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How to ace your nursery job application and interview

Top tips from our recruitment experts

So, you’ve decided that working in a nursery is the right path for you – great choice! But now comes the big question: how do you land the job you want? How do you make your application stand out and ace the interview? 

Recruitment teamWell, you’re in the right place! Our Head of Recruitment Maria Floud (who, by the way, has been doing this for years and has recruited everyone from accountants to police officers) is here to share top tips straight from the people who will actually be reading your CV and interviewing you – our recruitment team! 

In this article Maria will cover:  

  • How to create a CV that gets recruiters excited to call you 
  • What makes a great interview (and what doesn’t) 
  • Being prepared for compliance checks after offer 

And throughout, she’ll be sharing how you can make a strong impression and show you’re the right fit! 

So, over to Maria… 

How to create a CV that gets recruiters excited to call you 

I asked our recruiters what the best CV’s look like. What makes them get excited to call the person quickly. Here’s what they said… 

  • The qualifications are really easy to read – name, awarding college, year achieved. There are a lot of qualifications out there that are not full and relevant for our sector. By having this top and centre it helps us to see what role/s you’re suitable for, so we don’t waste anyone’s time. 
  • You show genuine passion and enthusiasm to work with children and ideally under 5s. Even if you are starting out it mentions placements, voluntary work, babysitting, free courses on child development. Anything that show you want to be with children all day and get a buzz out of seeing them develop. 
  • Have a peronalised sentence about why you’re applying to LEYF. For example, why you want to work for a charitable social enterprise nursery group, because that’s what we are. This could be within a simple motivation paragraph focused on child development, under 5s and being nursery based, and why this is important to you.  
  • Don’t leave employment gaps in your CV especially within the last 5 years. If you had time out to travel, to focus on the family, or look for a college place or role – just put the months and say that. Safer recruitment is our top priority and explaining gaps on your CV makes it much easier. 
  • CVs are better as 2-page documents, not too long, no typos and look professional.  

Here’s a base template to get you started but do make it your own: Help to use this kind of template to make yours?  

  • “Passion for the sector and helping children develop shine through at interview. A clear indication they have researched LEYF and clear detail on their CV re their current role helps too”

  • “Be yourself, give lots of examples through past experiences. Show a motivation to learn and develop and that you want this role”

  • “Demonstrate a genuine passion for early childhood education and a good understanding of child development - particularly in alignment with LEYF’s mission to provide high-quality, inclusive childcare for all children, no matter their background. Showcase how your values align with LEYF”

  • “We celebrate individuality, so share any areas of interest/ passions/ strengths you have”

What makes a great application and interview (and what doesn’t) 

I’m not sure I’ve ever met anyone who enjoys applying for jobs or interviewing. Some people are naturally better at it than others, but to actually enjoy it may be a stretch. There are things you can do to supercharge your chances: 

  • Be somewhere quiet and focused – Even if it’s just a phone call, be in a dedicated space. I’ve interviewed people while they were on buses, walking, or even catching a toddler mid-chaos in the kitchen. I get that life is busy but do what it takes to come across professional and ready. 
  • Know the recruitment process – Some roles have tasks, some include exercises with children, and we always ask for qualification certificates early on. Know this and think about how you come across. Being organised, prompt, and informed leaves a great impression! 
  • Know your stuff on safeguarding and child development – You don’t need to know our pedagogy (though it’s on our website), but you do need to understand nursery safeguarding and the EYFS. Great nursery teachers love their key children, tailor their teaching to the needs of each child, and love the interaction with parents and families. They love children and know LEYF is about giving every child a great start in life. Show us how important it is.  
  • Leaders need to dig deeper – For leaders coming into our settings (Room Managers, Deputies, Managers) it’s particularly important to research the nursery on platforms like Day Nurseries. Think about how you’d lead learning, support your team and make your nursery thrive commercially. 
  • Be positive! – I know not all nurseries or employers are nice. People come with bad experiences from previous employers. But in interviews, be thoughtful about how you share difficult experiences. We look for people who are warm, honest, and professional in the way they talk and think (not stuffy or perfect, just the kind of person our parents and children would love to be around). 
  • Structure your answers – It’s not just about having good examples. It’s how you structure these into clear, concise and authentic interview answers when you probably only have a few minutes per question. The STAR technique is a useful approach to create answers for competency style questions (Situation, Task, Action, Result). Don’t forget the result – this might be you finished on time, the baby reached their milestone, you aced something under budget, you were asked back again as they loved you so much, you hit the deadline, or it could be a budget or number result. Show the impact you made. 
  • Ask for an in-person final interview – We recently held a research meeting with our Teachers and Room Managers and asked them what was different about LEYF, why they chose us and why they stay. Some had interviewed at 10 other places first! Seeing a LEYF setting in action was what made them say yes due to the welcome they received, how happy the children were and environments with good resources. This reinforced that LEYF care about the children first – not profits. This in-person interview is just as important for you to ensure we’re the right fit for you! 
  • Ask great questions – At the end, have some questions ready. Ask about culture. “How often do teams meet for training?” “How do you celebrate together?” “What do you love about working here?” “What would you expect from me in the first 6 months?” You learn a lot – and show genuine interest. 

STAR graphic to ace an interview answer

Getting through compliance checks 

So, you’ve been offered a job with us. Congrats! Working with children means we must complete thorough safeguarding checks before you can start – references, DBS, qualifications, and more. It can take a week if you’re prepared, or much longer if you’re not. Here’s how to be ready: 

  • Be upfront – flag anything on your criminal record check (DBS) early and gaps in work history. Transparency builds trust. 
  • Be efficient – We often wait a long time for documents, which delays the whole process. Have your qualifications, passport, and other key documents ready. We’ll send you a link to upload everything – quick responders stand out. If you need help, just call. The best candidates get in touch, ask questions, and keep things moving. 
  • Stay connected – Reach out to the nursery before your start date. Say yes to meeting the team, shadowing for a bit, or even just popping in for a cuppa. It helps you feel settled before day one—and shows us you’re keen to be part of the team. 

So that’s it… 

I hope something here helps you whether you apply and interview with us at LEYF or wherever you choose as your perfect place.  

At the end of the day, recruitment is about people finding the right people. If you have any questions, reach out to us – we’d love to hear from you! 

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