How to prepare for a nanny or housekeeping job interview

A nanny or housekeeping interview helps a family understand your experience and gives you an opportunity to clarify what they expect. You do not need a complicated speech: prepare truthful examples, explain how you work and ask your questions.

Whether you have worked in a private home, a residence or within your own family, this guide helps you prepare a practical conversation. The sample dialogues are fictional and should be adapted to your situation.

1. Prepare five things before the appointment

• The vacancy: review the duties, location, advertised hours and missing details.
• Your background: note two relevant experiences, how long they lasted and your actual responsibilities.
• Your availability: check your free days and travel time to the workplace.
• Your referees: ask permission before sharing their contact details.
• Your questions: prepare questions about duties, pay, rest periods and the contract.

Confirm the time, address and name of the person you will meet. Choose clean, practical clothing. Allow extra travel time; if you are delayed, let the employer know as soon as possible. Tell someone you trust about the appointment.

Confirmation message: “Hello, I am confirming our interview on [date] at [time] for the [job title] role. Could you confirm the location and the name of the person I will meet? Thank you.”

2. Introduce yourself in less than a minute

Give your first name, the type of role you want, a relevant experience and your availability. Explain whether the experience was paid, occasional or family support. If you have no formal qualification, focus on what you can actually do.

For a housekeeper: “My name is [first name]. I cleaned a private home two mornings a week for a year. I handled floors, the kitchen and laundry, following agreed priorities. I am looking for a non-live-in role in [town] and I am available [days].”

For a nanny: “I helped a family look after two children aged 4 and 7 for six months. I prepared their belongings, organised activities and shared updates with the parents. I would like to know your children’s ages and routines.”

Replace these details with your own. Do not invent jobs, qualifications or first-aid training.

Illustration: Anna Shvets, Pexels. The person pictured is not presented as a job applicant.

3. Answer with examples rather than promises

A useful answer describes the situation, your action and what happened next. Keep it brief and protect families’ privacy.

“How do you organise your cleaning?”

“I first ask about priorities and instructions for surfaces and equipment. I plan tasks around the available time. In my previous role, we spread laundry and cleaning across the week. If I cannot finish everything, I let the person in charge know so we can agree on priorities.”

“What do you do if you do not understand an instruction?”

“I explain what I have understood and ask for confirmation before starting. For equipment I have not used before, I ask for a demonstration.”

“Have you ever made a mistake?”

Choose a real example and explain how you reported it and put it right. Avoid promising that you never make mistakes.

“I misunderstood a tidying priority. I spoke to the person in charge, we clarified the instruction and I then used a list to avoid the same misunderstanding.”

“Can you look after the children and do all the housework?”

“I would like to understand the children’s ages, the expected tasks and the help available. When supervising a child needs my full attention, how would you like the other tasks to be organised?”

4. Approach practical scenarios calmly

The employer may ask how you would handle an unexpected situation. Show that you can request information and report a problem without claiming expertise you do not have.

Scenario: someone you do not know arrives to collect a child.
Possible answer: “I check the collection arrangements agreed with the parents and contact them if there is any doubt, before handing the child over. I would like to know your procedure in advance.”

Scenario: you are unfamiliar with a product or piece of equipment.
Possible answer: “I ask for instructions and a demonstration before using it. I explain what I am unfamiliar with.”

If a practical demonstration is proposed, clarify the tasks, duration, supervision and payment arrangements before starting. An interview question should not turn into an unclear commitment to a day’s work.

5. Ask your questions before committing

• How many children or rooms are involved? Which tasks take priority?
• Who will give instructions and who should I tell about a problem?
• What are the hours, breaks and rest days? How is extra work agreed?
• What salary is offered, when will it be paid and by what method?
• Who covers transport, meals and equipment?
• What contract is proposed? What are the start arrangements and the terms of any trial period?

For a live-in role, also ask to see the sleeping space and understand the working and rest periods. You can say: “I am interested in the role. I need to clarify the hours and duties before confirming.”

You do not need to provide payment or login codes for an interview. Do not leave original identity documents as a deposit to secure the job.

6. End the interview with a clear next step

Ask when a decision is expected and how it will be communicated. If you need to send a reference or document, check what is required and share only relevant information.

After-interview message: “Hello, thank you for discussing the [job title] role with me. I remain interested in the duties presented. We discussed [days and hours] and [terms discussed]. We still need to clarify [point]. Could you confirm the next step? Thank you.”

Before the appointment, practise aloud: a short introduction, two truthful examples and three questions. The aim is to make your experience clear and check whether the role’s expectations match what you can offer.

Read also: presenting your experience without formal qualifications and questions to ask before accepting a job. Then browse vacancies on Kamerjob.

Stock photographs: cottonbro studio (cover) and Anna Shvets, via Pexels.

The Kamerjob team