AyiConnect Staff, Jul 16, 2021
When seeking caregivers, the next stage after streamlining your candidates is to conduct phone interviews or face-to-face interviews with prospective candidates.
Most parents will begin with a phone interview before deciding whether or not to invite the nanny over. So what happens when you interview a caregiver or nanny over the phone or a video call, and the interview isn't as good as you expected. Does it mean the caregiver is unqualified?
Many people might be quick to conclude that a nanny or caregiver is unqualified because of a bad interview.
However, before you conclude, it is crucial not to judge a book by its cover. It is also essential to find out whether or not the nanny faced any challenge in the interview process.
For instance, if you have an interview with a Chinese or other foreign nannies, communication might be a problem, especially if you speak fast and are not fluent in English. You might throw them off and put them at a loss. However, if you were to talk gently, you would find out that they become more confident and respond better because they can understand you better.
Here are some causes of bad interview experiences with a good nanny
- Poor understanding of Interview Language
If you are interviewing a caregiver in a language that isn't their first language, the chances are that they will not understand you correctly. Even if they do, they might not express their responses properly. For instance, if you are interviewing a Chinese or Spanish nanny for your kids, bear in mind that they might not be fluent in English. If you can speak their first language, interview them in the language they're comfortable with, as it would help them express themselves better.
- Lack of experience with phone/video interview
Some nannies/caregivers are not familiar with holding interviews over the phone or video calls. It might make them feel nervous or distracted during the conversation. However, they would likely ace is a face-to-face interview.
But how would you know whether the problem is the medium of communication or the person? You will know it by asking questions that will spur them to make responses. Ask them situational questions such as explaining what they would do with a child or elderly in a given situation, and gauge their replies. You can also ask them to share their experiences working as nanny/caregivers. You'll most likely find them relaxing and communicating better with you.
- Anxiety
We all have those moments when we're before an interview panel or a prospective client, and we suddenly get tongue-tied. You know what you ought to say, and you prepared well for the meeting, but anxiety creeps in like a thief in the night, and you become a stuttering mess.
Nannies feel this way too, and a caregiver might perform poorly at an interview because they are anxious and not for lack of skill or experience.
One way to know an experienced nanny is their resume, work experiences, and references. If these things look promising, you should consider inviting the nanny over for a face-to-face interview or observation. You can ask them to look after your kid and elderly for a short while and observe their interactions.
Everyone isn't great at interviews, and your nanny could be one of such persons.
What to do if your nanny/caregiver does poorly at an interview
If you're curious enough to think that there might be more to the nanny candidate despite a bad interview, the chances are that there's more.
You can ask them what problems they faced with the initial interview, enquire about language barriers, and also help them to feel relaxed.
Finally, you can give them a one-on-one trial after checking out their references, identification, and other relevant details.
There's nothing wrong with handing an interviewee a second chance if you think they would do better. If you have a hunch, go with it.
Who knows? You might find the best nanny/caregiver you ever had when you exercise a little patience and become more considerate. Many have been in such situations, and they are happy they made the right decision.
Don't forget; that a book is much more than what its cover holds.
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