So you’re interviewing for family assistant positions and you need to figure out how to talk about your nanny experience in ways that actually make sense for these hybrid roles. Here’s the deal: family assistant jobs blend childcare and household management, and most experienced nannies already have the skills these positions need. The problem? You probably don’t know how to talk about what you’ve been doing in a way that makes families go “oh, she gets it.”
I’ve spent twenty years watching nannies interview for family assistant positions, and the difference between who gets offers and who doesn’t usually comes down to presentation, not actual capabilities. Two people with basically the same background will walk out with completely different results because one knows how to frame her experience and the other doesn’t.
New York families hiring family assistants work crazy demanding jobs. Finance, law, media, tech, whatever. They need someone who can handle logistics, manage schedules, organize their lives, and yes, also take care of their kids. They want someone who thinks independently, stays ahead of problems, and makes their lives easier instead of harder. Your job in the interview is proving you can do all that through how you describe your previous work.
Good news? If you’ve been a professional nanny, you’ve probably done most of this already. You just need to learn how to talk about it differently.
Reframe Everything You Say
Biggest mistake I see: nannies describing everything they’ve done using childcare language when they should be highlighting management skills.
Don’t say “I took care of three kids ages 2, 5, and 7.” Instead try something like “I managed daily logistics for a household with three kids at completely different stages, juggling overlapping schedules and making sure everything ran smoothly.” See how the second version emphasizes coordination and organization instead of just babysitting?
When you talk about driving kids around, don’t just say you drove them. Say you “managed all transportation logistics across multiple locations daily, planned efficient routes through New York traffic, and made sure everyone got where they needed to be on time despite constant schedule changes.” That sounds like logistics management, not just driving.
Talk about making decisions, not following directions. Instead of “I did what the parents asked,” describe how you “handled unexpected situations independently, made judgment calls about what kids needed, kept parents informed about important stuff while taking care of routine decisions yourself.” Show initiative.
For household tasks, emphasize that you created systems, not just did chores. Don’t say “I did laundry and organized the kids’ rooms.” Say “I set up organizational systems that worked for the family, kept supplies stocked without being asked, and established routines that kept things running without constant supervision.” That’s management language.
You’re not lying. You’re just translating what you actually did into words that make sense for these positions.
Tell Real Stories
Generic descriptions of your responsibilities don’t help. Families hear “I managed schedules” from everyone. What they remember are specific stories about times you handled complicated situations.
Think about when you’ve dealt with logistics nightmares. School got canceled unexpectedly and you had to reorganize everything while parents were stuck in meetings? That’s a great example. Coordinated multiple doctor appointments while managing conflicting activities? Perfect. Handled a household emergency while watching kids and keeping everything else going? Exactly what they want to hear.
Talk about times you figured stuff out independently. Maybe you noticed something developmental with one of the kids before the parents did and researched specialists. Or you saw inefficiencies in how the household ran and suggested improvements. Or you had to balance what parents wanted with what kids actually needed and found solutions that worked. These show judgment.
Share examples where you anticipated problems instead of just reacting to them. Did you notice the family’s calendar getting insane and line up extra help before anyone asked? See seasonal transitions coming and handle prep work before parents thought about it? Identify patterns causing issues and fix underlying problems? That’s the proactive thinking family assistants need.
If you’ve coordinated with other household staff – housekeepers, tutors, coaches, whatever – talk about that. Even if you weren’t technically managing them, coordination experience matters.
And use New York-specific examples if you have them. If you’ve successfully managed childcare in this city’s particular chaos, you’ve already proven you can handle complexity.
Show You Actually Want the Expanded Role
Family assistant work includes household management beyond just childcare, and you need to seem genuinely interested in that, not like you’re tolerating extra work to get a job.
When families describe household management responsibilities, sound actually interested. “I’m really excited about combining childcare with household coordination. I’ve always liked the organizational side of things, and I want a position where I can use both skills.” Not “sure, I guess I can do that stuff too.”
Ask questions that show you’re thinking about how it all works together. “How do the household management parts coordinate with childcare needs? I’m trying to understand how to prioritize when multiple things need attention at once.” This shows you’re actually thinking through the complexity.
If you have any organizational experience outside childcare, mention it. Event planning, office management, project coordination, whatever. “Before I was a full-time nanny, I coordinated events for a nonprofit, so I already had project management experience I brought into childcare.”
Be honest about stuff you haven’t done much of, but frame it as something you’re interested in learning. “I haven’t managed a full household calendar before, but I’m good with digital tools and naturally organized. I’d love to develop that skill more formally.” Don’t pretend you’re already an expert, but don’t act like it’s a burden either.
And think through how you’d handle competing priorities. “Kids’ immediate needs come first, obviously, but I also know that maintaining household systems prevents bigger crises. I’d want to understand which household tasks are urgent versus flexible so I can make good calls in the moment.”
Ask Questions That Show You’re Thinking
The questions you ask matter as much as how you answer theirs. Maybe more.
Ask what success looks like. “How would you define success in this role after six months or a year?” Shows you’re thinking about outcomes, not just tasks.
Ask about systems. “Are there existing household systems I’d maintain, or are you looking for someone to help create new ones?” Shows you understand this is about systems, not random chores.
Ask about decision-making. “What kinds of things would I decide independently versus check with you about first?” Shows you understand clear boundaries prevent problems.
If there’s other staff, ask about coordination. “How would this work with your housekeeper? I want to make sure we’d complement each other instead of overlapping or leaving gaps.” Systems thinking.
Ask about professional development. “Do you typically support training or certifications?” Shows you view this as a career you’re building.
Ask about family culture. “What’s most important to you about how your household runs and what values you want reinforced?” Shows you get that this isn’t just completing a task list.
Your questions often tell families more about how you think than your answers to their questions do.
Don’t Apologize for Your Worth
Family assistant positions pay more than nanny positions because they’re more complex. Talk about compensation like the professional you are.
Research NYC rates before interviews. Experienced family assistants here typically earn $30 to $45+ per hour depending on specifics. Know what your experience is worth so you’re not just guessing.
When they ask about compensation expectations, give a range based on research and your qualifications. “Based on my experience and what I know about current NYC rates for this scope, I’m looking for $35 to $42 per hour.” Direct, professional, informed.
If their offer seems low, say so thoughtfully. “I appreciate the offer. Given what we’ve discussed about responsibilities and what comparable positions pay, I was expecting $X to $Y range. Is there flexibility there?” You’re negotiating, not accepting whatever or walking away in a huff.
Talk about total compensation, not just hourly rate. “When I evaluate offers, I look at the whole package – base pay, health benefits, PTO, professional development support. Can you break down the full compensation structure?” Shows sophistication.
Ask how compensation might adjust as the role grows. “If household management responsibilities expand or I take on managing other staff, how would we handle adjusting compensation?” Sets expectations for fair treatment.
Look, at Seaside Nannies, we spend a lot of time coaching people on interview presentation because we’ve seen too many qualified professionals undersell themselves through bad interviews. You probably already have the skills these families need. You just need to learn how to talk about them in ways that make that clear.
NYC has great opportunities for family assistants who can bridge childcare and household management. Families here understand the value and pay accordingly. But you have to present your experience in ways that demonstrate what you’re actually capable of, not just list previous jobs and hope they figure it out.
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