Childcare JobInterview Guide
tel 08452 26 26 36 www.oxoncis.org.uk
O X F O R D S H I R E C H I L D R E N ’ S I N F O R M A T I O N S E R V I C E
Tel 08452 26 26 36www.oxoncis.org.uk
Interested in working
with children?
This guide contains
useful information on
writing a CV, applying
for a job and attending
an interview.
Who is this booklet for?
This booklet is for you if you are thinking about acareer or applying for a job in early education,childcare or playwork. It has been designed toprepare you for tackling the tasks associatedwith looking for a job, writing your CV andapproaching the interview itself.
Can working with children offer me a career?Yes, and there has never been a better time to think about a career in early education, childcare and playwork.
1 The demand for staff in childcare has increased in recent years.
2 There are nationally recognised qualificationsfrom assistant through to management anddegree level, offering clear career progressionroutes both into this sector and into relatedfields, such as nursing, social work or teaching.
3 If you have the right skills and qualities, you canmake a real difference to children’s lives, theirfamilies and the community.
Are there any entry requirements?If you're patient, enthusiastic, take responsibility seriouslyand have a sense of fun you may have all you need tostart your career in childcare or playwork. For somejobs you can start from scratch; but for most of themit pays to get a qualification. You can train on the jobor at college or combine the two.
For all jobs working with children you will have toundergo a police check.
Tel 08452 26 26 36
Contents
Getting Started 5
How do I find a job? 6
Writing your CV 7
Writing your covering letter 8
Completing a job application 9
Preparing yourself for an interview 10
The interview 11
Ending/After the interview 12
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GETTING STARTED
Once you have made the decision that working with children is rightfor you, taking the time to understand your reasons and motivationfor wanting to work with children will help you through the interview process.
HOW DO I FIND A JOB?
Tel 08452 26 26 36
Contact the Childcare Recruitment Helpline on 08452 26 26 36 forthe latest job vacancies in Oxfordshire and a full recruitmentinformation pack on how to get started.
Useful contacts• Oxfordshire Childcare
Recruitment LineOffers advice about working with children and job vacancies.Call 08452 26 26 36 Visit www.oxoncis.org.uk
• Social Care WorkCall 01865 815774Email www.oxfordshire.gov.uk
• Children and Family Care ServicesCare for disabled children aged 0-18yrs or children of disabledparents in the child’s home.Call 01865 374154
• Fostering/Adoption InformationCall 0845 050 7666Visit www.oxfordshire.gov.uk
• ApprenticeshipsThese offer work based training for16-24 yr olds.Call 08000 150 600Visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk
• Job Centre PlusCall in or use jobseeker direct.Call 0845 606 0234Visitwww.jobcentreplus.gov.uk
• Oxfordshire County CouncilHave a jobs section.Visit www.oxfordshire.gov.uk
However you find out about the job vacancy, you need to research itcarefully to determine whether it isright for you, and whether you havethe right skills and experience forthat job.
You can find out about jobs in avariety of different ways: JobcentrePlus, the local newspaper, word ofmouth, county council website ormagazines such as Nursery World.You could also send your CV andcovering letter to childcare settingsyou would like to work in!
1 Read the job description carefully
2 Make notes of any points youwant more information on
3 If you are unclear aboutanything, many organisations arehappy for you to telephone theowner/manager to discuss theposition in more detail – butkeep it brief, and refer to thenotes that you made earlier
4 Check your experience, abilityand skills against the personspecification and job description.
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5 An understanding of and respectfor diversity in terms of themake up of the family, racialorigin and cultural beliefs
6 An understanding of the needfor confidentiality, when dealingwith personal issues
7 Willingness to learn and evaluate own practice
8 Ability to assess situations andseek advice and support
9 Ability to remain calm underpressure or in a crisis oremergency
10 Understanding of the potentialphysical and emotional pressures of working with young children
11 Having a clear understanding ofchild protection policies
12 Literacy and numeracy skills
13 Awareness that children areindividuals and develop at different rates.
Knowing yourselfBefore you start responding to jobadvertisements, it is a good idea toidentify any relevant experience youmay have of working with childrenand the reasons why this workappeals to you.
Employers in the “early years” sectorhave identified the following skills asbeing suitable for people wanting towork in the sector.
1 The ability to understand theneeds of babies and young children
2 Good communication skills with adults as well as children
3 An appropriate degree ofpersonal confidence and maturity
4 The motivation for continuingprofessional development andwillingness to attend relevanttraining courses
5
WRITING YOUR CV
Your CV is like an advertisement for you and needs to stand out fromthe crowd. Keep it brief (no more than two sides of A4), clear,concise up-to-date and accurate. Keep it positive and sell yourself.Spend time checking the spelling. Presentation is crucial.
WRITING YOUR COVERING LETTER
Tel 08452 26 26 36
When you send your CV, you should include a covering letter as itoffers a more personal approach and follows the usual etiquette.Include details of your name, contact details, summarise your currentsituation and the vacancy you are applying for... don’t forget to dateand sign it!
The covering letter should:
1 Be dated and signed with fullreference and contact details
2 Be one side in length on good quality paper and not hand written
3 Summarise your currentsituation and any details notincluded in your CV
4 You may want to include contactdetails for your referees.
Always write to a named person ifpossible, which may mean you haveto phone to ask the name of themanager. This shows that you havetaken the initiative and trouble tofind out. However if you do not havea name then Dear Sir or Madam isfine. When signing off your letter ifyou know the persons name use“Yours Sincerely”, if you used DearSir or Madam then it is appropriateto use “Yours Faithfully”.
