Interview Help

[momof5]

Ok, You all have such good advice and opinions, Could you share some of your successful interview tips? I did 6 interviews over these past 2 weeks, with no success!! It gets very discouraging after awhile. Not sure what i'm doing wrong, i show them our space etc....I will be happy if i could just fill 1 ft spot before the summer since i'm losing 2 dcks. I can't afford to be empty! I appreciate all your advice and opinions.

[Momof4]

Do you have a contract and a website with pictures of the children having fun and crafting? I find the website to be a great selling point. People get a feel for your home inside and outside before they even arrive when they can see the pictures with their own eyes. But a contract shows parents that you are organized and running a proper business. I don't go over the entire contract with them, just the highlights like payments, vacations, sick policies, my hours and rates.

I start out with a tour of my daycare space, dining area and kitchen and ask questions about the family to make them feel comfortable. I make notes about where they work, routines about the baby and then I start to tell them about our daily routines. I keep a close eye on the baby and the parents and how they interact and ask about their childrearing philosophies and tell them a little about mine. I like them to know that we are interviewing each other and I choose the best family for my daycare just as they need to find the daycare that is best for their needs.

The more relaxed and confident you are the better. Don't put out any desperate vibes. Do some deep breathing before your interviews. The more you interview the more natural you become. Just don't let it make you crazy and I understand because I was in those shoes last year. It gets really frustrating.

[momof5]

Thanks momof4!
Yes I have a website, and contract. Nerves do play a role, some people want to come during my hours to see the other kids etc, which makes me more nervous because i'm busy watching my kids and i don't feel like i'm giving the family the proper attention. Then when we get to the payment and i explain that even if their child is away sick or just a day off i still require payment in full, they question me on why should they pay if their child isn't here, once i say it's their spot, moods and tone seem to change and that's the end of the interview! Should i explain this in a certain way? I 'm pretty sure everybody else charges this way. I do tell them that if i take a day off you don't pay... Oh so frustrating! Lol

[ECE53]

First I would recommend meeting the Parents and child after daycare hours first. I would not want "strangers" visiting while my children are in daycare. Once I narrow down my choices I then let the Parents visit while the children are here, so I can see how the child manages within my group. I always explain to my Parents that they are paying for the space, not any particular day. I need a reliable income, so they pay by the space I am not able to fill it if their child is away ill, so they still have to pay. I then explain my illness policy, explaining that I am strict with contagious illnesses so that we all stay healthier and do my best so that people miss as few days as Possible.
I agree that being calm, and not seeming desperate is the best way to go.... Good luck, it will come.

[Inspired by Reggio]

I only do 'initial' interviews AFTER hours - and I explain to clients that I do not want to invite a stranger I have NEVER MET into the program - it is just not safe practice in today's day in age and I am sure that as a CLIENT they would appreciate their children not being exposed unnecessarily to strangers either! First interviews occur AFTER hours when I can give prospective clients my undivided attention and when my spouse is home to meet them as well (aka home for MY 'protection and support' from strangers in our home ;) If we are a MATCH and I am sure I would want them to be a part of the program and they are 99% sure they want to sign on than we do the 'during the day play date' ... this ensures that the only people coming into the program are LIMITED cause honestly some providers might interview 20 people before narrowing it down to the 1st and 2nd choice to offer a space too - no need to expose the children to ALL those people!

For the interview I basically walk them through my home from 'start to finish' discussing a typical day so we start in in the cubbie area we talk about arrival procedures and expectations, we view the livingroom/family room where we spend drop off and pick up and quiet time, we go through the kitchen meals, snacks, allergies and so forth, upstairs show them the sleeping areas and talk about quiet time expectations, show them the yard on the way down to the playroom and discuss outside time, field trips and so forth and we finish in the playroom where we go over everything else about the program and so forth and their child can play while we 'talk' business of the handbook and contract that might not have been covered during the tour.

