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Common Post-Interview Questions Nannies Ask

11/6/2019

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      Here at Kith & Kin, we do a LOT of nanny interviews. If you've just walked out of an in-person interview with a nanny agency, first off, congratulations! We aren't like most agencies in that our schedule is super tight - we aren't able to let just anyone walk through the office door for an interview. To get to that point, you've already made it past some initial behind-the-scenes vetting processes, and an invitation for a face-to-face interview is often a critical final stage in our candidacy process. 

      Unfortunately, however, a face-to-face interview with a nanny agency does not necessarily guarantee that we will be able to place you in a position, no matter how​ well you do. While we wish that we had the perfect nanny family for every qualified candidate who walks through our door, there are a lot of other factors at play that can affect your chances. Here are some common post-interview questions nannies ask us. Hopefully some of our responses can help demystify the process. 
Nanny Agency jobs

Here are some common Post-Interview questions nannies ask when pursuing Nanny Agency jobs.

Will you definitely get me a job?
We would love to say yes, but we can’t guarantee it. Our role is to represent you well: we share your resume, the comments from your references, your essays, and our thoughts about why you’re great for a specific family, but ultimately, it is the family’s decision to move forward with you, or another candidate. ​
I’ve gone on a lot of interviews... why is nothing working out?
This can be extremely frustrating, disappointing, and borderline hurtful to be rejected multiple times. Take it in stride. Understand that parents may choose other candidates not because of something you did or did not do, but because of something another candidate said that resonated with them deeper. Maybe it was something as simple as start date, or salary. Most of the times, clients don’t reject a candidate based on their performance, but because the candidate pool was so strong. Maybe they have met many people before you who were further along in their process, or perhaps you were the first and they wanted to see more candidates before deciding. Or, a different candidate could have had slightly more education or experience than you. It’s such a tricky process step by step. We encourage you to not get too down about it - it’s not a reflection of who you are as a person.

​There are always things you can improve upon in an interview, and it's important to keep this in mind as a point of "interview practice". But also, when interviewing as a nanny, it's important to remember that parents have much greater "hiring-anxiety" than employers in other fields! Not only do they want to find someone qualified, but they are looking for a person who can mold to their specific family and work in their private space. If a family chooses not to move forward with a candidate, it's often not because they think the candidate is under-qualified or not-likable. Often these parents think there's a better fit for you out there! 
Nanny Agency jobs
What do parents look for in interviews?
They are truly looking for you! They want to know what you’re all about, in a professional sense. Share your philosophies, and your heart for working with children. Ask great questions about the role to help you understand it, as well as to prove to them that you're interested in more than just a paycheck. Listen to what they have to say, and go home and evaluate after the interview if you feel like you’d make a great match. It is not just up to the parents to decide if it feels like the connection is good! Ask us for feedback, and if we have any constructive criticism to share, understand that it doesn’t mean you’re a bad person - it means you can improve!
Am I allowed to be interviewing with other agencies and families?
Absolutely! You need to do what you is best for you, and that includes widening your net to catch the best opportunities. Know that we are here to support you, and when we send you to a job, it is because we truly believe you are an excellent fit.  
What is required of me now?
Now that you’ve passed our process, please keep us in loop. 
Tell us which jobs you’re interested in, and respond quickly to emails. Often, securing a good nanny job can be a game of perfect timing. A candidate who has just had a great family interview, but who fails to respond quickly to a follow-up email will be a red-flag to parents who are expecting prompt communication from their future nanny. 
Nanny Agency jobs
Why am I not getting a job through you? 
If you have gone on several family interviews with an agency but have not yet successfully been placed in a new position, don't panic! Here at KITH & KIN, we believe in encouraging a partnership between the nanny and their employers which belies on shared professional goals and values. This doesn't happen every day! Finding the right family can take time. If you have gone on multiple interviews without much luck, think about how you might better present yourself to potential employers. Make sure that you are selling your strengths and values in your answers! Be sure to make an effort to get to know the values and ideals of the parents you are being interviewed by as well. This will show the family that you are serious about forming a long-term connection with them and their children, rather than just someone who will take the first job that is offered. 
Nanny Agency jobs

These are just some of the common post-interview questions nannies ask us. If you are a nanny with another specific question regarding the follow-up of your candidacy, feel free to ask us in the comment section below, or shoot us an email here!

