Are you applying to become an educator in Childcare? An interview in childcare can be a daunting experience, but there are a few ways that you can prepare to ensure you show your best qualities to your future employer. It’s essential to make a good first impression by having some answers ready, and having a few questions of your own. You should see a first job interview as an exciting opportunity to demonstrate your personality, individuality, and professionalism.

Research the childcare

First, do your research! Check out the website and social media of the childcare centre. You’ll get a pretty good idea of their values and you should try and reflect your commitment to these in the interview. If the centre is family-owned, mention how much you’re attracted to working in a small team. If it’s a larger childcare, comment on how you’re excited to learn from those with experience across the organisation. Take note of the unique features of the centre and ask questions about these. If they offer a unique learning structure or have career development opportunities, like Little Zak’s Academy, ask how they employ the different departments. The general idea is to be familiar with many features of the specific centre so you are competent, informed, and engaged when interviewed.

Prepare your answers

There are a few general questions that everyone can expect to be asked in an interview. Brainstorming ideas for these questions is a great way to be more prepared and less daunted by the interview process. Plus, it can ensure that you mention all you want to say about yourself and the centre, rather than rambling or using lots of conversation fillers.

Contemplating a few behavioural questions can be useful, as these are often asked in interviews to assess your ability to grow from past performance. These can include questions like:

• ‘Tell us about a time when you fulfilled a duty that wasn’t in your job description’

• ‘What is a risk you’ve taken that didn’t pay off?’

These questions are often about time management, leadership, adaptability, and communication skills. Thinking about times you’ve demonstrated these qualities in previous roles will assist your level of preparation.

Strengths and weaknesses

This interview question is a classic. I’m sure you already have a general idea of your strengths and weaknesses, but it’s important to know how to frame them in an interview context. Focus on examples of how your strengths contribute to your efficacy in the role. If you’re a great problem solver, link this back to how you have no trouble making split-second decisions regarding child safety. 

A great framework for answering these questions is the S.T.A.R. method. This way you can ensure you’re about to discuss all the important details of your story.

• S for Situation. Describe the situation where the events took place.

• T for Task. Describe the task you had to complete in order to solve the problem/issue at hand.

• A for Action. Explain what actions you took to complete the task.

• R for Results. Talk about the results of your actions and try to be as detailed as possible. How did your actions lead to the organisation functioning better, and leave a good impression on your part?

When discussing weaknesses, consider how you have overcome these weaknesses in previous roles to end your response on a positive note. For example, if you have trouble with task management, you could mention how you have adapted to using a digital planner to keep yourself accountable for projects. If you struggle with workplace conflict, give an example demonstrating how you’ve learnt the benefits of being assertive over passive or aggressive. 

Your motivation for working with children

Your future employer will likely ask you questions involving your interest in a specific role. This could include why you got into childcare in the first place, or what you find the most rewarding about working with children. It’s a good idea to brainstorm answers to these questions beforehand to have an idea of what you are going to say. Consider something more unique than just saying: ‘it’s rewarding’. 

• Maybe you like being around energy, imagination, and creativity.

• You might believe that children deserve a safe and nurturing environment, and want to help create this.

• You may have loved taking care of younger siblings.

• You may have babysat for your first job.

• You may have had inspiring educators yourself in preschool.

Past experiences working with children

Your interviewer will likely ask you about your experiences working with children, especially the more difficult times. Prior to the interview, you should recall a time when you had to handle an emergency situation related to a child. Safety is an extremely important consideration in childcare workplaces. Answering this sort of question well should prove to your hirer that you are calm and resilient under duress. If you have never worked in a formal childcare position before, consider a time when you have had an emergency related to younger siblings, a babysitting client, or even a general emergency at your last place of employment. The most important thing is that you relate it back to how you would go about resolving difficulties in the workplace you’re interviewing for and ensuring the safety of your children. 

Focus on first impressions

Within 7 seconds of meeting someone, you formulate a conscious or unconscious judgement on that person. In an interview room, there’s no excuse to not look your best. Childcare providers are responsible for maintaining a clean and safe environment for children under their care, and your ability to do this should be conveyed through your excellent personal hygiene. Clean hands, short nails, and uniform hygiene are all signifiers that you take your role seriously and are committed to creating a safe environment for children.

Whether it’s your first or your fifteenth job interview at a childcare centre, there are some key things that you should remember if you want to leave a good impression on the interviewer and improve your chances of getting hired. Thinking of responses to potential questions beforehand can be a great way to stay direct and concise in conversation. Contact Z Staffing if you’re interested in getting a casual childcare job to take the next step in your career as an educator