Hints and tips for Nursery Nurse interview

jen007

Hi guys,
I've an interview with a private nursery in Glasgow next Wednesday and i'm wondering if anyone might have some hints and tips on how to hopefully get the job!

I graduated from college in June and i've been working as an Ad Hoc waitress for about a year and a half now. I've no experience in a nursery besides my college placements (2 years of 2 days a week). And this is something which has shown in my feedback from other (all) of my interviews.

How can I get past the needing more experience in the interview?

It's another catch 22 of needing experience but noone wants to give me it. :rotfl: I've even looked at doing a work experience through the job center, but the JC told me it's too hard to set it up for a nursery.

whitewing

College course has experience with children. Waitressing has experience with families in a customer service environment. All the things that helped your waitressing be really successful are transferable skills.

Can you help out at Brownies or something? Do you do babysitting - that would help.

skibadee

Which college courses did you do? what qualifications did they give you?

We usually look for someone who interacts well with the children is willing to undertake further training, as you say you have had 'some' experience with children whilst on placements...mention that and add how you enjoyed the placements, whilst waitressing you obviously interacted with familys etc., add that as having ' good people skills' and that you work well as part of a team and own initiative.

Its very difficult, as you say, to gain experience if no-one will give you the chance to do so...Good luck!

whitewing

Oh, is no one else chipping in? Bump.

The other thing I would say is that I've interviewed nursery nurses in the past for work experience posts outside of a nursery environment. They have all been obliging but not very proactive in interview; they've answered the question asked and smiled but not really said much which can make it hard work compared to say a college student who hasn't had the joy of life sucked out by long term unemployment. So if you maybe talk a bit more than you may normally it will really help build a rapport.

jen007

skibadee wrote: »

Which college courses did you do? what qualifications did they give you?

We usually look for someone who interacts well with the children is willing to undertake further training, as you say you have had 'some' experience with children whilst on placements...mention that and add how you enjoyed the placements, whilst waitressing you obviously interacted with familys etc., add that as having ' good people skills' and that you work well as part of a team and own initiative.

Its very difficult, as you say, to gain experience if no-one will give you the chance to do so...Good luck!

I've a HNC in Early Education and Childcare. I got an A for my graded unit.

I also have my own son, which I do play up to, along with childcare for a family friend with a child with ASN.

Those are very good tips however, so thank you.

jen007

Bumping this for a bit more feedback

whitewing

Why don't you give your college tutor a ring and discuss some strategies with her? I am sure she could really help.

jen007

I never actually thought of that. I think I will give them a wee bell on Monday.

I now have two interviews on Wednesday, I have no problem getting the interviews seems to be the experience thing that's letting me down. I'm starting a work experience placement on Monday at my local soft play center so hopefully this will combat that, although i'd much prefer a job haha.

paddedjohn

Register with an agency and get some work in nurseries that way. My daughter has been doing this for a few years now and is in her final year of uni with a job more or less guaranteed.