There’s no clear formula for finding the right person who’ll care for and love your kids as if they were her own. And because you will be entrusting your children’s safety and welfare to this person, the screening process is very crucial.
With all the news about abusive helpers and new modus operandi going around, just like the ones you put in office, when it comes to putting the ones to care for your children you have to choose wisely.
You have to make sure they submit authentic documents for proper identification, that you do a little bit of background checking, and that you ask the right questions during your initial screening.
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To help you deal with an initial yaya interview here are a few basic questions you need to ask.
1. How long did you stay with your previous employers?
When you’re done asking the basics i.e. age, birthplace etc., you’ll have to check her track record. This will help you determine her level of commitment to her job and her responsibilities.
Her answer to this question will tell you about her work ethics.
Does she get discouraged or disheartened easily? Is she serious about working or does she just want a place to stay for free? Be wary of yayas who don’t stay long with an employer. This could mean that she gets bored easily, doesn’t see being a yaya as a real job and so isn’t serious about her responsibilities.
Save yourself the heartache (and stress) and go with someone who has proven that she’s in this for the long haul.
Read: Wanted yaya. Former yaya runs away and leaves toddlers home alone
2. Why did you leave your previous employer?
This could clue you in on her temperament, ability to get along with other people and handle stressful situations. While there are those who will give you vague answers (because they are aware that a bad record from a previous employer could affect their employability) you will know upon further questioning if they are hiding something from you.
In which case you’ll have to do a little bit of background checking.
Others will freely discuss their complicated arguments with previous employers or other members of the household, which could possibly tell you more about this person’s ability to get along with others. While petty arguments with past employers could be acceptable depending on the situation, be wary of those who seem to have a lot of bad things to say about their previous employers.
Find out what else to ask your yaya applicant on the next page.
3. How old were the other children you cared for previously?
Save yourself the hassle of hearing your yaya say “hindi ko po pala sya kayang alagaan” a few weeks into the job by finding out beforehand if she has proven her ability to care for a child around the same age as yours.
You’ll have to remember that kids from different age groups have different needs. A yaya who spent years taking care of older children might not be experienced enough to handle a toddler — more so a baby.
Just because she has years of experience taking care of children, it doesn’t mean she can take care of yours too. Some of them realize a few weeks into the job that babies are too fragile, or toddlers require so much energy to supervise.
Read: Practical solutions to 10 yaya problems
4.Would you mind if I ran a background check on you?
Take note of her initial reaction. Non-verbal cues will sometimes give you the answer you need. If she seems to be uncomfortable with this question, it’s all right to ask her to explain so she can clarify.
But do not under any circumstances be talked into skipping the background check since it’s the safety of your children on the line. In this case the old adage still applies, if she has nothing to hide then she shouldn’t have anything to worry about.
A very telling question that you must ask your yaya applicant on the next page.5. How do you discipline children? What was the most challenging discipline problem you’ve had as a nanny?
It’s important to know if you are on the same page when in comes to disciplining your children. You’ll have to remember that your kids will be spending most of their time with their yaya and there could be times when she will be tempted to take matters into her own hands, so to speak.
Does she believe in spanking? Does she have the tendency to terrorize or scare children via physical violence? What is her discipline style? These are things you would have to know even before you entrust your children to her.
What other yaya interview questions have proven to be effective for you? Please share with other parents in the comments below.
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