Interview Frustrations! What do you all do?

[Daycare123]

Hi everyone,

So I decided to open up a spot in the next few months and am feeling very frustrated these days with the interviewing process. For example: I sent a family my contract, handbook and registration package so they could look it over before the interview. This is something I only just starting doing in the hopes that I could weed out any families that weren't suited for my daycare. or at the very least shorten the interviewing process. So, last week the mom shows up for interview and tells me having looked over the contract package covered many of her questions and that my package is very thorough. However, then keeps the interview going for OVER an HOUR! I let her know upon leaving that the spot is open to her son, as the family seems nice, but to let me know within a week. She let me know - 10 minutes before the week deadline was up that she went with another daycare....really?! I could've guessed that last Wednesday! I am so frustrated with my time being wasted! Any advice, I am just so frustrated and really feel, even more than usual, that my time is undervalued.:o

[cfred]

Sorry to hear you're getting frustrated. It certainly wasn't nice of her to leave it so long. I don't give anyone a time limit for claiming a spot. They know right up front that I keep interviewing till someone signs. If that happens before they make up their minds....well....tha t's a shame. I know it's a pain going through the whole process and interviews can be time consuming, but, in my experience, the longer the interview the better. Of course I can't speak for everyone, but almost every time I have a long interview, the family wants a spot. When it's a brief 30-40 mins, it usually indicates to me that they're not that interested. When I schedule interviews, I typically leave a 2 hour window available...and some use it all. And really, I quite enjoy the process. Even if I don't have space for the client, I quite like building that rapport and getting to know someone new.

[Fearlessbaby]

I can see why you'd put a timeline- it's so frustrating when parents don't let you know - I've had quite a few parents come here and then I"ve never heard back- but I also agree with cfred, putting a time limit could put-off parents. I usually just tell parents to tell me as soon as you make a decision. Don't think of interviews as wasting your time. Instead think of it as a way to expose your talents as a child care worker and show off your space to potential parents. You never know, parents may refer you to someone one day. That's what I"m hoping as I really need kids right now!

[mickyc]

agree with cfred. I let everyone know right from the beginning that the only way to guarantee a spot is with their filled out paperwork and a deposit. For the most part I have had multiple families for each spot so I have been the one who really gets to choose the best fit. My last spot however took forever and the lady took a week before she got the deposit and paperwork to me. Luckily for her there wasn't anyone who snatched the spot up in the meantime or it would have been gone. My interviews usually last 1 1/2 hours. I usually book them outside of daycare hours just so that they don't interfere with our schedule.

[Fun&care]

I just had an extra long interview as well last week. It lasted 1 1/2 hours which is longer than usual for me. She kinda seemed like the type who likes to talk about herself a lot...ugh. Haven't heard from her, and to boot if she's interested she will want a second interview with her husband. Blah

[5 Little Monkeys]

I have yet to have a short interview! Mine also last typically 1-2 hours but I do mine inside of daycare hours so that I can see how their child interacts with the children I currently have. I actually tell the parents that an interview is about 30 minutes but none leave in that time frame lol. I also send out my contract ahead of time. I have found it really helps and have had people not set up an interview because of my fee and have told me they are going with a cheaper daycare. Twice I have had parents come back and say they want on my waiting list, the cheaper daycare didn't work out. Both times the spot had already been filled so they were out of luck.

Try not to get frustrated and schedule the interviews for when you plenty of time so you are not stressed about it running late. Remember that word of mouth is the best advertising so even though they may not choose you, they may tell friends or family about you.

Also, try to put yourself in their shoes. Leaving a child at daycare must be tough for anyone but I would think choosing a hdcp is even worse because you have no idea what they are doing when you are not there. They have to depend on their child to let them know if they like it here or not and if they are being cared for adequately. I know for myself, I would be nervous so I try to put the parent's mind at ease and let them know that they can trust me with their little one.

[bright sparks]

I do not send my contract out ahead of time. It is something that should be discussed face to face IMO to make it more personable and also that way it gives me the opportunity to explain things more in depth if the parents have questions rather than them misinterpreting something and getting their backs up.

