How To Stand Out During Trial

[Anonymous]

Hello Nannies and Parents!

I have a trial day coming up this week with a very high profile family. (Children are 9 years old and 7 years old) Although I have been a nanny for the past fifteen years, I still find myself being a little bit standoffish and shy during the initial trial days. With this family, I need to find a way to overcome that so that I can put my best foot forward, and fully engage the children. The parent's will definitely be around during my first trial day, so it is important that they are able to see how good I can be with their kids. From what I understand, I am up against 2 or 3 other nannies who are also interested in the position. Do any of you have ideas on how I can set myself apart from these other nannies that will also be doing trial days next week? I would love advice from both nannies and parents if possible. It is really important to me that I ACE this trial, and that I am the person they ultimately end up choosing!

Thanks so much in Advance!!!

[Anonymous]

All you can be is the best you can be. Don't be overpowering but definitely do not be standoffish. Pretend you have had this job for a year - what would you do?

Ask questions when you don't know the answers but don't ask the parents too many dumb questions (like where is the salt) when you can look for it and find it yourself.

Also, do not talk about yourself. Answer any question politely and always bring the answer back to your job. They really do not care at this point about your boyfriend or your mother - they just want to make sure he/she will not interfere with your ability to do your job.

Wash you hands a lot and generally don't be a dick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All you can be is the best you can be. Don't be overpowering but definitely do not be standoffish. Pretend you have had this job for a year - what would you do?

Ask questions when you don't know the answers but don't ask the parents too many dumb questions (like where is the salt) when you can look for it and find it yourself.

Also, do not talk about yourself. Answer any question politely and always bring the answer back to your job. They really do not care at this point about your boyfriend or your mother - they just want to make sure he/she will not interfere with your ability to do your job.

Wash you hands a lot and generally don't be a dick.

OP Here: Thanks!!! Love love love your straight forward and blunt advice!!! I promise to not be a dick! lol

[Anonymous]

Not PP but I think you underestimate how many people turn into dicks when they are nervous. Or when they have something to prove. Don't pretend to know more than you do, OP, and don't cop any kind of an attitude.

And make sure to tell MB how darling (or smart or sweet - whatever the case is) her children are.

Good luck! Smile a lot and you'll do great!

[Anonymous]

When you start the day ask the parents what matters to them most for the day (is there homework to deal with, multiple kids' appts to manage, dinner prep etc...)

Try to get a sense of what they're looking for/hoping to see and then, of course, do that.

[Anonymous]

We had four candidates do working interviews, and we picked the person I was initially completely against.

1. Make friends with the family pet.
2. Put your phone away for the entire time. Don't take it out at all.
3. Wear a watch.
4. Speak proper English. Don't end a sentence with a preposition. Speak clearly, make eye contact, don't mumble.
5. Don't just supervise the kids, engage them. One of our potential nannies just handed my kid toy after toy. The one we hired sat on the floor and read books and had the stuffed animals acting out what the book was saying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We had four candidates do working interviews, and we picked the person I was initially completely against.

1. Make friends with the family pet.
2. Put your phone away for the entire time. Don't take it out at all.
3. Wear a watch.
4. Speak proper English. Don't end a sentence with a preposition. Speak clearly, make eye contact, don't mumble.
5. Don't just supervise the kids, engage them. One of our potential nannies just handed my kid toy after toy. The one we hired sat on the floor and read books and had the stuffed animals acting out what the book was saying.

#5 is extremely important too but not doing #2 is a reason to not even consider you.

[Anonymous]

Ask open ended questions. Really, if you're not a match fir therm, you don't want this job. Find out if you're a match and don't assume anything. If you hate silencing hot or rainy days outside, find out if that's part of the job. Find out what the kids like to do, what they're good at in school, if you're expected to tutor or shuttle them around, fix dinner etc. If preparing dinner is your job find out what they like, if there's menus or if you just did around the fridge and come up with something. Find out if this is the right job for you, don't pound a square leg into a round hole because then you'll be back here later complaining is not a good fit.

[Anonymous]

Since the kids are so old, I would try to have an activity all planned out. Find out what they're into; first things that popped into my head were a yoga/tumbling/dance activity, a science experiment, a fun craft, or having them help you write a short play and then act it out with puppets or themselves. Showing up with a fun activity and game plan will show you're prepared to keep the kids engaged.

[Anonymous]

My nanny showed up on her trial day with a bag full of different board games (my kids are a bit younger), interesting toys, her favorite books, etc. SHe has all "free" time planned out which I found a big plus

[Anonymous]

I think considering the ages of the children, their opinion of you will be the deciding factor in who gets to be their new nanny. So it is best if you try to win them over big time on your trial day.

The parents will be watching you as well so here are my tips:

1). Arrive five minutes early. No earlier than that. And not one minute past your due time. Really.

2). Show up with a huge smile on your face, a sunny disposition and your sleeves rolled up, ready to have fun and play.

3). Make sure you are knowledgeable regarding age-appropriate activities for the kids. Nothing too juvenile or mature for them. Trust me on this, the parents will take note.

4). Engage the children fully, yet not so much that it appears like you are trying to hard to impress. Be natural and do not come on too strong to the kids. Proceed in an organic fashion. See how the kids react to you, then respond appropriately. Do not be a phony.

5). Have your cell phone turned off prior to even entering their home. Don't even put it on vibrate. The best idea would be to leave it in your car the whole time. This will show the family that the children are your top priority at all times.

6). Be active, creative and confident. Keep telling yourself that you are the best nanny out there and they will think so too.

Good luck OP! Please let us know when you get the job.

[Anonymous]

Good luck, OP! I know you are going to do great this week!

And remember that this is a trial week for you to see if you would be happy with them, too. Keep an eye out for any red flags.

[Anonymous]

Op here: thank you all so so much for your very helpful advice!! I will update after the trial!!!