Interviewing Do's & Don't's

Based on the years of experience our coordinators have guiding applicants through the interview process and listening to the feedback from our client families, we have compiled a list to help you make a great first impression on the family you are meeting.  Remember, first impressions last a life time and you only have one chance to make them!

1.  Show up on time.  Being too early is just as bad as being late.  If you are supposed to be there at one O'clock, Don't show up at one thirty and expect that to be okay.  If you cannot show up to an interview on time, how can a family rely on you to be on time for work.  It is just common sense!

2.  If you have an emergency or change your mind about an interview, please call the client family and excuse yourself.  Don't call our office, we may not answer the phone, or it may be a weekend or after hours.  This is why we give you the phone numbers of our clients.  If you have a scheduled interview and just "don't show up"  please do not expect us to send you on other interviews.  If this should occur, we would put you on our unreliable list which we do share with other networking agencies.  This way other professionals and families are spared the grief this causes.

3. Do dress appropriately.  Revealing, tight, or otherwise ill fitting clothes are a big no no.  Cleavage, midriffs, high spike heals, excessive makeup, obvious body tattoos, dangling earrings, excessive make up, long sharp acrylic nails are big turn offs to families whose young children are impressionable.  Remember, you are applying for a job that commands the image of conservatism and prudence.  Save the sexy attire for your time off.

4. Go to your interview ALONE.  It is okay if someone goes with you, but they must stay in the car.  We cannot tell you how many times we have been told by clients that an applicant has shown up with their mom, grandmother, all their kids and husband.  We even had one nanny show up with her dog to an interview.  Please do not do this.  You are the only one that has been screened by our agency not your entire family and your friends.

5. Have your identification with you as proof of who you are.

6. Take copies of your letters of reference if you should have any.  This shows that you are prepared and experienced.

7. Take an interest in the family you are interviewing with and the children by asking questions about them, there likes and dislikes.  If you ignore the children, no one will want you to be their nanny!

8. Save questions about salary, hours, benefits for the end of an interview.  If you start off the interview with this line of questioning, it shows the family that you are only interested in a pay check and that is a big put off.

9. Thank the client family for their time.

10. Listen more than talk.  If you ramble on and on, you will not give the other person a chance to ask their own questions.

11. Do not bad mouth or gossip about your past employers.  This is of extreme bad taste.

12. Do not talk about your own personal problems with the client family.  Trust us... They do not want to know.

13. Do not smell of cigarette smoke before an interview.  We have not yet met a family who doesn't mind if their nanny reeks of smoke.  If you do smoke, and we hope that you do not, you must never do it while on the job.  We support smoke free nannies.  It is in the best interest of the children and the families that we represent.

14 Do follow up with our agency after an interview.  The feedback that you provide to us is vital.

15.Do have patience during this process.  You may go on numerous interviews until you and a family are matched up.

16. Keep a positive attitude.