Do you follow up after interviews?

[justgettingstarted]

Hi ladies,

I'm still getting started, taking lots of calls and doing interviews. I was wondering if you do follow up calls or emails after an interview? I had an interview last week that seemed to go very well. She said she was going to email her schedule to me later that night. The email never came. Maybe she changed her mind, maybe she didn't get the work schedule she was hoping for and doesn't think she can afford my rates or my hours wouldn't work. I'm very flexible because I plan to have such a small group, I'm definitely willing to work with her if this is the case. Would you call her and check in? The little girl was very sweet and played well with my son and they seemed like they would be a great fit. I was really excited at the time. Not sure if I should let it go or follow up.

Thanks for your advice

[greenhouse]

I do not. If they like me they call back if they don't then I don't want to subject myself to an awkward conversation.

[KBCsMommy]

I used to call back after interviews. But parents would never call me back.

Even when I thought interviews went extremely well (moms would ask if they could start on Monday, insisting on enrollment papers when I dont give them at the first interview etc.) moms would not call me back when I called them.

If parents are interested they will call back. Ive had several of my daycare families call back after 3-4 weeks after the interview to ask if I still have a spot for their child. These are parents that have been out and looked at other daycares and then decided whats best for their child.

But my advice would be to hold off and let them contact you if they are interested.

[Just Saying]

I always END my interview at the front door with (if I feel they are a good fit);

Thank you for stopping by and please go home and think about everything and call me in 24 hours if you are wanting the position, then I quickly look at the child and say.....It was so nice having you come to my home for a little while, I would be very happy if Mommy would chose me for your daycare provider. Then I ask the child for a hug....and let mom go. If you don't hear from mom in 24 hours, then your worries are over and you can move on.


Now if I feel they ARE NOT a good fit, I say;

Thank you for stopping by, I have 3 more interviews in the next couple of weeks, you can call me on ******X and I will let you know if your child was accepted.

[justgettingstarted]

Thanks ladies. I guess I already knew what your answer would be - I wasn't looking foward to an awkward call anyway. I'm feeling a bit desperate though. I have just one parttimer signed on and so I'm still working at my regular job parttime. I'm pretty sure I will have a mom signing on this week for fulltime starting really soon which means I'll need to quit my job with only two kids signed on right before Christmas when I assume the calls will slow down a lot. Its very stressful!

[sharlan]

I don't. If I don't get a call back, then I know that family wasn't meant to be.

[Ariana]

I do a follow up e-mail and ask them to contact me if they're interested in the spot. I have said "if I don't hear from you by Friday (date) I will offer the space to another family". It's short and sweet and gives me the power instead of waiting endlessly for them to contact me.

[daycare]

If I really like the family, I will send a follow up email. I would be happy to share it with you if you would like me to pM ME..

[wdmmom]

Usually within a day or two of the interview, I send a "thank you email" and tell them they feel free to contact me with any other questions that arise, if they want to do a second interview, etc.

I always do a phone interview. If they get in the door to do the first face-to-face interview, it usually means I liked what I heard, their hours, etc.

I also tell them that I will continue interviewing in hopes to have the spot filled by (date). This gives them time to do other interviews and make a decision. I'm not quick to offer openings to just any ol' parent but I'm also not going to wait 3 months either.

[CheekyChick]

I used to send a follow up e-mail but I don't do that any longer. If they want a spot, they will contact me. If they don't, they won't.

[MarinaVanessa]

Cheer up, you'll get call backs soon. I've been working under my max capacity for a while now and when I became pregnant with my now 1yo DS I saw it as a blessing. This last year I've been able to really spend a lot of time with him even during DC hours.

I told myself it would be a little break and that once he turned 1 I would advertise again and really work hard at it. DS turned 1 this month on the 10th and I posted some ads and flyers and WOAH NELLY! I'm filling up fast.

I did tons of interviews in the last month but no one was signing up. All of a sudden the last 2 weeks every single one of the people that I interviewed has called me back wanting to join and I'm still getting new calls. Sometimes they just take a while to get back to you.
Good luck to you!

[mismatchedsocks]

I do. It takes a minute of your time, and maybe they are absent minded?? I dont know, but its easy to send a non awkward email or leave a message.

Hi this is "name" and we met last week for an interview for daycare. I had another call for childcare today and wanted to touch base with you first. Have you made a decision about daycare for your child? Thanks.