:

How many nannies are you interviewing? Am I the number one?

May I drive during the heavy traffic to know if the morning rush will conflict with the schedule you offer?

Can I have a trial before committing to the job?

Do you have any plans to move at some point during the next four years?

Do you have child care back-up for the times I may fall into an emergency and I cannot make it to work?

Do you plan to offer over-time?

I am unable to work Friday night and Saturdays, do you think that could be challenging for you?

Do you mind if we go through each point on the employment agreement before committing to the job?

How easy comes for you to pick up ideas, tricks or shortcuts from others that may help ease your day?

Questions related to the children:

Do you have a name for your baby?

Did you chose that name because it means anything to you?

Do you know what type of parents you want to be for your child?

What type of discipline if any do you think you will try to implement on your children?

Are you okay with supporting your nanny having constancy on what work for your child?

How important is respect for you?

How important is empathy for you?

Are you willing to teach your children respect and empathy for others including your nanny?

Is it walking with a stroller considered safe on this neighborhood or community? 

Is it a park nearby?

Do you have friends with children the age of yours to have playdates with?

Are there any warnings or restrictions for your house or around your community that I should know about?

What could that be? Open swimming pool gates, dogs walking without leash on the sidewalks, busy streets, wild animals around the neighborhood, a nearby construction etcetera.

Is there anything on the employment agreement you need to mend or make additions?

From all the nannies you plan interviewing, do you have an idea about when will you make a decision for the nanny you will hire?

Properly thank before you leave, wish them luck in their hiring and if you absolutely loved the opening, leave your documents and tell them that in case they have any questions your information is there to reach you at any time.

Refrain from asking to see the nursery. 

Leave. Notify your agency.

Never assume you have the job even when you think the interview was successful.