Advice of Interviewing

[Pout]

Hi everyone!

I have my first interview on Friday and I'm feeling kinda nervous about it. Can anyone give me some advice on how I should conduct it? Are there certain guidelines I should do from start to finish? A certain order I should do things in? Certain questions I should ask? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

[Michael]

Some good interview info here: https://www.daycare.com/forum/tags.p...ew+-+checklist

https://www.daycare.com/forum/tags.php?tag=interview+-+questions

[frugalmama4]

I may not be much help as I'm also trying to reinvent the wheel (so speak).
What I currently do is the tour first-

1). Stop at the parents board
2). Show the cubby location
3). Point out the sign in/out log
4A).Meet and greet my family (kids are usually at the front door anyway)
4B). Walk through the "daycare room (my whole down stairs is used for DC but I have my dinning room set up like a class room/play room). Show them some of the pre-school work you do with the kiddos. I would have kid art work up too.
5). Check out the DC bathroom
6).Check out the nap area (my office also)

Then back to the kitchen table to talk business-

1). Show them my permit/ID/Training's certification etc (I have it in a binder)
2). Show the child to care givers ratio chart (from the states handbook)
3A). I will ask then to fill out an interview questionnaire(for my records)
3B). Pull out the parent handbook(I'm no longer giving this out during interviews/only after enrolling) I will highlight the high points
4). Go over the handbook
5). Allow them to ask questions

Be sure to give them some business cards to past around and keep for themselves.

Most of these ideals I got from previous threads...try search some of the tags I added below.

Good Luck!

[frugalmama4]

Oh, look Michael beat me to the tags...but I added two more

[Pout]

Thanks Frugal, that's very helpful!

[renodeb]

Thats exciting. There are no hard and fast rules about interviewing a family. I usually show them around first, pointing out the sign in book, back yard, playroom. Most likely they will ask questions which is a great way to sustain a conversation. Maybe run through the interview in your head.
I always have an info pack(rates, sample menu, daily schedule, references or an enrollment pack (depending on how it goes) ready to hand them.
Good luck!
Debbie

[Meeko]

I greet at the door and introduce myself. (I only interview after hours) I tell them "Let me start showing you around. If any questions pop into your mind, please ask me!" I then start explaining our different areas etc. They usually relax and ask questions and so do I.

Once we have strolled through the day care we THEN sit down and continue talking.

I find this so much easier than inviting a stranger in , having them sit down immediately.... feels very awkward!

The most important thing is to be confident. Confident in your policies and your program.

If someone doesn't like something.......they can look elsewhere to find what they want. It is not a reflection on you if they don't decide to buy your services. I wish someone had told me that when I first started..... that I didn't have take the first person who came along and I didn't have to bend my rules to make it more convenient for them. I ended up getting resentful and frustrated.

YOU are your boss. They are NOT employing you. You are offering them a service. They can purchase A, B and C.

They do not get to decide to have half of A, plus D and E. You don't sell that.

Good luck! It will get easier every time! HUGS!

[Pout]

Renodeb and meeko, thank you so much!!! I am not nearly as nervous about it now! Very helpful advice! I'm definitely going to do a practice interview or two on my husband! The interview is on Friday, do you think it would be a good idea to send the parent an email the day before and touch base to make sure it's still on?

[CheekyChick]

This is what I do...

1. I greet them at the door, go over names, and gush about how cute their child is.

2. I give them a tour of the entire facitlity and show them the playground.

3. I ask them to take a seat at my desk (I have a chair out for both mommy/daddy).

4. I tell them that I am going to ask them a few questions and start writing notes on my interview worksheet.

5. After I have all the information I need, I ask them if they have any questions for me (some don't have a single question and some have a list).

6. Upon leaving, I give them a Parent Handbook and a few other random sheets in a little folder.

7. I tell them that I am interviewing other families for the open spot and will make a decision by XX date. I usually get an e-mail within one hour from the families who REALLY want the spot.

8. I walk them to the door, gush about their child a bit more and say goodbye.

Once you do this a few times, it will become like second nature. You will do GREAT!!!

PS: If the family has a baby, I normally ask to hold the baby. If they have a toddler, I try to interact with the toddler as much as possible. I also let the toddler pick a toy from the treasure chest on the way out. 9 times out of 10, the toddler will cry and NOT want to leave.

[daycare]

If someone doesn't like something.......they can look elsewhere to find what they want. It is not a reflection on you if they don't decide to buy your services. I wish someone had told me that when I first started..... that I didn't have take the first person who came along and I didn't have to bend my rules to make it more convenient for them. I ended up getting resentful and frustrated.

All of what she said!!!

here is my advice...

Never offer "Special"
Never change your rules, hours of operations or prices for anyone!
Follow your PHB to the T
Dont let them walk all over you. YOu are offering a service and it just might not be what they need, but I promise you it will be what someone needs....

[KBCsMommy]

Pout- I would just like to tell you to never sign a family on the spot!! Think it over first. And don't call the family back. If they like you and the feeling is mutual they will contact you within a few days!! Good luck!!

[jacksonvillecare]

Cheekychick--Do you tell them you are interviewing other families even if you aren't?? Or do you always interview multiple families before filling a spot?? :confused:

[CheekyChick]

Cheekychick--Do you tell them you are interviewing other families even if you aren't?? Or do you always interview multiple families before filling a spot?? :confused:

No...

When I have an opening, I usually interview 3 to 5 families for the spot and I book them one hour apart. They usually take the entire hour and pass each other on the way in/out. That's actually a good thing (for me) because if they really like my daycare, it will make them want the open space that much more.

[MOMOF3BOYZ]

i have a question? can someone give me an example of a handbook? i dont have one and dont know what i should put in the phb. i only have a contract

[Pout]

Thanks everyone!!! happyface I would also like an example of a parent handbook. Would that be the forms they need to sign? I was planning on giving them a folder with the contract, the paper work that needs to be filled out by them, the daily schedule and the weekly menu. Is that good? :confused: