When you meet a nanny or a childminder for recruitment, it is important to ask the right questions in order to better understand your personality and experience. Here are the points to approach, with the advice of Mina Zanat, specialist in the Family Sphere group.
Before hiring a nanny or a childminder, an interview is essential. It makes it possible to get to know the professional, to approach her guard habits, her references, her schedules and her remuneration. Here are the key questions to ask, with the advice of Mina Zanat, former president of the Family Sphere group.
For hire a nanny or maternal assistantyou must first have a first contactwhich is generally done by phone. It should not be taken lightly, because it laid the foundations for the future meeting. For this telephone interviewtake a notebook to note all the information. The first questions to ask will allow the professional to present herself, and for you to know her a little more. You can ask him:
- Who are you ? In a few words
- Since when do you exercise this job?
- How many children did you have to take care of?
- Are you approved (if it’s a childminder)?
- Why are you doing this job?
- What are your daycare days and your schedules?
- Where do you live ? To know the distance between your homes.
After this presentation, indicate the content of the position and what you are looking for precisely (profile, missions, salary, schedules), in order to avoid any surprise during the interview. This first contact will also allow you to feel if there is already a feeling with the person, and if so to organize a physical interview. On D -Day, it is preferable that both parents are present with the child. Also remember to talk about it with your child upstream, so as not to take him short during the meeting.
Questions to ask during the job interview
During thejob interview of the future nanny or childminderwhich is done at home with the children (s), different criteria must be taken into account.
His training and diplomas
You can ask a few questions to the nanny or the maternal assistant on her training: Have you followed a specific training? What are your diplomas? “If your child is under three years old for example, The nanny must absolutely be empowered and have her early childhood diploma. She must also have a minimum experience of two years with young children“Explains Mina Zanat, former president of the Family Sphere group.”For those over three years old, the diploma is not required, but the experience of one or two is essential, before entrusting your child“. Another essential qualification: the SST diploma (Rescuer – Labor Supervisor), which ensures the safety of your child.
His behavior with children and his organization
During this first interview, make sure that the nanny or the childminder behaves properly with your children and that she does not ignore them! Observe your relationship with your little one.
In addition, ask her questions about her daily organization when she keeps children. What are the activities you put in place? Do you make outdoor outings? How is lunch and snack time? How is children’s naps organized?
His skills
To test his skills as to baby’s safety and hygiene, ask her questions by putting her in situation. If you have to give my baby a bath, what should be the ideal temperature? How would you react if my child has a fever? How do you manage conflicts between children? His reactions and answers will allow you to get an idea, and to reassure yourself on the points that seem important to you.
Housing safety
If you go to a maternal assistant, you will also have to focus on the safety and cleanliness of the environment. What is the state and the number of beds? Do you have pets (in case of allergies in particular)? Are you a smoker? Did she have installed-cache, barriers to the stairs, etc.
His professional references
To prevent the questions from taking the turn of a military interrogation, ask him to talk about his former experiences, and ask him Family references With whom she has already worked. This will allow you to confirm your feelings but also to obtain important information on his personality. Of course, the information should be taken with nuance: the experiences is personal and it is up to you to make your own opinion.
To have another opinion, you can find out about his former employers. Do not hesitate to ask him for an extract from a criminal record, without fear of going for a private detective.
Its childcare terms
Before making a decision, remember to validate the methods of childcare (its schedules, the hours of outings, holidays, etc.). To avoid any legal and/or administrative problem, a good and due form must be written. And in the event that you use a shared guard, each family must write their own employment contract. So check well upstream all the rights and duties of the “individual-employee”.
Advice : Before hiring a maternal assistant or kindergarten, follow your intuition. Do you feel well with her? Is the environment welcoming and warm? Is it natural? Finally, no need to remember that punctuality is in order. It is a guarantee of trust necessary between the two parties …
Commit to know if it is the good nanny or childminder?
Each child is different. This is why it is necessary to Choose a nanny that adapts to the needs of the child and to those of parents. “Most of them seek above all a trusted person, but also flexible and flexible on their schedules. Fathers or mothers who sometimes come back late from work need to feel reassured on this point”, advises the specialist.
To do this, detail as much as possible the criteria you are looking for in the initial ad in order to better filter the applications. Be careful, don’t forget that the perfect nanny remains a rare pearl, and if you have to be intransigent on certain essential points, such as security and affection, you can perhaps ignore more futile.
Thanks to Mina Zanat, former president of the Family Sphere group.
