5 Must-Ask Questions in a Nanny Interview

Hiring a nanny is nerve-wracking and a confusing mix of intimate family relations and professional boundaries. On one hand, this person is caring for your child. On the other hand, they are still (objectively speaking) an employee.

To find that appropriate balance, you will likely speak with a handful of candidates and choose to interview (in person or digitally) a select few. Within your job posting, you want to outline the basic role and responsibilities and note any of the following, if applicable:

• Variable work hours - Do you sometimes get caught up at the office? Is traffic home a total wildcard? Be transparent if there will be nights the nanny will need to come early or stay later on short notice. 

• Additional errands or tasks - Will this person be responsible for grocery shopping, cleaning the house, or other household chores that don’t necessarily directly relate to child care? You want to let them know upfront if you are going need your hire to pitch in around the house.

• Paid time off and holidays - Will you offer paid time off in addition to holidays off? Will the holidays be paid, too?

• Special or medical needs - If a member of your family requires any additional care, ask the candidate if they have experience or are comfortable administering medicine or managing a food allergy.

As you vet applicants and choose to move forward with some, here are five must-ask questions when interviewing a nanny:

1. How would you describe your parenting style?

This question cuts right to the chase of whether or not you and your potential care provider are aligned on parenting and disciplinary styles. You and your future nanny should be a united front with care styles that mirror each other. 

Ask these questions of yourself and your candidate and see how similar your approaches are: how much structure do you enjoy in your child’s day? How would you handle a temper tantrum at the park? How do you feel about screen time? How would you address the situation and your child if they got into a disagreement with another child?

2. Tell me about your experience with your last employer. 

Across any industry or position, this is a very common job interview question. Expand upon this to learn more and ask for an overview of their time with their last employer, including why they are looking for a new role. Their answers here will give you an indication of how well this potential nanny may similarly fit your family’s needs.

One potential red flag: if the candidate immediately jumps to criticizing or admonishing their old employer, it may be an indicator that they are not coming at this interview process with a certain level of professionalism that you would expect.

3. What would you need from me to be comfortable and confident in your role here?

Your relationship with a nanny is a true partnership and you should know what expectations they have of you and vice versa. Do they need you to do the meal prep? Are they comfortable doing the child’s wash but not the whole laundry basket? Are they going to rely on you to plan the day’s activities? Or would they prefer to have space to be solo with the kids?

4. Can you give me an example of a time when you disagreed with your last employer and how you handled the situation?

There will inevitably be times when you and your nanny don’t see eye to eye, so you want to know how they conduct themselves when they are put into an uncomfortable situation. (And even if they haven’t worked for a family prior, you can still ask hypothetically how they would handle conflict and communication.) Their response will also set some of their limitations out for you.

5. Are you comfortable working while I am also in the house?

If you work from home or have a hybrid role, this question is crucial. Having a parent in the background can dramatically alter the child’s behavior and attitude towards their nanny. Moreover, the nanny may also feel like you are quietly judging them if the child cries too much or interfering with their authority if you pop in-and-out of the children’s day. Share with the candidate if you need help and will be looking after the kids together, if you will take on parts of the day, or if you plan on removing yourself from their day by working from your office or another room in the home. 

Throughout the interview, listen carefully to the candidate’s responses and remember that they are interviewing, too. Let the conversation flow a bit to see how you and your potential nanny click!