New MB here. First interview question ...location

[Anonymous]

Hi all, we are in the process of hiring a nanny for 2 year old DS. I was reading the interview attire thread and noticed some pps said they wear clothes that they can play with the kids in. We are setting up initial interviews and had not planned to have them at our house or with DS around. I figured people would be more comfortable meeting a stranger in a public place vs our home, and I also figured it was best to do first round interviews without DS around and then once we had our top 3 candidates, pay them each half a day to come over and meet DS and see how they get along. Am I going to turn people off by interviewing this way? Now I'm worried we are being too "office like" in our approach to interviewing. First interviews are next week so please let me know if I should change it!

[Anonymous]

An MB here. I don't think you are going to turn people off by doing it that way. I always did phone interviews first and then did in person interviews in my home. It was important to me to see how the nanny candidates interacted with my children. After those initial interviews I had my top candidates (2 or 3) come for a trial few hours for which I paid them.

There is no wrong or right way to do this though. Do whatever feels right for you.

[Anonymous]

I think you are wise with your plan.

[Anonymous]

MB here - we have done both. We did first round interviews in a local coffee shop for anyone we were meeting from a response to an ad (like care.com etc...)

We did two interviews in our house w/ people who were referrals from other families in the neighborhood - so I had a higher degree of comfort with them than I did with the other applicants.

I don't think there is anything wrong with your approach at all. None of the candidates I interviewed outside of my house seemed at all bothered by meeting there, and they all assumed there would be a point at which they would meet the kids.

Don't worry - you're fine (IMO).

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

As a professional nanny, I prefer to first meet the parents. It's the most important aspect, to see if we even have some potential. Why put a child through a bunch of needless confusion? That seems short-sighted and selfish. Of course, some of this depends on your child's age.

As to the location, I've always been invited to the home. I would need to see your space before I'd know if I'd want to persue any possibilities. But if I was relatively nearby, I would be happy to first meet at a cafe.

[Anonymous]

As a nanny I definitely prefer to meet the family outside of their home first. I think it's safer for me, and even though I know I'm not some crazy stalker I believe it gives the family more peace of mind that some random person doesn't know their address.

If the interview goes well then I always have a day where I meet the children and go through the routine with mom or dad there before I start working with the children alone.

I always dress appropriately for interviews, but on the rare occasion that I have had initial interviews at the family's home I will wear something dressy but that I am able to move around freely in.

[Anonymous]

As a nanny I prefer to meet in the home. While fit is the most important factor, I get the best insight into a family when I see them in their own environment. Also, not every nanny is well suited for every type of home so it is better to know that going into it. Then to spend a whole trial day someplace I am not comfortable.

An outside location would not turn me off but it does require a repeat visit in the midst of interviewing madness. The last two times I changed jobs I was offered every position I interviewed for and several on the spot. Having a complete picture of the working environment helps me to know whether I should ask for a couple days to decide (not ideal at all) or accept the offer because I am confident this family is the best fit among the others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a nanny I prefer to meet in the home. While fit is the most important factor, I get the best insight into a family when I see them in their own environment. Also, not every nanny is well suited for every type of home so it is better to know that going into it. Then to spend a whole trial day someplace I am not comfortable.

An outside location would not turn me off but it does require a repeat visit in the midst of interviewing madness. The last two times I changed jobs I was offered every position I interviewed for and several on the spot. Having a complete picture of the working environment helps me to know whether I should ask for a couple days to decide (not ideal at all) or accept the offer because I am confident this family is the best fit among the others.

I can relate to this. When I interview, I am always offered the positions I interview for for. Some on the spot, just like PP.
I am more likely to cancel a multi-round interview because I've already been offered a job of similar pay and benefits that only required one interview in their home. 2 birds, 1 stone.
While I agree that it is important to find the right fit, you will not get an accurate feel for that by having someone take care of your children for an afternoon.
Anyone can be charming and "on" for 4 hours. You'll start to see their warts after a few months.
I always check out a person who invites me to their home for an interview. I get their full name, spouse's names, address and phone number and cross reference them with public property and tax records.
Anyone who is halfway intelligent does this. I rarely worry about going for an interview in a person's home after I check them out.

[Anonymous]

Your plan sounds great op. Only having 3 potential nannies meet your son might be too much I would figure out who I wanted to hire then do a working interview. But that's just me.

[Anonymous]

As a nanny, I would prefer to meet you in your home. As much as you are interviewing me - I am interviewing you and your family as well. Then, we would both have a better idea if we wanted to move to the next step of the hiring process.

[Anonymous]

I would be weary of the outside interview. Like PP said, it is impossible to evaluate an employer fully without seeing the kids and the house. It would make me wonder if you were very skittish in general or if your house is dirty or your kids are not well behaved. As a fellow female trying to avoid all the crazies out there I get that you are trying to be safe about it. So make sure your husband is home or invite a friend or a neighbor to hang out with the kids after introductions.

[Anonymous]

My first thought in not being able to meet your child in the first interview would be that there is something wrong with your child - ADHD, spoiled, generally unpleasant, etc. If I had other job interview and offers, I would probably decline yours. However if I had nothing on the horizon and needed a job desperately, I would meet you and DH first at a neutral location. I should note that in 15 years I have never had "nothing on the horizon" nor needed a job desperately.

[Anonymous]

First interview. Public place. Too Many Crazies. Both Sides.

[Anonymous]

Nanny here- I always go through an agency and always meet families at their home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nanny here- I always go through an agency and always meet families at their home.

+1

I've had interviews that began on the patio and moved indoors with the kids after a little while, but never away from home completely. I don't think there's anything wrong with it but you're more likely to lose nannies (as explained above) who can secure a job offer before you can schedule your second interview. Nannies need to see the whole family AND the family home to determine if they're even interested in a position.