KITH & KIN

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KITH & KIN featured on Yoga | Birth | Babies Podcast!

7/24/2018

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Last month, our founder, Christa, sat down for a conversation with the founder of the Prenatal Yoga Center, Deb Flashenberg, on her podcast Yoga | Birth | Babies. The episode is called NANNY 101. ​ Shared within it are tips and tricks for hiring and employing a nanny or babysitter, whether temporarily or long-term. It's completely appropriate and helpful for nannies, too! 
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​Have a listen here and catch some helpful gems!


Are you overwhelmed by the thought of how to hire a nanny in NYC?
Have you started the nanny search on your own, but need to run a nanny background check?
We are here to help you.
​Send us an email and tell us about your family's needs - we'd love to help you hire a nanny in NYC, or help you vet your own candidates properly! 
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How to Write a Nanny Resume Like a Champ

4/2/2018

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          We here at KITH & KIN often get some very well qualified nannies, but their resumes are either incomplete, or not up to date. But what if you've never written a superb and professional nanny or housekeeper resume before? We're here to help! 
How to Write a Nanny Resume
          Finding a new nanny job in NYC can be a daunting endeavor. There will be a lot of highly experienced, ready-for-anything nannies vying for that amazing position. When you’re up against dozens of other competent nanny candidates, families and agencies will often not even consider candidates who don’t have a professional nanny resume. Having a polished, professional nanny resume is the very best way to ensure that you will get your foot in the door past that first hurdle, and onto an interview.
         When working with kids, it’s okay to have a little more fun on your resume than you might in other job fields - but you want to make sure that you’re still keeping it professional and always including a few key pieces of information.


​Here are our tips to help you create the best professional nanny resume to help you stand out!

STEP ONE:  Begin with a Clear Layout.

          A good resume is visually straightforward. Your name should always be at the top of the page, in a clear easy-to-read font. Underneath should always follow whatever contact info you feel comfortable sharing. We recommend listing only your current home city and state and your preferred email address. Some candidates will include a job title directly beneath their name, which read something like “Childcare Professional” or a jazzier “Modern Day Mary Poppins”. Totally up to you! Think of your résumé more like a CV (curriculum vitae) - one page may not be enough to cover your experience, so feel free to scrap that old "one page only" rule.  
  • Do you have more experience beyond a nanny or housekeeping positions? Don't be afraid to have two or three separate headings, if need be.
  • "Nanny Experience" for nanny-specific positions, and "Other Childcare Experience," or, "Teaching Experience," is appropriate for childcare settings, teaching experience, or volunteer positions.
  • If you have other work experience that is unrelated, say in retail or food service, you can create another heading that says, "Additional Work Experience," to make up for any gaps in your employment, just know that these will be verified.

       Beneath each subsection you will want to outline each position. Here, indentation is key. Your layout should be visually clear, making use of whitespace and implementing a clear font. Bullet points and differently weighted font will make all the difference.

STEP TWO:   Who are You?

​Start off your resume with a brief description of your skillset. Here is your opportunity to let yourself shine!
  1. Create a heading that says something like, "Introduction," or, "Background". Place under this heading a one or two sentence introduction where you can briefly state what your qualifications and personal values are, what you are seeking in a position (temporary, long-term, part or full time, etc.).
  2. You can create a second heading that says "Special Skills," if you have anything that sets you apart. Are you skilled in baby sign language? Do you know how to prepare specialty meals? Have you studied, lived, or worked abroad? Do you have a high-level of schedule flexibility? Put it here!
  3. Make a third heading that states something similar to, "Education," or, "Education and Trainings," if you have additional specializations. This may also be put at the bottom on the résumé.  Here you may list your achievements such as degrees or coursework, CPR/First Aid certifications, INA Basic Skills Assessment, and any additional trainings or further education in childhood development.  NOTE: If you don't have a full degree, do not state that you do! Instead, write, "Coursework toward xyz degree" and the date.
How to Write a Nanny Resume

STEP THREE:   Position Details - Clear and Complete.

