Interview

[Littledragon]

Well, I had an interview last week that I thought when amazing (I really got along well with the parents, but I didn't get to spend as much time with the child as I'd wanted to) and I didn't get the little girl. I was pretty upset because I really liked her. Now, I'm doubting my interviewing skills lol I'm pretty desperate for clients, and I'm working really hard not to show it. I need help with interviewing techniqiues. Here is what I generally do in my interviews. If anyone has any suggestions, that would be very helpful. I have two interviews - one tomorrow and one tonight, so I need all the help I can get.

I invited the family in and bring them into my living room. (Most of the interviews have been in the evening, so I have my son with me who is 11 months old ) I offer something coffee, tea or water and sort of let them get a feel of everything. I then give them my package (which is the agreement, policies, child profile, emergency contact and so on....)
I introduce the kids and let them get a feel for each other and then I give them a tour of the house. I show them the livingroom, explain why and when it's used, show them the kitchen, the backyard, explain that they are never allowed in the dining room, and then on to the main area in the basement. This is where I allow the kids to play, I allow the new child to explore and every now and then, I will start playing with the child. And the parents can ask all their questions. What i am struggling with here is dividing my attention between the parents and the child. Then we move on upstairs, where we down again and I ask if they want to go through the papers. If not, we don't. I don't want to seem all formal, but I'm afraid that they will bring it home and then I"ll never hear from them again. I've thought about putting my policies on my website, but I'm also afraid that I will never hear from anyone. My policies are pretty generic, but...I don't know.
My son is also an issue. The family who came the other day really seemed to focus on my son, rather than focusing on me and their daughter, which I found strange.

Anyways, this about what I do. I'm thinking about bringing them in, offering drinks, introducing the kids and then bringing my son up to my husband until we're done the tour. Then bring him back down and while I;m asking my questions, playing with both of them. Then, if I feel like it's a good fit and I will hear from them again I will give them the package.

What do you do?

[dodge__driver11]

to tell you the honest truth, and this has nothing to do with your interview skills... I am just going off on a bit of a tangent...LOL I schedule playdates for my son during my interviews..he's a bit of an attention seeker...the mom look at me type, soI do mine on the weekends when these can be scheduled or my hubby cantake the tyke to the park

[jazmic]

I always have my husband look after the kids during interviews. If the prospective parents feel like they want to move on to the next step after the interview, then we schedule play dates. Honestly speaking, though, interviewing takes up so much time that I like to whittle down people as much as I can before having to meet with them. There is an initial phone call where we get to know each other and what their needs are a bit. Then if it's going well, I'll e-mail them my handbook. If I don't hear back from them, that at least I know it wouldn't have been a good fit and I didn't go through all the trouble of preparing for them to come to my home, wasting my time. Another advantage of this is that since they've gone through the handbook by themselves, when they come, I can just highlight a couple of things, but then use the rest of the time to interact with the child and see if I think they will be a good fit with my group. It gives me a chance to check out the parents in person too. When they arrive, I introduce them to my family, give them a tour of the place, and then sit down to play with the child and talk with the parents but without my kids present like I said before. I find this isn't as intense as trying to go through the handbook at the same time while trying to give the child attention.

If you don't want to e-mail your policies, then you could try explaining to the parents in the beginning how the meeting is going to break down. You could say something along the lines of "I'd like to go through my handbook just quickly with you since it will probably answer a lot of your questions. After that, I'd like to spend some time playing with your child." That way, they're not sitting there thinking "I can't believe she's not giving my child any attention!"

Anyway, just my two cents. Hope it helps. :)

[Bookworm]

Sounds like you are doing a good job. Giving a tour of your house and explaining things room by room is a good idea. I do that too.
I think having your husband watch your son during interviews is a great idea. That way you can focus on the family and the potential child. My husband watches mine, but they always end up coming in at the end, which I dont mind. My daughter loves to dote over all the babies (she's 3).
If you are having trouble focusing on the parents, while playing with the child, then I would keep that to a minimum and then schedule a play date during operating hours. That way the parent can see the daycare with the kids in it and the child gets a sense of what is to come.
I always tell potential clients that I do my interviews in the evenings for this very reason. I want to put all my attention on them and then, if they are a good fit, they can come for a play date. I use the initial interview to see how the parents and child are together (do they put them down to play, or hold them etc.).

[playfelt]

I always had my husband or someone watch my own kids so I could concentrate on the new family - think of it as working hours. I always introduced my husband and kids to the family. I take them on a tour of the main floor explaining as we go and they can see the back yard from the kitchen. I then take them downstairs to the playroom. Point out a few things and pull out a bin of toys for the baby - in case the mom wants to put the child down.

We sit down there to talk, go over the contract etc. there. If child plays and wanders or whatever fine. I do not serve food since I don't allow it in the basement and personally I find it distracting in an interview since I am constantly being aware of hot tea and small kids. Now on a side note I do usually take my tea downstairs on regular days in a thermal sippy cup but keep it in a different area than the kids.

I try to get a chance to interact with the child but I am also keenly aware that the child needs to get comfortable with me as a stranger and the strange house before suddenly being baraged so I tread carefully and take my lead from parent and child. I have a binder I put together when I first moved to Ottawa of certificates, letters of reference etc. and give that to parents to look through. I usually offer to hold the baby while they do or get down on the floor with the child while they do.