The way I begin with the explanation of FEES is starting with the RULES so that they know I follow them and explain that basically the government taps our income at 5 clients as this is the ratio rule set out in the DNA ... this means that in order to ensure my business is VIABLE one I need to determine the predicted expenses to offer my program and the after expenses income needed make this a viable business option for me and from that I determined the revenue needed to ensure I can offer a program I am proud of while having an income that allows my spouse to support me being home offering this service! Than I can divide that required revenue 1 of 2 ways - either consistently between 5 clients and the 52 weeks of the year and clients pay for the 'space' regardless of attendance OR divided by 5 clients and the number of weeks care would be 'guesstimated' to be provided - so 52 minus my closures for 10 stat days, 10 days of vacation, 1o personal days and if they wanted minus allowed 10 days vacation or 10 sick days for their child to take and so forth which would result in a higher weekly fee because that leaves only 42 weeks for the revenue to be divided by ... but either way at the end of the day I need my income to be VIABLE and I feel it is just easier to keep it consistent each week and therefore you pay for the SPOT regardless of your attendance in it cause then we do not have to do so much 'calculations' during billing and receiving each week which means that I can spend more time focused on valuable things like PROGRAM FOR THEIR CHILD and the easier payment is for THEM to provide post dated cheques and not have to worry about forgetting, being late and getting late payment charges and so forth ;)

I agree that interviewing, the time it takes and the emotional toll of 'not being chosen' can sometimes be overwhelming and draining ... I also try to weed out as many of the 'looky loo' type before they even get to my house so that I can limit the amount of 'in person interviews' to as few as possible .... so my website has just about everything on it about the program, virtual tour of the playroom and program, fees, contract expectations and so forth for them to look and read over, when they contact me for an interview I go over their needs on the phone and some of what I considered 'peoples deal breakers' about the program ... aka some people do not like programs to take field trips off site, have pets, go outside when it is cold or whatever. If after we are done the phone interview and we are still 'interested' in each other THAN I would book an interview. So i might do 15-20 phone interview but only tour 3 people through my program ... cause either their child was not the age I was looking for, they needed hours of care I was not interested in, they wanted 'school transport' and I could not accommodate their school or they waffled on fee policies, amount of vacation I took, that I am active in my community and can not work past 5 or whatever reason you'd not be a match.


When people contact you to tell you they've gone another route have you tried asking for 'constructive feedback' .... aka "Oh I am sorry to hear that - in the interest of professional growth for myself can you let me know what I might have done or offered differently?' and see what people are saying ... if it is something like FEE POLICIES well than they are not the client anyway cause you want to be VALUED for what you do and they obviously do not value you - but it will give you insight to make sure in your tours to really point out the VALUE in your program over others ... how often you might do creative art, field trips, sensory or other 'cost effective items' that promote quality early learning experiences for children but drive up expenses and therefore fees for us OR the level of nutritional and quality in your menu and so forth so that when they are comparing a $25 a day provider to a $35 a day provider they can reflect on WHY the price might be different and what they are 'giving up' to choose the cheaper one?

Sending you filler up vibes - the clients you need are out there ;)

[Inspired by Reggio]

...I agree that being calm, and not seeming desperate is the best way to go.... Good luck, it will come.

I TOTALLY agree with this as well ... always aim to be leaving a prospective client with the impression that they would be LUCKY to get a space in your program ... I have learned that it is NOT worth it to take the 'whoever will do for an income' out of desperation because it NEVER ends well for anyone the STRESS of dealing with them or the conflict they bring is not worth the few extra bucks a week - I would rather tighten my family budget and go without things now - so I am VERY choosy in who gets to enter my program and would rather sit on the space EMPTY or pick up some evening shifts at the local Tim Hortons than take on someone who was not a match to my philosophy of care or personality fit and have that 'ruin' everyone's experience in my program :(

I try to always end the interview with 'Thank you so much for your time - it was awesome to meet you all - I am sure that little Johnny would be a wonderful addition to the program (unless I did not like them than I omit that last part). I have a few more interviews lined up for this space and will be making MY choice which is the best way to go for the program on X date ... if you have finished up your interviewing of providers before than please let me know ASAP if I am your first choice or if you are going another route so I have all the information needed when weighing my decision."

Cause this lets clients know that the choice is TWO WAY ... we do not just take any client who shows interest it has to be a match on BOTH ENDS ... it also helps to ensure that I get a call either way and if they do NOT call me to tell me they are interested well than I do not sit 'waiting' on them and keep going through my options. If X date arrives and NONE of them were ideal for me - I call and thank them all but tell them I can gone a 'different route' at this time and keep looking!