 ​                                             Household Experience
For each and every Nanny or Housekeeper position you have held we always recommend listing your relevant positions in reverse chronological order (most recent at the top). When listing your childcare experience be sure to include:
​
  1. On one line, state only the last name of the family, if permitted (no first names), and the city and state job was located
  2. Month and year of start and end of position: be specific to give a clear picture
  3. Specify whether full or part time; long-term, or temporary
  4. ​The number and  ages of children when you started (ex: "3 month old and 4 year old at start of position")
  5. Bulleted list of duties, with between 2 to 5 bullet points, condensing where necessary (avoid the paragraphs - one sentence per bullet will do)
​                       •  Use the bullet points or indentation to give a quick description of each childcare position, for instance “Responsible for the full-care of their infant son including: bottle feeding, naps, diapers, tummy time, and laundry” or “Assisted with after-school care for two children ranging from travel between activities, homework help, dinner preparation, and bedtime routine”.
​                       •  Be specific without writing an essay. If you were taking on tasks such as arranging playdates, or scheduling for the gardeners to come, this can be described as “Activity planning” or “Arranging household maintenance”. No task is too small to consider, it’s just a matter of presenting it as an employable skill! 
​
                                                       Other Experience
​For positions outside of nanny or housekeeping, feel free to follow to same basic structure. Some parents will appreciate seeing that you’re a fully rounded human, with professional experience outside of your nanny background.
     While we don’t recommend including every part-time hostess job you’ve ever worked, it could be to your benefit to include certain outside experiences. For instance, summer camp positions with kids can show a sense of your ability to be active, and manage a group. Even retail and hospitality positions can give evidence to your personable disposition and people-skills.

      And this goes without saying, but these likely be verified by an employer as well, so be truthful, as always.

STEP FOUR:   Discretion! 

  • Especially when applying to a position through Craigslist or some other mass sourcing location, you do not know to whom you are actually giving your name, phone number or full address. Leave that off - you can simply put your city and state. 
  • For references, hold your past employers' privacy in high-regard: write, "References available upon request." Do not put their full name, full address, phone number, or email anywhere on your résumé if they have not given you permission to distribute that.​

STEP FIVE:  Save an Editable Resume

The biggest mistake we see is when a candidate has a resume, but needs to add, remove, or edit experience on the document, but has no way to do it, and has to start all over. Beware of companies promising to build you a resume if it is not yours to edit forever. What's the point in spending all this time making an awesome resume if it's going to be invalid in a year? 
​

There are two places from where we recommend building resumes:

1. CANVA, for some fancy, visually stunning goodness
2. Good ol' Google Docs using their template builders (see our example we built below)
      You need to have an account with each of these services, but first, it's free, and second, you can save it forever and edit it whenever you want over the years! Once you finish your degree, you can change "in progress" to "graduated". If your boss moves away and you just finished your position, change "currently employed" to the month and year it ended. The bottom line is, 
​keep your resume editable and accessible. ​

Here is a sample resume we have built. Note how have a visually clear and detailed resume works wonders - the viewer actually wants to review it. 
How to Make a Nanny Resume
How to Make a Nanny Resume

We hope this helps you in your quest to presenting yourself as a professional, polished, and competent caregiver. Happy job hunting!

How to Write a Nanny Resume
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Why Didn't I Receive a Response to My Nanny Application?

5/17/2017

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As a nanny agency in NYC, we have seen thousands of nannies come to our agency seeking employment. Unfortunately, only about half of those people receive a follow up email, and only a very small portion of those candidates make it to an in person interview (usually around 15% of applicants!).
​

Why are only roughly 15% of applicants being interviewed? Why aren't you interviewing more qualified people?

