BMW vs. Hyundai by Marni Kent

First, to those of you who drive a Hyundai, I am not making light or passing judgement on what type of vehicle you may drive. Good, now that you know I am by no means a automobile enthusiast, we can expound on my aforementioned comparison.

Since my arrival here in the Sunshine State, I’ve had the sometimes pleasure, and sometimes pain of having to endure the arduous interview process. I know a lot of you, like me, from time to time have left these interviews with a sense of bewilderment and inexplicable disbelief. Agencies in large part have all of our best interests at heart. However, they also have a business to run with the end result being the “ bottom line “. What this means to you and me, is that while most agencies do their level best to place us with the right family, sometimes the nanny and the client’s best interest get’s overlooked in an effort to meet their economic business demands. This brings me to my automotive point of view. I, like many of you, have car shopped and purchased a variety of different vehicles over the years. Generally, I do my budget and car pricing homework before I venture out shopping. I know well in advance if I can afford that BMW or Hyundai. Additionally, I know about standard and optional equipment. That said, too many times I have interviewed with client families who want every option under the sun but are only willing to pay for the standard model. In many of these instances the agency was the primary component in this misinformation. The agency, like the initial car salesman has to sell you to the prospective client. Unfortunately, like car buying half truths and embellishment is too often the order of the day. So if I am well armed with critical information I will not find myself in the wrong dealership, right. Not so fast, frustration is only one of many emotions I feel when I get in the middle of an interview and I hear this famous phrase,“ salary is not an issue.”  Whatever your feelings are when and if you hear that phrase just be sure your sitting down because in my twenty years in this business I have only once had that statement be the case. Too many times erroneous salary needs and the budget of the prospective client are like buying that BMW or Hyundai. If the agency and the nanny are conveying accurate information, either verbal or written, these time consuming mishaps won’t happen. If the client cannot afford that BMW type nanny, then don’t waste everyone’s time by sending her to a Hyundai budget family who has no hope of hiring her due to their budgetary constraints. Nanny window shopping tends to erode the clients confidence and heighten their anxiety about finding the right nanny.

In closing, be passionate about what we do, but also be prepared, and always do your best to get into the right dealership.                  

Mastering the Art of the Interview by Marni Kent

Mastering the Art of the Interview
The interview process is a compilation of proven established techniques and personal style. By virtue of interchanging these methods, we arrive at an individual skill that will enable us to achieve success with the most difficult of interviews. Outlined below are some of the most common and unusual interview techniques related to the family/agency interview. Hopefully you will enhance your existing skills by employing some of these methods.
First impressions:
 In all interviews, the initial impression you make on a potentialemployer is the most important. While this sounds basic and simplistic, nannies continue to misjudge the appropriate attire to wear for the family or agency interview.Specifically, " dress for the job you want ", what does this mean?, In two words,professional and conservative. Try to put yourself in the interviewer’s shoes, a well groomed individual conveys preparation and confidence without having said a single word. At the conclusion of your interview, exhibit graciousness but not desperation,leave the interviewer with a sense that your interview was time well spent. Remember,there is no substitute for integrity, be honest and be yourself.
Non-Verbal Communications: 
The proverbial handshake, will generally be your initialinteraction with the interviewer. While this gesture seems rather insignificant, it actually will give your interviewer an indication of your readiness and deportment before you speak your first sentence. Think about the last time you exchanged a handshake with someone and you thought they just walked out of a meat locker, or a sauna. Your immediate attention was probably on the condition of your hand.I suspect it may not go over well if your interviewer is having to wipe their hands on a towel or they are having to stick them in their pockets to warm them up. Be cognizant of your epidermal situation.


Eye Contact
 Initiating and maintaining eye contact is critical. However, try not to do so in a starring or glaring manner, as this will only make interviewers uncomfortable. Occasionally observe your interviewers body language, this will help you in determining the importance of certain subjects. Most people have what gamblers refer to as a "Tell". This non verbal gesture is unique to each individual. When people are passionate about a specific issue, they tend to become more animated when they express themselves about the subject. When these opportunities present themselves, it is 

a rare moment for you to articulate to the interviewer about a specific skill or experience that coincides with their views or needs.

Verbal Communication:
 Knowing what you want to say is critical, but the approach and delivery for how you say it is paramount. While this sounds very elementary, it can make or break your interview. Typically, your interviewer is going to have a pretty good idea of your individual level of job expertise. Moreover, they likely had conversations with your past and present references, so it’s a good bet they know more about you than you think. It is a good practice to nonchalantly emulate your interviewers body language and behavior. Specifically, an energetic and outgoing interviewer probably will not think positive thoughts about a prospective nanny who slouches in her chair and answers most of questions in a apathetic or torpid manner. However, don’t try so hard do this and ultimately make the atmosphere uncomfortable for both you. Rehearse what you want to say at home in front of your spouse or a friend. By doing so will only enhance your speaking ability, especially with the tough questions. 
Finally, utilize voice inflection, this allows you to emphasize points of interest as it relates to skills, techniques and experience you possess that would be beneficial to the potential employer.