Nerves!

[Blackcat31]

Blackcat I knew you'd be comfortable! You seem like you have the interviews down pat.
My family yesterday had nothing to ask yesterday, as they said I pretty much covered it. They only question was regarding the cats.
The interview only last 15 mins, they weren't as talkative as my previous family whose son I now watch.

Have a great weekend!

..oh my! Do my "bossy-by-nature" qualities show through in print too?!? ::

My mom always told me I should have went into politics! LOL!

I did do two years of pre-law with hopes of someday going to law school....wonder how I ended up changing diapers.... ::::::

[JenNJ]

..ok, now I know without a doubt that I am definitely paddling in a different river than most of you. ::

I like interviews. As a matter of fact, they are super easy for me and something I have never worried about or been uncomfortable with.

For me, I have found the easiest way to manage an interview is to let the parent lead you. Let them ask you the questions they need to know. Allow them time to tell you about themselves. Spend the first portion of the interview with them talking. Once they have done that, I can get a really good feel for who they are and what type of care situation they are looking for.

You would be amazed at what things you can learn when you listen twice as much as you speak.

Once the family is done talking (it is usually obvious when they have nothing furhter to really say) then I begin telling them things that I want them to know and be aware of that they didn't already ask about themselves.

The last thing I do is give them a physical tour....unless they are laid back enough that we are able to tour AND talk at the same time.

Interviews are the foundation to my care/enviroment and how I run my business but they are NOT formal and uncomfortable....for either party.

Interviews, paperwork and the business side of this profession are my strong/good qualities.

In my personal opinion, if you can master the interview part of this career, then the families/children you get into your program are super easy because you will have made good matches during the interview parts and you will have weeded out the ones who would not have been a good fit.

This is me 100%. I *LOVE* interviewing. I am really good at it. I am a great salesperson, . I do what BlackCat describes as well. I find that once I became great at interviewing, I collected great families.

[KDC]

I'm always nervous inviting a family into my home. I'm not so nervous as to if they'll like me (they do or they don't), it's usually the other way around, what if they DO like me and I do not like them? I'm a wimp at telling people 'No'.

[B Lou]

I'm not usually nervous for interviews. I feel I do my job pretty darn good and they would be lucky to have me.::::::::::

As for the pets. I always make sure I tell parents over the phone at the time of setting up the appointment, that we have 1 dog and 1 cat. That way if they're not animal lovers then they don't have to waste either of our times by coming for the interview.And they're not shocked when they arrive to be greeted by our over protective dog who will........wash their faces for them.::::::