Question if you have a nanny

cja06 · March 2014

I'm in the process of hiring a nanny. I'm doing phone screen interviews and plan to do in person interviews with the top 2 or 3 candidates. Question is did you do your interviews at your home or in a neutral public space? I kind of feel like they should see where they would be working, but am also reading that a public space is safer. Also, at what point did you have your nanny meet your kids? Any insight is appreciated!

rab41380 · March 2014

We did public meeting spots....at the park. And the kids played while we chatted.

cja06 · March 2014

Thanks! Although the weather is getting better, parks are still a little dicey and we have a six-week old. I'm struggling for a public space appropriate for kids that wouldn't be super loud and distracting (like an indoor bounce house or children's museum). We don't have a lot of local options in the winter unfortunately.

*sparky* · March 2014

@bridefromafar‌ - that is the issue we were having with interviewing nannies last month. There are really no outside places to meet, as it has been freezing cold and everything is covered in snow. I phone screened nannies first and then met with three of them at our house. I had also one through care.com and made sure they had been background checked, etc. I would have liked to have met them elsewhere and left a home interview for later in the process but it worked out ok doing it the way we did it.

Also we have a dog and by bringing them here I could see if they were really okay with him or not.

jf198400 · March 2014

bridefromafar said:
Thanks! Although the weather is getting better, parks are still a little dicey and we have a six-week old. I'm struggling for a public space appropriate for kids that wouldn't be super loud and distracting (like an indoor bounce house or children's museum). We don't have a lot of local options in the winter unfortunately.

Is the library an option? Our local library has a children's play area in the kids section that is relatively quiet.

Lilly&Co · March 2014

I had the top candidates come to a local coffee shop, with in walking distance from my home. I invited two back with me to meet the kids more and chat while the girls played in the back yard. I did not invite them in my home until I was ready for them to meet my husband.

litzo27 · March 2014

I never thought about it - I did a dozen interviews in my home. It was just easier with a newborn.

PSU_Texan · March 2014

Always at home... never thought otherwise. But people make some interesting suggestions.

glaw · March 2014

Definitely in public. Also not much interaction or feedback from a 6 week old so I don't think it matters if they meet. If you like a candidate you can always invite them to meet your kid at your home later. If your kid were older where maybe they could pick up on a bad vibe from a person then it would be worth to bring.

emberlee3 · March 2014

We interviewed most in our home and 1 or 2 at a nearby coffee shop. We used an agency, and I never really thought about bringing candidates to my home as a problem.

PSU_Texan · March 2014

As an added comment, I will say that interviewing the top 2 candidates in my home was very enlightening. I was interviewing one older lady and one middle age. Some people in their 50s/60s are very spry, but I noticed this lady seemed to have trouble with the stairs and I worried about her ability to climb up and down with an infant. Also, I saw their abilities to get down on the ground and play with my toddler. Made a difference in my decision. Not sure you'd notice this at a coffee shop.

fitmom82 · March 2014

we don't have a nanny, but when I go to the park or library with my kids I have to watch them. DD is almost 4 and is getting better, but I still don't think I could focus on an interview. I'd probably do it at my home or a coffee shop without the kids.

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