I do an initial telephone interview whether the enquiry was by phone or email. It is a chance for each of us to ask any deal breaker questions to prevent wasting time. During this telephone interview, the parent generally asks me lots of things that would normally be covered in the interview which obviously cuts the face to face meeting down in time, dramatically. There is nothing worse than having someone come and interview and for them to spring something on me like late pick up, or for them to tell me then, that they are uncertain about if they are going back, should they take extended leave, or something like that which we could have gone over and understood over the phone before wasting anybodies time. I always ask them what it is they are looking for from a daycare provider and the program. This is always a great indicator of whether or not we are on the same page and is how I tend to decide on whether I want to take things further or not.

I started this interview process about a year ago and so far it has served me well. I always set a time limit for them to get back to me, Ask them to let me know either way, and tell them that should any other questions come up to feel free to contact me.

[playfelt]

I find parents are starting early to interview so I have had some interview for a space I know will open in 3-4 months and not get back to me for two months taking that long to do all of the interviews they want to. In a market where there is lots of choice parents don't feel the panic and know they can take their time and visit everyone. Having said that it feels good to have to say to some of these people sorry space has been filled.

[Daycare123]

Thanks for all the tips everyone! It is true, it is daunting for most parents to leave their kids in daycare, I get it :) I may start interviewing during the daycare day-not because I am in a rush but so the parent and I can see how their child may fit into the community.

To clarify, I wasn't frustrated by the lengthy interview because it was long, but because usually this is an indication of serious interest and I could tell at the end of the interview that this parent was still COMPLETELY undecided.

I am also considering not sending out my contract and maybe just sending out my handbook.

[cfred]

If you're planning to interview during daycare hours, there are a couple things you might want to keep in mind. I used to do it during work hours as well. It worked fine, till I got more than 3 kids. Then it was difficult and the setting was not at all conducive to a good, relaxed interview. First, you're busy with the kidlets and, as Murphy would have it, on the one day you need everything to run smoothly, it doesn't. Often it's fine, but it's amazing how the child who's always docile and sweet can turn into demon spawn when you really, really need to make a good impression. Second, sometimes interviewees show up with an entourage. I had an interview during which the mother, her infant, her husband and his mother all arrived. It was, to date, the worst interview I've ever conducted.....to the point that my neighbour asked what happened because the woman looked angry. WHAT happened was that I had 2 adults standing in the play area freaking the kids out. After dropping a couple hints and offering a seat to all of them, I finally had to say "Can you please sit down, this is really throwing the children off." Yep.....now I do all interviews after hours.

[Daycare123]

Thanks Cfred! I think maybe I will stick to after-hours interviews!

[playfelt]

Schedule after hours around 6 pm - time to clean up the daycare and father to get home from work. Then they only stay 45 min to an hour because by 7 child is ready for bed. We get to cover what we need to do in very short time when there are no distractions from other kids running around. I take infants so they don't interact with the current group anyways.

[Crayola kiddies]

I don't do interviews during daycare hours because like cfred said "kids act up" , but more importantly because I don't know these people and I don't bring strangers around my daycare kids. its just for security reasons. you can get some really freaky people in your house and the last thing you want is a problem when the daycare kids are there. my families also know that I don't bring strangers around their children and they appreciate that.

[Daycare123]

Crayola kiddies-That is a really valid point! I don't like the idea of strangers here while the kids are here. I definitely don't think I will be doing my interviews during daycare hours.

[5 Little Monkeys]

I'm the oddball I guess lol :) I have done interviews outside of daycare hours (when I was first opening) and I MUCH prefer to do them inside daycare hours now.

I do have a girl who can be a handful now so I would probably schedule an interview in the afternoons she is gone to preschool though.

