Nursery Nurse Interview Questions
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Interviews can be daunting and hard to prepare for but we’re here to help. We’ve compiled a list of common questions that you might be asked in yours and how you might go about answering them, as well as some questions you could ask your interviewer to help show your interest in the position!
Questions your interviewer might ask
Your motivations
- Why do you want to work with children?
Interviewers will want to hear about your motivations for getting into childcare, it’s good to be honest about why you want the job and to show your potential employer that you genuinely care.
- What do you enjoy about working with children?
Again, this is a personal question so have a think about what it is that you actually enjoy about the role and be honest about it, interviewers are going to value people who show some passion.
- What would you want to have achieved at the end of the work day?
Think about the role of a nursery nurse and how you’ll be impacting the children you’re working with. Try and centre your response around how you’ll be benefiting the children and the wider workplace.
Your personal approach to the role
- How would you handle a misbehaving child?
Make sure that you’re aware of best practice for working with misbehaving children in a childcare environment. You can impress the interviewer if you demonstrate the right knowledge for the job and reassure them that they aren’t hiring someone unprofessional or unaware of proper procedure. Of course policies can vary so it’s good to read up on your potential employer first.
- What qualities will you bring to the nursery in this role?
Similarly to other questions, this one requires a personal response. Highlight the strengths and skills that are going to be useful in a childcare environment with an emphasis on what makes you uniquely suited to the position. Can you think of ways that you stand out from similar applicants?
- How do you keep yourself motivated in such a demanding role?
This will differ for everyone but it’s important to let your employer know that you’re highly motivated for the position and won’t collapse under the sometimes challenging scenarios you’ll be dealing with on a regular basis.
Qualifications and experience
- What skills make you qualified to be an early years practitioner?
Talk about both your qualifications and experience here. It’s important to not just emphasise the knowledge that you have from study, but also any practical experience you might have. If you don’t have any experience then keep the focus on your studies. Emphasise particular strengths you have that will apply to the workplace.
- How long have you been qualified?
Employers are going to favour those who have been qualified for longer and have more experience but this shouldn’t be an obstacle. Just be honest and ensure they know you’re fully ready to enter a career in childcare.
If you still need to get your qualifications then why not take a look at our Level 2 Childcare course? It’s ideal if you’re looking to enter a career in childcare or early years work!
If you’re already qualified then it’s a good idea to get some supporting qualifications to help you through the application process. Having your Level 2 Safeguarding qualification will show employers you can fulfil all of the safeguarding obligations of the role.
These positions will usually come with some kind of safeguarding training, but already having a qualification means you’ll have more knowledge than the average nursery worker and be able to set yourself apart from other applicants for the role, potentially getting you the job.
- Do you have any experience in working with children with special needs?
This is important if you’re working in a specialised setting but can also apply to any nursery. You might not have any experience in this which is totally fine, if you do have no experience then talk about your willingness to learn instead and how past experiences or knowledge from your study might help in this situation.
Questions for you to ask your interviewer
- What is a typical day like at your nursery?
- What's the best part of working at your nursery?
- How do you measure success? Does the nursery have any goals or targets to meet?
- What would my day-to-day responsibilities be in the role?
- Are there any particular challenges in this position?
- Are there any opportunities for progression in the role or within the company?
- What are your most valued qualities in your employees?
- Is there anything else that you need from me?
- When can I expect to hear back about this application?
Final note
Reading through some of our common questions should help get you in the right headspace for your interview, but don’t stop here–have a think about what kind of questions you could be facing, as well as how you might answer them on your own!
Make sure you have everything else you’ll need to land that dream job by returning to our nursery nurse career advice, or find out how to revamp your nursery nurse cv or cover letter. Have you got a job in mind but don’t have the right qualifications? If so, check out our courses page and take a look at some of our valuable qualifications.