Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Hiring the Best Nanny for Your Family - Part 2
You want to hire the best nanny for your family. What can you do before hiring to maximize your chances for success?
Understanding your family's needs is an important first step - after all you need to be able to accurately describe the job and its responsibilites to the prospective nanny. Interview carefully. Take your time, use this opportunity to learn a bit about the nanny and how she thinks and acts. Behavorial interviewing is an absolute must. Ask questions such as:
Don't short cut the reference checking. Persons who provide your nanny candidate a reference should NOT be her relatives. Former employers are best. If not available, former teachers and clergy are other possibilites. Ask the references open ended questions too. You want to learn about how this employee treats responsibility - does she come in to work as scheduled and on time? How much direction did she require? Ask about an emergency situation that she had to deal with and how she handled it. The nanny candidate who is a stranger to you should be thoroughly background checked - criminal, civil and sex offender registries should be checked. If she is going to drive your children, check her DMV records also.
Consider a trial day or two. If the nanny is currently employed, suggest a trial day over a weekend. You should pay her for her time, and allow her considerable flexibility to interact with you and your child. Listen and observe. Does she ask you thoughtful questions? Does she get down on the floor with your toddler? Does she offer your child words of praise and positive feedback. Does she lead or command? Is she self-confident enough to offer you suggestions?
It the nanny passes all of these with flying colors - hire her! Remember to offer her a fair salary, benefits that are important to her, and be flexible. Resist the urge to micro-manage the nanny. No two child care providers will do all things the same. You child is flexible and can adjust to differences in style - just be careful that is all they are. Let your nanny teach your child to do for himself. You want the toys picked up - allow the nanny the flexibility to engage the child in the process so he learns HOW to pick up his toys. And lastly, reward the nanny. Verbal thank yous, a small unexpected gift, or unexpected perks make for a positive long term relationship.
Understanding your family's needs is an important first step - after all you need to be able to accurately describe the job and its responsibilites to the prospective nanny. Interview carefully. Take your time, use this opportunity to learn a bit about the nanny and how she thinks and acts. Behavorial interviewing is an absolute must. Ask questions such as:
- Why do you want to be a nanny?
- Tell me about your childcare style?
- Have you had to deal with a two year old having a temper tantrum? What did you do?
- Have you cared for a sick child? How do you do that?
- Tell me about a time when you had to comfort an upset child.
- How were you disciplined as a child? How do you discipline a child?
- Tell me about a time when you had a disagreement with your old boss. How did you handle it?
- Tell me about a work situation that particularly pleased you. What was it and why did it make you happy?
Don't short cut the reference checking. Persons who provide your nanny candidate a reference should NOT be her relatives. Former employers are best. If not available, former teachers and clergy are other possibilites. Ask the references open ended questions too. You want to learn about how this employee treats responsibility - does she come in to work as scheduled and on time? How much direction did she require? Ask about an emergency situation that she had to deal with and how she handled it. The nanny candidate who is a stranger to you should be thoroughly background checked - criminal, civil and sex offender registries should be checked. If she is going to drive your children, check her DMV records also.
Consider a trial day or two. If the nanny is currently employed, suggest a trial day over a weekend. You should pay her for her time, and allow her considerable flexibility to interact with you and your child. Listen and observe. Does she ask you thoughtful questions? Does she get down on the floor with your toddler? Does she offer your child words of praise and positive feedback. Does she lead or command? Is she self-confident enough to offer you suggestions?
It the nanny passes all of these with flying colors - hire her! Remember to offer her a fair salary, benefits that are important to her, and be flexible. Resist the urge to micro-manage the nanny. No two child care providers will do all things the same. You child is flexible and can adjust to differences in style - just be careful that is all they are. Let your nanny teach your child to do for himself. You want the toys picked up - allow the nanny the flexibility to engage the child in the process so he learns HOW to pick up his toys. And lastly, reward the nanny. Verbal thank yous, a small unexpected gift, or unexpected perks make for a positive long term relationship.