 
       Going through a housekeeping and nanny agency in NYC to find your ideal position is highly competitive and selective. For each position that is posted, an average of 125 applications and resumes will be submitted. While the applicant could be a fantastic caregiver with stellar references, we may never get to meet them because of the way a candidate presents himself or herself. In a stack of resumes and emails, it is important to make yourself stand out. 
​       
We get it.  Applying for a new job is a ton of work. We've been there! You're likely applying at a lot of places, but if you really believe you are a good match for a listing, put yourself fully into it, and do it to the best of your ability. 



​Here are a few pointers to capture our agency's (and a family's!) attention:

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1.    Have well-written and thoughtful answers to the questions on our application, and in your cover letter.

    When a candidate answers a question in one short sentence (or even worse, just a few adjectives), it is impossible to get a clear picture of what that candidate is about, and what they really believe about child rearing. Our nanny agency seeks to hire out nannies who are grounded in their developmental theory and experience, and if this isn't displayed at first, we simply don't have the time to give hundreds of candidates multiple chances. No need to write  a multiple-paragraph essay (this isn't a high school English class! :)), but between 2-4 sentences is usually enough to concisely convey your answer. ​

2.    Use your very best professional communication.

Informal language, specifically "text talk" and abbreviations, are not appropriate in a professional setting.  Check for spelling errors on your resume, and if you need help, reach out to a friend or family member for an extra set of eyes. If you want your application to be taken seriously, present yourself as polished and professional.  When we receive emails and resumes that don't use appropriate grammar or conventions (starting a sentence with a capital letter, and ending it with a period), it shows that your interactions are rushed and you may appear thoughtless, even when your character may go above and beyond!  If you are perceived by a family as thoughtless and rushed, you likely won't even receive a response back.  Start an email with a greeting such as, "Good morning, Kelly," or "Dear Ayesha," and end it with a closing.  When an email lacks these elements, it lacks professionalism, and you may inadvertently, or intentionally, get overlooked.

3.     Follow the directions in a job position, exactly. ​

 It really is that easy! If a posting says send a PDF, make sure you figure out how to save your word doc as a PDF before you send it (Google it for your specific software). If a posting says you must have recent infant experience, be sure to note it specifically in your cover letter. If a posting says to send three professional references, don't send the contact information of your cousin or aunt (and on that note, we say this in love: don't even consider sending a false reference. This is our job, and we can spot them from a mile away - you will immediately be disqualified. It's best to say that you only have two supervisor references than put down a friend who will cover for you).  If you are having trouble with any part of the application, it is totally fine to note this, because it shows that you are paying attention to the details and trying your best.

4.     Be sure you meet the requirements of the job. ​

Our particular job advertisements are detailed for a reason - to save you time by giving you a clear picture of what the required qualifications are, the desired (not mandatory) traits, and the duties you can expect if you were to be hired.  There is simply no sense in you taking 30 minutes to go through the process of applying if you don't meet the requirements or wouldn't be interested in the job.  For instance, if you can't travel, but a family needs you to spend a month in the Hamptons, you'll feel like you've wasted your time when we won't be able to move forward. 

5.   Above all, be respectful.

This goes without saying, but be respectful in communication. If you haven't heard back about a position, and you've followed the four points above, a kind follow up is always welcome. Simply saying, "Hello! How are you today? I'm just checking back in about my application," is completely appropriate, and quite frankly, appreciated due to the amount of applicants.  Impatiently writing, "I haven't heard anything back? Where are you?!" will not go far.  Assume the best.  No one means to offend you. 
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​Copyright 2021. Kith and Kin is a division of Adventure Nannies. Kith and Kin does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, age, height, weight, physical disabilities, veteran status, and marital status. We place nannies, newborn care specialists (formerly called baby nurses), and private educators throughout the New York metro area and beyond. You may contact us at hello@KITHandKINnyc.com
  • About
    • About Us
    • Our Founder
    • Adventure Nannies
    • FAQs
  • Families
    • Family Info
    • Our Services
    • Our Process
    • Family Contact Form
  • Candidates
    • Requirements
    • Candidate Process
    • Why KITH & KIN?
    • Open Jobs
    • FAQs for Candidates
  • Contact
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    • For Job Seekers