Interview questions you haven't had

[Judy Trickett]

Again on references - parents know that we aren't going to give them names of people who are going to say bad things about us.

Ah, but that is a misnomer. Let me tell you, I used to work in a field wherein I had to call a lot of references for people seeking management jobs. You would be amazed at how many people are truthful when you call the even though the person thought they would say good things (otherwise why put them on your reference list). When people assume they are somewhat anonymous they DO tell the truth.

I don't care how great a daycare parent might be there will always be one or two things that they don't like about care. And that is just human nature.

[angelina]

no one ask for my police record. but wait, i posted a copy in the front bulletin board. LOL and so as a copy of my Red Cross CPR.

maybe they have seen it as they come in!

[Inspired by Reggio]

no one ask for my police record. but wait, i posted a copy in the front bulletin board. LOL and so as a copy of my Red Cross CPR.

maybe they have seen it as they come in!

LOL ~ yup mine are in my portfolio binder along with all my other documentation like copy of my insurance, business license and diplomas and so forth.

I also agree about the calling references being prudent ... I worked in HR too and sometimes it is not what they DO say glowing reports wise but what they DO NOT when asked questions as well ... the pause in the voice, the change in tone or evasion of some questions cause the person does not want to 'lie' but telling the truth might be seen as negative so they are thinking about how to word it to tell the truth and spin it positive!

When I was interviewing for staff members in a centre and calling references I once got to the question, after several that flowed off the tip of her tone, 'would you leave your child alone with this person' .... suddenly after having all the right answers about education, book smart type things they PAUSED ... seriously that is a NO BRAINIER so why would you have to pause before answering 'oh for sure I have left my kid with her dozens of times'? Basically sent the message that while this person was 'book smart' they did not yet have the PRACTICAL SKILLS that would allow the parent on the other end to entrust their own kid to this person they were 'referring' and since the position I was hiring for required the person to be 'alone' a lot I did not choose her for that job and offered her a 'supply staff' job instead to get some more practical experience ... and it paid off cause she had no 'group management skills' at all and needed a lot of mentoring before she could figure out how to apply her book smarts into practice in the classroom!

[Sandbox Sally]

I have been asked ALL of the questions on this thread! Do I have an untrustworthy face??

LOL

I have also been asked if my DH would ever come into contact with daycare kids, and whether they could have police clearance for him and my PARENTS, for when they come and visit me in my private home. That irritated me, to say the least. I wanted to ask them for references. After all, they would be in my home doing pick up and drop off, and my own kids would be there, not to mention other peoples' precious babies. Ugh.

[Momof4]

Alpha, I think it's those 6 busy arms of yours that scare parents, hahaha! Maybe that just isn't a very good picture of you in your signature or whatever you call it.

I had a daycare parent who got a call from my latest dcfamily and she asked her to tell her the best thing about my daycare and the worst thing and what she would change. So when the Mom was telling me about this phone call I couldn't resist asking her what she would change or didn't like. She said she was stumped and didn't know what to say and told her that she honestly couldn't think of a thing. The new Mom signed on so I guess my old dcMom was telling the truth.