As with all professional interviews, making a good first impression is paramount, and a nanny job interview or a babysitting job interview is no different. What you wear and how you represent yourself is all part of the evaluation process a family will use to decide whom they entrust to watch their kids. Working in a home with children is completely different from an office job where you might wear formal attire or business attire, but you still want to wear clothes that make you look professional at your nanny interview. Below are guidelines for how to dress to land your next nanny job tomorrow, next week or next month.
What to Wear – Smart Casual Clothing
Pick clothing that is crisp, clean and simple. Rather than a business suit and high heels, a pair of jeans free from holes or hem fringe is a great choice complemented by a sweater or blouse/shirt depending on the season. A casual dress or longer skirt and top are options as well. In terms of shoes, a nice pair of flats or clean sneakers or sandals can all work. Many parents like to see potential caregivers interact with the kids on a job interview, so it is a good idea to pick clothing that facilitates sitting on the floor with a child. Avoid wearing a t-shirt, sweatshirt, tank top, shorts, sweatpants, leggings, hats and anything that is cropped or overly tight. Virtually all of these casual attire items are perfectly acceptable to wear day in and day out once you get the nanny or babysitting job but again, interview day doesn’t want to be an overly casual day when you meet your potential employer for the first time.
Acessories
Continuing with the theme of simplicity, keep your accessories basic. If the family has babies or toddlers, they will want to grab any dangly earrings, bangle bracelets or long necklaces so save those items for after work and weekends. Stud earrings or small hoops can be good choices along with a shorter, simple necklace.
Make-up & Perfume
If you choose to wear make-up, think daytime. Save the cat eye or glitter for a night out with friends. I think everyone’s look can be enhanced by a coat of mascara and lip gloss, but it is perfectly acceptable to go makeup free for your nanny or babysitting interview. Strong perfumes can be polarizing in that some people are hypersensitive to certain scents. Remember that you are going to be in someone’s home all day interacting with their children. If one or both parents work from home, you don’t want your interview scent to be a concern. When I was interviewing nannies for my infant daughter several years ago, one of the candidates who came to our house was wearing a perfume that I didn’t particularly like. She jumped right in and asked to hold my daughter. While I was super impressed with her, my daughter smelled like her perfume the rest of the day instead of sweet baby smell and I seriously debated whether or not that would be a deal breaker. We ended up hiring her and thankfully she never wore that perfume again! I mention this story because for some families a strong perfume could be a deal breaker. Not everyone would be comfortable addressing perfume as employment concern (seems high maintenance, right?!) and therefore it is just easier to choose another candidate. You don’t want to miss out on any opportunities.
Technology
Cell phone usage with caregivers is definitely an important topic that will likely be discussed during your interview as families want to know that their nanny or baby-sitter won’t constantly be on their phone. It is best to leave your cell phone in your purse, on silent for the entire interview. If you wear a smart watch, check to make sure it is on silent mode as well so that you aren’t tempted to check your wrist each time you feel a vibration.
Ok, now that we have covered what to wear, let’s dive into interview tips to help you put your best foot forward and land your next nanny job or babysitter job.
Interview Tips
1) Review the job description
Whether you are preparing for an initial phone call or an in-person or virtual interview, be sure and re-review the job description so that the main details of the nanny role are fresh in your mind such as the number and ages of children, number of hours, salary information etc. Online job listings don’t usually cover all the details, so this is also a good opportunity for you to jot down any questions that you want to ask.
2) Determine what is most important for this particular family
When it comes to a nanny interview, a family is normally looking to check the box on the most important things to them which can include:
- Is this person trustworthy to be in my home watching my children? Having ready to go references with past employers is a good idea.
- Will this person be a good fit with the family and especially the children?
- Can I rely on this individual to show up consistently?
- Will this person parent my children according to my rules and style?
But every family is different is terms of what they value most in a nanny. The family interviewing you will usually have their list of questions ready to ask and you should also make a list of questions to ask the family member or members conducting the interview. The #1 most important interview question for you to ask….as close to the start of the interview as possible is….”What are you looking for in a nanny?” You want to hear from the parents’ which caregiver priorities are most important to them so that you may tailor your answers according. For example, if they answer, “we want someone you will run and play with the kids outdoors as much as possible,” you can talk about your own active lifestyle and how you love being in nature. If the priorities include “playing educational games and increasing fine motor skills with my toddlers,” you can discuss the types of games you have played with other children and family members you have watched. Other families may answer more vaguely with “we are looking for a kind and patient caregiver who will help share the character of our child.” You in turn can provide specific examples of how you demonstrate patience in your caregiving.
Other good questions for you to ask include:
- Does each child have a comfort toy that helps soothe them?
- If you will be watching children in the evenings, ask if they have a bedtime routine.
- Do any of the children have special needs or medication needs of which you should be aware?
- Do the kids have any new toys that they particularly love right now?
3) Make strong eye contact
Strong eye contact is a great way to build connection with another person when you speak. From the moment you meet your potential new family, demonstrate strong eye contact when you are answering and asking questions.
4) Be you
Last but most importantly not least, be YOU! While the family with which you are interviewing is determining if you will be a good fit for their family, you want to do the same. If you can’t be yourself in a household, then the role won’t be a long term fit for you either. Good luck – you got this!
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