Not because you’re not qualified.
Not because you’re a bad nanny.
Because you’re not being strategic.
Here are a few things that can accidentally work against you:
Turning “Tell me about yourself” into your entire life story
Keep it relevant. They want to know about you as a nanny: your experience, your approach, your strengths, and what you’re looking for.
Talking badly about a previous family
Even if you have a VERY good reason.
You can explain why a position ended without making the interview a therapy session about your former employer.
Jumping straight to salary
Compensation absolutely matters. You should know your worth.
But there’s a difference between discussing your expectations professionally and making salary the first thing you want to talk about.
Answering every question with “whatever the parents want”
Being flexible is great. Having no opinions, boundaries, or childcare philosophy can make it difficult for a family to understand what you actually bring to the table.
Not making it clear why you want THIS job
“I love working with children” is nice, but every nanny they interview might say the same thing. What specifically interests you about this family, their children, the role, or the way they work?
Saying “I don’t have any questions”
You’re interviewing them too.
Ask about the children, routine, parenting style, expectations, schedule, household responsibilities, communication, and what they’re looking for in their nanny.
Giving the “perfect nanny” answer instead of the honest one
Trying to give the answer you think a family wants to hear can backfire. Honest, thoughtful answers give them a much better sense of who you are as a nanny.
Showing up unprepared
Read the job description carefully, think through your experience, and be ready to discuss the position, your responsibilities, and what you’re looking for.
None of these things automatically mean you’ll lose the job.
But interviews are often decided by small things, especially when several candidates are equally qualified.
So prepare. Be thoughtful about what you say. And remember that being qualified for the job is only part of getting the job.