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EducationInclude academic and vocationalqualifications. Start with the mostrecent and work backwards. Alsoinclude here any trainingcourses/additional qualifications thatyou have taken.
EmploymentStart with your most recentemployment first and then previousemployment. Do not leave anyunexplained gaps! Consider all theexperience that you have and relate itto the job for which you are applying.For example, you may have taken aChildcare Badge with the Cubs orGuides, have babysat for siblings orchildren of friends or worked in aholiday play-scheme/out-of-schoolclub. Your experience can be frompaid and non-paid activities, so youshould include any relevantexperience that you may have gainedas a volunteer or in your own family.
Skills or InterestsIdentify those skills that you have,which are relevant to the area ofwork that you are seeking. Includesports and hobbies that you enjoy.Mention any clubs or societies youbelong to.
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COMPLETING A JOB APPLICATION
You may be asked to complete a job application form, rather than tosend in your own CV. If you are asked to complete an applicationform, you should complete it in full – an employer may reject yourapplication if you fill in only part of it. You should also be sent:
PREPARING YOURSELF FOR AN INTERVIEW
Tel 08452 26 26 36
Research has shown that interviewers form 80% of their opinion ofyou in the first four minutes of the interview, so it is important todress and behave appropriately.
What to wearMany organisations in the field ofchildcare, particularly smallerorganisations, will not expect you towear a formal suit to the interview.You should however dresscomfortably and smartly and feelconfident in what you are wearing.
Check out your routeMake sure you know exactly wherethe interview will be held and how toget there. Make a practice journeybeforehand if possible. Leave plentyof time for your journey and aim toarrive with time to spare.
Finding out about theOrganisationEmployers often complain thatapplicants do not know enoughabout the organisation to which theyare applying, so find out as much asyou can in advance.
1 What service does theorganisation offer?
2 How many children do they care for?
3 How many employees do they have?
4 Are there any recentdevelopments?
If you are called for an interview,try to find out how many people willbe on the interview panel. You canprepare better if you know in advance.Some interviews involve you spendingsome informal time in the setting, tosee how you get on interacting withchildren and staff.
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This is a list of qualities consideredmost important for the job. Theymay be looking for a ‘team player’,‘self-starter’ or someone withparticular experience. It should alsoshow whether these qualities areessential or desirable. Always tailoryour application form to take intoaccount the detail of the job and the person specification. If anemployer is looking for a NurseryAssistant with experience of caringfor babies, you should emphasise therelevant experience that you have.
Give concrete examples of situationsin which you have employed the skillsthey are looking for.
Job DescriptionThe job description will tell you aboutthe job itself, hours, salary and whatthe job involves. For example, a jobdescription for a Nursery Assistant willinclude information about the numberof children that you will be workingwith and the activities that you will undertake.
Background informationThis will give additional informationabout the organisation. Look at theorganisation’s website if they haveone. If you do not have access to theinternet, many libraries, internet cafesand job clubs can help you to accessthis information.
Person SpecificationMake sure you address each item onthe job specification so that they cansee easily whether or not you havethe right skills and experience for the job.
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ENDING/AFTER THE INTERVIEW
Tel 08452 26 26 36
At the end of the interview you will usually be asked if you have anyquestions. Make sure that you know all you need to help you decidewhether you want the job or not. Consider any areas that have notbeen covered in the interview.
Not successful?Be positive and learn from theexperience of having attended theinterview. Review your CV and getfurther guidance from the Childcare Recruitment Helplineon 08452 26 26 36.
They may ask if you wereoffered the position would youaccept, you need not answerthis question immediately, butcould let the interviewer(s)know that you need time tothink about it.
After every interview you shouldreview your performance andconsider any improvements.
Accepting the jobIt is great to be offered the job youhave been working hard to get. You may receive a phone call within a couple of days of the interview,followed up by a letter. The lettershould include the formal offer of the job, details of the salary, thestarting date and other conditions of employment. If you are happy with this information, you need towrite a letter accepting the job offer.Remember that if you are workingwith children, you will also require a police check, which the childcareprovider should organise once theyoffer you the position.
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THE INTERVIEW
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Remember an interview is a two-way process and your chance to shine and impress! Take any relevant documents with you, and a list of questions you’d like to ask.
For example if you are applying for aposition in a baby room, you will beasked specific questions about theneeds of babies, and how these differfrom the needs of older children.
Examples of more general questions:
1 What experience do you have ofworking with children?
2 What qualifications or trainingdo you have?
3 Why do you want to work with children?
4 What do you know about this organisation?
5 What do you understand byEqual Opportunities?
6 What are your ambitions?
7 What do you hope to be doingfive years from now?
8 What skills do you think areneeded for this position?
9 What has been the greatestchallenge in your life and howdid you overcome it?
10 What is your greateststrength/weakness
11 Why do you consider yourself an appropriate candidate forthis position?
Answering questionsListen to the questions, take yourtime to respond, try to relax, shakehands, smile and establish good eyecontact. If you don’t understand thequestion, ask the interviewer toexplain. Take care to speak clearly.Obviously avoid ‘yes’ and ‘no’answers. Give examples thatdemonstrate your experience e.g.“When I was at ... I did ...”
Typical interview questionsBy preparing for your interview inadvance, you can work out some ofthe questions you are likely to beasked and prepare your answersaccordingly.
If the job that you are applying forhas particular skills and experiencerequirements, you should expect tobe asked about your specificexperience in this area.
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Oxfordshire Children's Information Service26 Hanborough Business ParkLong HanboroughWitney, Oxon, OX29 8SQ
tel: 08452 26 26 36fax: 01993 886937email: [email protected]: www.oxoncis.org.uk
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