|
2torial #0819:
Learn2 Find and Hire a Nanny (Continued)
 Conduct in-home interviews
If you're still interested in the candidate,
invite them to you home for an interview.
- Make sure that your children are present so
you can see how the candidate interacts with
them.
- Having a list of questions will help you
stay on track. Don't just have a general
conversation. Make sure that you get the
information you need to make a good decision. A
good conversationalist mightn't be a good
caregiver (and vice versa!) A sample list of
questions follows, but you should adapt it to
suit your own family and situation.
- What is your education and experience
related to child care?
- Why did you leave your last job? (Be wary of
applicants with a pattern of changing jobs. Look
for a long history with one family if at all
possible.)
- What activities might you plan with my
child(ren)? (Look for a lot of excitement and
enthusiasm here, perhaps a story about previous
children cared for. These are signs that the
applicant is an active child care provider, as
opposed to a baby "sitter" who sits around and
yells when the children get bored and
misbehave.)
- What hobbies do you enjoy?
- Do you watch daytime television? What shows
do you think are appropriate for children?
- How would you handle a misbehaving child?
(Listen carefully for references to physical
punishments. A good answer will contain a desire
to help the child understand the undesirable
behavior, not just "punish" it.)
- How would you handle the following
situation: List a difficult situation that might
arise (or regularly arises) with your
child(ren).
- Are you willing to cook? What might you
cook?
- What other time commitments do you have?
- Do you have any health problems?
- Do you have children of your own that you
might want to bring over?
- Have you been convicted of a crime?
In general, when evaluating the responses, you
are looking for someone who is excited about
keeping your children and LIKES being with
children, who has lots of ideas about activities.
Be wary of tired, short answers. You want to find
someone who enjoys child care, not someone who
can't find something else or is "doing this in the
meantime." Since your children are going to spend a
lot of time with the person, make sure it's a
positive influence on them.
 Step
4
|
