Ugh!! This is taking tooooooooo long!!

Hello everyone :D

I was just wondering how long it takes everyone to do an interview. I had an interview with a family yesterday and they were here for an hour and a half :mad: !! I tried hinting that it was time to go but I think they believe since I don't have kids I have all the time in the world. How long does everyone usually take to do an interview and what do or could you say to parents to make them leave? I don't want to be rude but I don't want to talk all night long either.
Please help!! :no:

Hi Emma H....my interviews last about 30 - 45 min. I show them around...sit down at kitchen table...I lay out my program...vacation.. .all my rules...they ask a few questions...then I politely say...."great....if you get home and think of anything else, please give me a call"....please let me know what you decide as I have other people I am interviewing for the spot...DONE....Never really had a problem...have to admit though...ONCE ...my daughter did text me something....I heard my phone....(excused myself for a min.)...and texted my daughter asking her to call in 10 min. When she did...I replied with...."YES DEAR...I WILL BE THERE SHORTLY".....THEY GOT THE HINT! It's not rude....all was said and done....it's called "BYE BYE"....

I am a chatty cathy and my interviews used to easily last between 1 and 1 1/2 hours but adding the initial telephone interview into my process cut this down to 30-45 minutes. I don't want to chase people out of my house when first impressions are so important, but I am generally very busy in the evenings with my own kids and my 2nd job. I'm also exhausted! If things do go over in time, I can be cheeky in my English accent and say if there are no more questions I'm going to have to call time and boot you out now. I can get away with anything being British lol

If you do a telephone interview initially, all the important questions have already been addressed cutting down the in person time. Also it weeds out any potential families you aren't interested in which in turn prevents flakey families who do not follow policy which I've seen you post issues about elsewhere. Interview process is not just for them but the provider too. I have red flags/deal breakers which I need to establish prior to them coming to meet me and so do they. I ask them what their deal breakers are over the phone and what it is they are looking for in a daycare provider. Some of their requests are warranted but not in line with how I do things, while other things are flat out ridiculous but it is their prerogative to seek whatever childcare they like. This telephone process is so important prior to taking the next step. My interviews are now half the time and I don't waste half as much time now interviewing people who would never be a good fit.

When I first started mine would last 1.5-2 hours, soooo long!!! I always had parents say "I feel like I know you.....I get a good vibe from you....you're so easy to talk too" etc which was fantastic but I felt that was too long for an interview lol.

Now when I set up an interview I say it will last 20-30 mins depending on how many questions they may have for me! It lets them know ahead of time that we're on a schedule and it's not an afternoon play date for their child (or them! Lol) I also suggest they write their questions down so they don't forget anything! I also have a list of a few questions I like to ask. We do these first, than I show the daycare and introduce the kids if it's during dc hours. (My husband watches the dc downstairs while I ask the questions upstairs in quiet now) it works fantastic!! I get a few quiet minutes with the family than I get to see their child interact with my current group and introduce my husband since he's my backup provider!

Oh and I always have sent my contract and policies via email first. I will not waste my time meeting with people who don't want to agree to those terms. That cuts down on a few families for sure!

I have an initial conversation either by phone or email to cover the very basics and then I send them my handbook via email for them to read. If they agree with my policies then we set up an interview and it only lasts about 30-45 mins because by then they know everything they need to know about my daycare its just a matter of checking out my space and maybe clarifying a few things.

I find it usually takes an hour. I always send out my contract to them beforehand. I like to schedule my interviews right at 5 or shortly after. That way they are usually heading out the door before 6 as everyone is getting hungry for supper.

I find the parents who are just starting out take longer and those who have already done a few interviews have a better idea of what they want to ask and what they want to look for so it goes quicker and to the point. About an hour is the norm for me. I want them to stay long enough that they feel comfortable. I do my interviews in the evenings after daycare so often the time is dictated by the child's bedtime as in they get fussy and even if parents don't bring it up I can say something oh looks like little XXX is getting a bit restless and sleepy must be close to bedtime at which point they usually get the hint to leave or at that point I will just stand up as I say it and again they usually get the hint and stand up too at which point the child needs picked up and then well it just gets awkward so they leave.

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Originally Posted by Emma H

Hello everyone :D

I was just wondering how long it takes everyone to do an interview. I had an interview with a family yesterday and they were here for an hour and a half :mad: !! I tried hinting that it was time to go but I think they believe since I don't have kids I have all the time in the world. How long does everyone usually take to do an interview and what do or could you say to parents to make them leave? I don't want to be rude but I don't want to talk all night long either.
Please help!! :no:

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I changed my way because interviews take about one hour if I am meeting them cold.

Now I have telephone interview. This can take 45 mins but I do it at nap time so not so bad. I explain my routine, answer question, ask question and see if I like person on phone. Can check if they are secretive or open, can see if maybe we get along good.

If I like and they like me, I send documents by e-mail for them to read and see policy here. I not change policy for client so they either like or they don't.

Then if they like, and all is good, then they come out and meet facing to facing and see the day care in person. This take no more than 15-20 mins because we already ask all questions about care and policy. They just need to see day care and if they like place and me.

This still take an hour total but it mean I don't have all that time out of family time. It also mean that I only have person come here if we both fairly sure it is good match.

I'm glad to see what others are doing because my process feels too long. I do a phone interview that is usually 45mins-1 hr, send my policies out and if they are agreeable to everything we book a time in person. I have always allowed for and hour and families usually take that long. The families always say they feel really connected with me and I am pretty personable. I have never had a family that makes it to the meeting stage that didn't want to come to my daycare. I think primarily because I do spend the time with them on the phone and I weed out the ones that won't fit. Probably my training as a therapist helps as I am not scared to ask the hard questions and we talk about everything. That being said, I would like to shorten this process because it does turn into a bit of a play date. I think after seeing what others are doing, I will allow for 45 mins for the in person and tell them its 30 mins or so depending on any new questions they may have. Don't want to mess with the formula too much though!

TOkids, I think you will find that 30 mins in person is plenty! With doing the bulk off the interview over email or phone, it's really just a meet and greet and a chance for them to view your home/daycare space and finalize some last minute questions or things they wanted to ask/clarify in person. Some families are gone within 20 minutes and others stay a bit longer around 45 mins but since telling them ahead of time that the meeting will be short, it has really cut down the interview length and I LOVE it!! I think for some, they (and sometimes I) also didn't know how to end it so it would go on a bit longer than needed because their child was having fun and playing. Now it's in the back of their mind that I have a schedule and they might be interrupting that and their time is over now.

I can be quite chatty too and sometimes didn't mind the 2 hour ones(let's be honest, adult interaction is few and far most days!! lol) but there are days that you just want to be done with your day!