[playfelt]

I only do interviews after hours too. I can't sit and talk with the family while I am busy with the other kids and I am not going to "perform" for the parent.

It may also be that these families don't know what the norm is and ideally they are hoping to find someone that doesn't charge but the reality is yes those are the normal rules and they will realize that after doing a few more interviews.

Have all of the people emailed you back to say they aren't interested in the space or you just haven't heard anything? When there is lots of choice in an area it is very common for a family to visit most of them if they have the time with the idea of finding the right one, best one, whatever. I have had people come to visit and heard nothing for 3-6 weeks and then out of the blue I get an email saying yes we would like your spot. In some cases I have had to say sorry it has already been taken.

At the interview I do try to get a handle on how many interviews they have done already, how many more they have lined up and when they were looking to make a decision by.

[bright sparks]

I always ask the parents to let me know either way as you have a number of interviews scheduled and you don't want to give anyone false hope that the spot will be theirs. I also try to get a day from them that I should expect to hear from them. If they don't contact me by that date, I always call them. I don't think theres anything wrong with that. Its not pushy if you explained the above and its also and opportunity like others have said to get some good feedback as to why they didn't choose your daycare. You'll probably find though, that its not you. It will likely be a convenience related issue in terms of commuting or I have had really great intervies and they've decided to go with someone else because their friend send s their child to them so they have a good recomendation.

When I first started daycare in Burlington I interviewed constantly and it took a long time to fill up initially. I thought about changing my hours and my rates. When I did my research, I found that there were an obscene amount of providers in my area (20 within 3 blocks) so the competition was high. I joined a local association and they had a referal program which helped.

[momof5]

I have never gotten any kind of response back from any of the interviews that i have done expect from the 2 families that i have now. After I do the interview they disappear.

[Inspired by Reggio]

Momof5 ... sometimes clients new to seeking daycare do not 'realize' how stressful it is on our end or how the decision making process works BOTH WAYS - do you ASK them to get back to you or tell them a time you will call them to follow up yourself so that seed is planted in them? That might help so that they know what is 'expected' of them?

[playfelt]

Most of my contacts are by email since I don't put a phone number on my ads as it is too hectic to talk to parents in the midst of playtime and/or you end up playing phone tag.

Often I will let it go up to two weeks or whatever weekend is closest and then on the Sat send out emails to all those that have interviewed to ask them how their search is going and did they want me to keep them on my list of potential families or something to that effect. Often by Monday I get back at least a few replies saying they found care or some will let me know what they are looking for as in we have decided we want a French environment, or want someone closer to work, or with less children or more whatever but at least that gives me some feedback. There isn't anything I can do about their reasons but at least I know. If a family has emailed me for information but not gotten back to me I will send them emails saying I am setting up my interview times for the next week and did they want one.

If it is any help I interviewed 27 families for my one space last summer and it took me almost 2 months to fill it. Lost a lot of families because of my lack of French which they should have asked at the email stage. I do put it in some of my ads now that this is an English program. The family I did take had done 14 interviews before coming to me. The more people out there advertising the more parents will go see them all and that takes time. If the start date was more than a month away assume they are in the look at them all stage.

[Crayola kiddies]

I also never do interviews during daycare hours for the same reasons as the above posters. As well I always send a followup email the next day.

[Momof4]

I never conduct initial interviews during daycare hours too. Tell people that you want to give them 100% of your attention and you always give the children in your care 100% attention so that's why you schedule them after hours. I do allow parents to bring their child for a morning playdate if they are seriously considering signing the contract and I like them so that they can meet the other children in my daycare and see how much fun we have together.

[colleend]

I agree, I wouldn't do it during daycare hours - your job then is to look after the children you do have.

[mimi]

Excellent advice!!!! I always interview in the early evening. I also have my husband and teenage daughter in house so the prospective clients can meet them. I strongly emphasize a family atmosphere to my clients since my husband and daughter participate in our daycare day and they can see my family is very welcoming of the little ones.

[kidlove]

It's only been two weeks though.....maybe one of them will call you soon!!! maybe they just needed to go to a few more before making a decision.? hang in there, good things are worth waiting for!!!!!!! :)