10 Childcare Interview Questions to Prepare For
Working in the childcare industry is a rewarding career path for many, allowing you to use transferable skills and develop knowledge of working with early years to pass on valuable lessons and morals to set them up for success in their adult lives. Childcare job interview questions often look at the candidate in a holistic way, gaging your manner, attitude, knowledge and skillset, conflict resolutions and situational experiences.
These 10 childcare interview questions and ideas of what to include in your answers, detailed in this blog, will help you be prepared to land your dream job in the childcare industry.
Childcare interview questions on your existing knowledge
The following childcare job interview questions look at your experience, education and general knowledge of the legislation and regulation that governs the childcare industry.
1. What is your understanding of the Early Years Learning Framework?
Make sure you are clued up on The Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) government approved framework that ensures quality and consistency in all early childhood education programs that are delivered across all early childhood settings. Childcare job interview questions are inevitably going to cover key legislation, so knowing the benchmarks of the framework and how it applies to the delivery of your services will set you apart from other candidates.
2. What is your understanding of the National Quality Standard?
Again, this relates to the ACECQA board and includes seven quality standards that must be met and are important to the outcomes for children. These standards are:
- Educational program and practice
- Children's health and safety
- Physical environment
- Staffing arrangements
- Relationships with children
- Collaborative partnerships with families and communities
- Governance and leadership
Knowing these in full and being able to show that you have this knowledge will impress the interviewer. Read more about the National Quality Standards to know exactly what each one means.
Childcare interview questions on your experience in the industry
This section will display to the interviewer that you have the experience and skillset to work within an early childhood setting (if you are applying for a role that requires experience). Questions to expect will include:
3. How long have you worked with children, and can you tell me a bit about your experience?
As self-explanatory as this may seem, it’s an important question to ask. Here is your chance to go into detail about your experience and show how it’s relevant to the role you are applying for. Read the job description in full before you apply, and again before your interview. Relate your experience back to what the job requires of you, showing that you are ready to carry out the duties and responsibilities that the role requires.
4. What teaching strategies do you favour, and why?
Everyone has a preferred method of delivering educational services, and here is your chance to showcase what you like and why. Keep in mind the job description, however you want to remain open and honest during job interviews. This will allow the interviewer to determine if you are right for the role and are the perfect fit with working with the children that you may end up teaching. This question is for the benefit of everyone involved – the children, the institution, the employees and yourself.
Childcare interview questions on how you handle different situation
Working in the childcare industry means no two days are the same. You will have children in your care with a vast range of personalities, and these questions are to understand how you manage each one.
5. What was your most challenging situation working with children, and how did you rectify it?
Come prepared for this question. A variation of this will inevitably come up, as conflict resolution is a key factor in your management of children. Think of a time where you can show you handled the situation ethically, effectively and with minimal impact. Make sure you include examples in your answers to show you are experienced.
6. Describe a time you dealt with an issue leading to an unhappy parent
It’s not just the children you will interact with on a daily basis, but also their parents and guardians. Being able to communicate effectively with early childhood years and adults is a skill that an early childhood educator must possess. In your answers, demonstrate that you can adequately explain situations, justify the why, and show that your intentions are for what’s best for the child by remaining ethical and understanding will win points with the interviewer.
Childcare interview questions that show you are ethically sound
Ethics play a big part in any industry involved in delivering care. Childcare workers must display their moral and ethical standpoint, showing they will abide by the law if they witness unfavourable treatment.
7. What would you do if you saw a child with consistent signs of injury?
Childcare job interview questions will test your knowledge of child protection laws and the standards revolving around the childcare industry. Being able to firstly identify the signs of child abuse and then knowing the steps to take to protect the child in line with relevant protocol displays your ethical and moral standpoint are where they should be for a childcare educator.
8. How would you manage witnessing a colleague display inappropriate behaviour to a child?
Abiding by childcare industry standards and doing right by the child is key to being a fantastic childcare worker. Putting aside relationships you have developed with colleagues to show the safety and wellbeing of the child is your priority is mandatory behaviour for those who are part of the childcare industry.
Childcare interview questions displaying your willingness to develop and nurture those in your care
Those who succeed in the childcare industry should have a desire to foster young minds, encouraging children to be the best that they can be. Showcasing your methods to do this will display you are a suitable candidate.
9. What are your techniques to assist with development of a child’s creativity?
Children, much like adults, have different personalities, skill sets and interests. Being able to support and promote a child’s ambitions through activities and lessons is a core goal of a childcare centre. Advocating for individuality and inquisitive natures will set the children in your care on the right path.
10. What items would you have available to inspire the children?
Childcare job interview questions may vary as the interviewer will want to see if you are a good match for the demographic of children in the centre. Thinking outside of the box with resources to have on hand that will make children question, learn and develop intrigue nurtures their progress both educationally and personally. We want children to grow in a universal way, and childcare centres should be hubs for them to do just that.
Considering a career in childcare?
Does the above sound like a career that fits your skill set and career aspirations? At Pulse Child Care Crew, we source top tier childcare talent to positions within the childcare industry across New South Wales. Contact our team today for further information.