We close by discussing what kind of a timeline they are looking at in terms of making a decision and that usually elicits how many more interviews they have set up. Then we go back upstairs and they leave.

I do give my info to them and go over only parts of it at the interview since if they aren't coming no point in wasting the time on details. I then encourage them to read over everything and to get back to me with any comments or questions that need clarification.

[Littledragon]

Thanks ladies. I think I'll do that. I like to get an idea though, of what the child is like with other children, that's usually why I have my son there. But lately, as I said, the interviews have been in the evenings and he's pretty fussy. I'll just get my husband to look after him once we've done the initial meet and greet. Especially bc the little boys coming over if 2.5, so he definitely has some habits I was to look out for ie: hitting, not sharing and so on.
I know I come off as a bit of a frazzled person (CAUSE I AM) LOL so I try to stay as calm as I can, and only answer what is asked and try not to offer up too much information. I have a problem with being too honest sometimes, and sometimes, it's just not a good thing lol The last interview was SO good in so many ways, but SO bad in many other ways. The dad and I would have been good friends lol but I don't know if they would been good clients. I need to try to stay focused, think as much as I can without allowing the parents to interfere with what I am trying to get accross. (My last interview, the mom said in her email that she was really nervous about putting her daughter in childcare, and some of my questions during the interview is what are your values as a family, what are you trying to implement into your child, and what are you looking for in a daycare. When I asked that, the dad answered. What I should have done was accepted the dads answer, but then asked mom what she felt. She's from Mexico, just moved here, and I got the feeling that he runs the show. But I should have made her feel more included.) And I'm going to try not to dwell on the things that COULD HAVE BEEN and just learn from them and move on to the next family lol

I'll let you know how the interviews go. So far, I've confirmed and they're all still coming! yay! lol

[Crayola kiddies]

When I do my interviews I never give my handbook out unless they ask for it and I do it at the end and I take a few minutes and go thru it with them but then tell them to read it thoroughly at home. I don't offer drinks. Basically the parents enter right in the daycare as I have a separate daycare space. I introduce myself to the child and they just start playing. If the interview is on a week night then my kids are present and if it's on a weekend then my husband is home and the kids are flitting in and out. I show them around the daycare giving them a run down of our day, they ask their questions, and I watch the child play. That's about the extent of my interviews.
I would try to be natural and easy going .... Good luck

[Mamma_Mia]

When families come into our home I show them around my main level, we talk for a bit, they meet my husband and then we go to the playroom with my DD. After about 15min in I ask DH to take her with him so I can focus with the parents. I want to do it that way....I 1st want to see how the child acts with other little ones, 2nd how parents react if my kid takes something off of yours etc. and then to see their focus on their own solo.....it's all catching the details!! LOL

[sunnydays]

I am not sure I would offer drinks or food as it seems to much like a social engagement then and sets the tone for an overly familiar relationship. Also, if you can try to take the lead and ask them questions and tell them about your typical day etc rather than letting them lead you by doing all the asking, that usually works better. You can ask about their babies sleeping habits, personality, eating, etc and get a feel for how they parent etc.

[Momof4]

I never offer anybody a drink, LOL, never even thought of that. I show them the main floor of my apartment which I share with the daycare space and explain how our day runs and let the conversation flow as naturally as possible. Then I give them my resume and tell them a bit about myself and why I'm in the business. I tell them my childrearing philosophy and how our day runs and how the routines work great. I let them ask any questions they want and I ask them questions.

I don't even worry about the child unless they are obviously out of control. I'm watching the parents. If they are over the top clingy parents or OMG, baby is 2 inches away from me, eeek-type parents, you get my drift, red flags is what I'm looking for with the parents. I want to make sure they nap and eat on our schedule and if the parents are willing to work to get the babies close to my schedule before starting and all those things.

I have my contract in a binder and briefly show it to them and discuss things like my rates, vacations, sick policies, etc. but I email that to the parents with my thank you note after the interview for them to look over in detail at home.

[dodge__driver11]

Hell I's take a beer rif my dc provider ever had offered me one...no seriously... I dont do the food/drink thing...it distracts from the business

[Mamma_Mia]

I have offered a water (since I was getting some for myself).....and at the transitional visits AFTER signing the contract we've had coffee's or juice etc.

[treeholm]

This is all such helpful information, thank you! I just placed my first ad today and received two inquiries within a couple of hours. Caught me off guard, to be honest LOL

[Sandbox Sally]

Just my thing, but I email a copy of my handbook to parents after they schedule a time with me for the interview. I ask that they look through it carefully and come to me with any questions about it or anything else at the time of our meeting. This way, the guesswork is out, and only those who agree with my policies keep the appointment.

[Inspired by Reggio]

Just my thing, but I email a copy of my handbook to parents after they schedule a time with me for the interview. I ask that they look through it carefully and come to me with any questions about it or anything else at the time of our meeting. This way, the guesswork is out, and only those who agree with my policies keep the appointment.

I agree ~ I ask them to do this before I am willing to even book an interview and if they show up to the interview and ask questions that are clearly answered IN my handbook than well that is a little 'red flag' against them to be honest ;)