How to ace the nanny interview

Published: 21/02/2020

You’ve perfected your CV and profile, you’ve got through the first round of telephone interviews and you’ve been invited to meet the family face-to-face. Congratulations! You’ve managed to stand out from the competition so far, but the face-to-face interview will be make or break!

So, how do you prepare for a nanny interview? At myTamarin we get feedback from parents every single day on why they’ve decided to hire a nanny (or not!). These 6 tips will help you to ace the interview, securing you your next nanny job.

DO. NOT. BE. LATE.

Being late to an interview will mean an automatic rejection in most (if not all!) cases. So, make sure you check the travel distance and aim to arrive 10-15 minutes early. Don’t forget when you’re doing this, to check it around the same day/time as your interview as journeys will vary depending on the day and/or time. 

Being on time will demonstrate that you have good timekeeping and can also give the impression that you are respectful of the parents’ time.

Dress as a nanny, i.e. no hot pants!

Remember, you’re not going for a night out with your friends. Think carefully about what you should wear to a nanny interview and make sure you dress appropriately. Your appearance should be clean, smart and professional but practical for being around children. That means:

  • no heavy make-up;
  • no long or brightly coloured nails;
  • and no strong perfume.

Wear clothes that are comfortable and appropriate for working with children like jeans and a shirt for example. Mini-skirts and hot pants are a definite no!

Wash your hands and take off your shoes

Hygiene is critical for parents especially when it comes to (very young) children, especially amidst the coronavirus pandemic. So, the first thing you should do when you enter the house (after you’ve taken off your shoes!) is to wash your hands. Many of you out there will probably use hand sanitiser just before you arrive. And that’s great, but the parents won’t have seen you do this.

Be prepared and make sure you read the job description

Get as much information on the family and the position as possible before the interview. You should have a reasonable understanding of the basic requirements for the job and if you’re working with an agency, they should also be able to give you some insights into the family and their likes or dislikes. 

Nothing is more frustrating (for both sides) than discovering it isn’t a job you want, during the interview, because the commute is too far, the hours aren’t convenient, or they have one child too many. Make sure you’re comfortable with the basic requirements of the job before the interview, alright? 

Ask questions, but don’t negotiate (just yet) 

It’s always a good idea to prepare a few questions to ask the family. This will make them feel that you’re engaged and generally interested in the role. It will also help you figure out if the job and the family are right for you. 

The best questions to ask are related to their parenting style, children’s routine and their expectations of the nanny, including the hours, duties and any flexibility they may need. You could also ask them about their favourite nanny so far, and any bad experiences - so you get a better idea of what they like and what they don’t.  

The first interview isn’t a good time to negotiate the salary. It can come across as though you’re only in it for the money. If you’re working with an agency, let them negotiate for you. 

Engage with the children (duh!)

The children may not be there during your interview. But if they are, then make sure you engage with them. After all, the job is about them, right?

We know that some nannies focus more on the parents than the children but at the end of the day it’s a nanny job you’re applying for and the parents will be looking for some kind of chemistry between you and the children. So, if a child is there, make sure you get down on the floor and play with them. Or, if there’s a baby, perhaps you could ask to hold them for a bit. If the children aren’t there, then take a keen interest in them by asking questions.

To help you sail through your interviews, we strongly recommend you think about the types of questions a parent may ask and consider your answers in advance. To help you with this check out our guide on the 6 most tricky nanny interview questions.


Tamarins are monkeys who parent in family groups – like a village – helping each other while children are small.

Are you ready to join our village?

Parents sign up here to begin your nanny search.

Nannies sign up here to find your next family. Alternatively, you can send your CV to hello@mytamarin.com and we will be in touch!

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