How to Interview and Hire a Nanny
May 9th, 2008If you are thinking about hiring a nanny to take care of your children, it is absolutely essential for you to know in advance that he/she is trustworthy, responsible, reliable, and safe. It cannot be stressed too strongly that this requires doing a background check on your prospective candidate, and a personal interview as well. Only when all of the information you receive from both of these sources fully meets your satisfaction should you consider her to be a suitable candidate for the job.
A proper background check does not need to be extremely time-consuming or expensive. It does, however, mean that all of the relevant factors must be addressed. If you are not familiar with the essential aspects of a good background check, it includes a thorough investigation to ensure that the candidate does not have a criminal history, to verify their previous employment and educational histories, and check with personal and/or professional references.. A thorough investigation of potential criminal history includes, but is not limited to, checking for any prior instances of child abuse.
When you are conducting a background check for a prospective nanny, you will also want to gain information about her education and employment history as well. If he/she has worked as a nanny, or in any other aspect of child care, you will want to know the details surrounding her employment.
Regardless of how knowledgeable and competent you may be, these phases of a background check are best done by someone who is fully qualified in this area.
Doing a good background check also involves checking references. The prospective candidate should supply you with full, accurate contact information from her previous employers, schools, and personal references as well. You should pay close attention to what you are told by all of these sources, as they can provide valuable insight regarding how suitable this person is for the job.
When you interview a prospective nanny, it is a good idea to know in advance the questions you wish to ask, and the responses that you will find acceptable. Such questions as why he/she wishes to work as a nanny and what she hopes to gain from the position are as relevant as questions about prior experience and salary expectations.
The person’s demeanor during the interview is important. While most people are a bit nervous when interviewing for an important job, you should be aware of whether he/she appears comfortable, responsible, and mature. It is also essential to give your prospective nanny the opportunity to interact with your children. Regardless of whether your youngsters are toddlers or infants, you need to know that he/she is at ease with them. If he/she appears unduly playful, harsh, or strained in her interactions with your children, these should be considered as negative signs.
Your children are your greatest and most precious parts of your life. In order to ensure that they will receive the very best care, you cannot afford to leave anything to chance. In the interest of their safety and everyday well-being, a thorough background check and interview are your best bet to ensure that your children will have the quality care that they need and deserve.
