With interviewing it really is about the pre-work! The more prep you’ve done the more confident you’ll feel and the more confident you feel the more relaxed you’ll be.

These are our top tips for smashing an interview.

Pre interview - think about yourself:

Outfit / shoes / cleavage
Nails / hair / make up

Pre interview - get yourself clued up on the job:

Brief yourself on names and ages if you have access to that information
Age appropriate activity ideas
Local (free & paid) activities, classes etc. that you could go to
Go through the job description in detail to ensure your familiar with all they’re asking for
Clarity on your start date – when could you start? Any holidays / commitments that you have that they need to be aware of
Prepare at least 3 questions to ask – you should always have questions; interests, dietary requirements, sleep patterns, school going to, energy levels etc.
Anticipate any questions they might ask and have thought about your answers – e.g. your experience with similar ages.

INTERVIEW TIME - this is it!!

Check your route (do a practice run if you need to)
Make sure you allow plenty of time, in case of traffic / accident etc. (as a general rule of thumb you want to arrive 15 minutes early to the area and 2 minutes early knocking on the door. Then add the allowance for traffic etc. equivalent to half the journey time. E.g. if it was a 30 minute drive away you would allow an hour to get there.)
Contact number of family / Freckles / agency saved in your phone
Firm handshake (if COVID allowed)
Take physical copies of your DBS, PFA, JNC and any other certificates that are relevant
Car – is it clean / smart looking? This represents you
Handbag – have you got a few things in your bag that are practical? First aid kit, hand sanitiser, tissues, toys, activities
Always carry a notebook and pen so that you can make notes of anything that’s important to remember
If children are around you need to get down on their level and build a relationship, play with their toys, talk to them
If offered tea / coffee / water and you accept then ALWAYS offer and take your mug back to the kitchen – CLEAR UP AFTER YOURSELF! If the family have a young baby / toddler it might be worth asking / accepting a glass of water. This shows you are aware of the challenges of having hot drinks around young children.

QUESTIONS TO PREPARE FOR:

Tell us about your experiences working with children? Start with formal but give informal if it adds value.
Talk me through your experience with children the same age as ours? What activities did you do with them?
If you had a full day with my children, what would you do?
Give me an example of a time you’ve had to deal with a child who was misbehaving.
Why did you apply to our job?
Why are looking to move into nannying?
What do you love most about working with children?
What did you love and what did you find challenging about your previous/current position
What qualities do you admire in others?
Give me an example of a time when you’ve let someone down. Why did you do it and how did you feel?

If you don’t have direct experience with an age group then think laterally and bring in other experience. Fundamentally though use the interview to show your passion and enthusiasm for the job. The person interviewing can always tell if you really want the position!!

Final things:

Always thank them for their time at the end – you can send a follow up email thanking them and saying you’re looking forward to hearing
You won’t always get the job. Don’t be disheartened, it just means you have found the right one for you yet. Always ask for feedback – take it on board and improve for next time!

Good luck! And remember to believe in yourself!!