My SO works evenings so I would actually prefer for him to be home in case a "weird family" came by. I've been lucky so far and have had great families and quite a few of them know each other outside of daycare. Some didn't even realize that their children come to the same daycare lol. Small world....small town lol

[sunnydays]

Fun & Care, I think we interviewed the same person...LOL. And I always tell them to bring spouse and child as I do not want to have to do two interviews!
Intervieiwing is tiring for sure, but I look at it as advertising. I know the families that come for interviews will tell their friends about my daycare and I have had people referred to me in that way. I am fortunate to be able to have 2-3 families interviewed for one spot and than I choose...but those I turn away always spread the word in future :) I even had a little "open-house" type thing a month or two ago for those families looking for care in the future when I don't know if I will have spots...I figure they will spread the word and when I do have a spot, I will let them know and if they don't need it, maybe they will know someone who will :) Good luck!

[daycaremom9]

I've been doing interviews for the last couple of years during daycare hours. Before that I did them after daycare hours. I find that the parents prefer to see the daycare "in action". As a matter of fact the preschool teacher that recommended me to a parent was told by that parent that she feels uncomfortable because I scheduled the interview after hours.

[Daisy123]

I always schedule after hours. I explain to the prospective clients that this is largely because no one I don't know comes into my home during daycare hours unless it's a scheduled maintenance/repair person who can show me a company id. In my experience parents really appreciate and respect that I'm taking that step to protect the children. Honestly, anyone can answer an internet ad... I also agree that it's too hard to focus on answering questions while my attention is divided. I also let potentials know though that after that initial interview (re I've screened them:) ) they are welcome to come for a second short visit to see us in action. Then they know that I've got nothing to hide!!!

[playfelt]

Having moved around a lot I liken the interview process to what we do on a house hunting trip. The first while you simply visit as many houses as you can find that look like they may fit your needs and do a visit to each - long enough to get a feel for the place but not looking in every nook and cranny just basic layout, location, condition. Then you narrow it down to the top 3-5 and go back for a second visit where you look at details. Then you pick one and negotiate from there.

With childcare most parents attempt to visit as many places as they can that they think meet their needs and a quick evening get the basic details ironed out, show off the space, allow me to get a feel for them as well is all we do. Then they may or may not decide to come back and often that is just mom and baby during the day when the other kids are here - sometimes dad takes off and comes but not always able to do that. I like it better when it is just mom because we get to talk about things mom to mom and they are more likely to get right in with the other daycare kids and really see how their child would fit in. The nice thing at this point is that we are so close to signing that I really don't have to do much except keep everyone in line and keep it fun and we focus on the new visitor and babies are always a highlight. I usually am able to find out where they are in the process at that point.

[mom-in-alberta]

I have never done interviews during the daycare day. Mostly due to the fact that I don't know them from Adam, and I don't feel comfortable with strangers around the daycare kids. As a parent, that is how I would/do feel, anyway. I have had one person come back for a playdate-visit during daycare hours. I think that it makes sense to do so. But I only do it on request.
So far I have been pretty lucky for not being strung along by anyone. But I do make it clear that I am not waiting around on them. I ask for a response in a timely manner, and if I have not heard within a few days (even a "we still have a few more to check out, haven't decided yet"), I cross them off.

[Daycare123]

Thanks for sharing everyone! I think I am a little to casual about when people get back to me, I suppose it is because I have never had to wait more than a couple of days, until very recently.

I will only be waiting a few days-I even think a week is a bit of a stretch.

I appreciate everybody sharing their interviewing routine!

[sandylynn]

Ya...it's called WELCOME TO THE MOST UNDERRATED...UNAPPRE CIATED....UNDERPAID. ...AND TAKEN ADVANTAGE JOB OF ALL....I COULD WRITE A BOOK ON WHAT I'VE EXPERIENCED OVER THE LAST 15 YEARS OF RUNNING MY HOME DAYCARE....IT WOULD ABSOLUTELY BLOW YOUR MIND ....NEVER EVER A PROBLEM WITH THE CHILDREN....ALWAYS PROBLEMS WITH THE PARENTS...!!!

[Buggy's Place]

Hey everyone, my biggest upset is when people email for information and NEVER respond back! Erggggg at least say thanks for the info!