It can be hard to look after children, work, and maintain a good balance in expat families. Getting help with raising your children can be a godsend, and hiring a nanny can become a fixture for your family and household. Using websites like Care.com reviews is going to be a huge help when it comes to finding a nanny to look after the kids. You need reviews and opinions to help you to find the right person for your support network – because that’s exactly what a nanny does – support.
Nannies can help with your children’s schoolwork; help run your house and errands. But how do you know who is a good fit? What are the right questions to ask when hiring a nanny?
Here are Her Expat Life’s top questions for interviewing a nanny.
1: Be thorough when asking about their training, background & education.
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Why did you get involved in childcare work?
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How long have you been a caregiver?
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Do you have (or are you willing to get) CPR or baby first-aid training?
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What is your education level?
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Have you taken classes in child care? Would you be willing to take courses if presented with the opportunity?
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Are you fluent in any other languages besides English? If so, would you be comfortable speaking another language to the children?
2: Quiz them as to why they want the job.
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Why do you want this job?
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What are you looking for in your next position?
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Do you have any questions about the job description?
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Do you know your way around my town/city/neighbourhood?
3: Make sure you ask in-depth questions about their previous work/employment as a nanny.
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Why did you leave your last job?
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What are the ages of the children you’ve cared for?
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What is your favourite part about being a nanny?
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What’s your least favourite part?
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What was the most challenging experience you had with a child in your care?
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Have you ever had to handle an emergency or witness a life-threatening situation with a child?
4: Ask for References
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Get contact for with previous families and contact them to get a feel for what the person was like
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Tell me about the work style of your past employers. Was it a casual environment, or was there a strict schedule?
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What additional duties did you perform in your previous jobs? Did you do any light cleaning or run household errands?
5: Ask about their lifestyle
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What do you see yourself doing in the future?
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What do you like to do in your free time?
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Do you have any hobbies or pursue any interests outside of work?
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Her Expat Life Limited is a bespoke boutique consultancy that provides services to expat women entrepreneurs, creatives, professionals, and investors who desire to advance their global lifestyle, network, and portfolio.