Wasted Interviews?

[EchoMom]

Do you think people actually come to interviews just to check out the "competition" and/or get ideas from you?

Or are people really just this flaky?!

It is my number one biggest pet peeve when people come for an interview and then I hear NOTHING from them again! I send them my handbook, references, my teaching license lookup info w/BCI/FBI check, etc. because we've talked through email, on the phone, done the interview, talked contract, everything seems like they're totally interested and then NOTHING.

I email a few days later to follow up and still NOTHING.

WTH?! Does this happen to others?!

I know I'm not "scaring" them off, the interviews go super well, people have lots of compliments, I sign up new families, etc. But then a surprising amount of people just DISAPPEAR and I never hear a word from them.

It makes me livid, I LOATHE this. It makes me feel so exposed and I hate it. Someone comes to my HOME, meets my FAMILY, gets some personal info, my business paperwork, and then I NEVER hear from them again?

I just can't believe people would waste so much of their time and their kids' time and the hassle it is to pack up and come to an interview and then it just be fake. And nothing has ever read to me as fake or phoney. So are people just this flakey?!

Please tell me I'm not alone!

[Michelle]

You are definitely not alone and some of them are probably fellow providers checking you out.. super ridiculous and low.

Some are parents that probably wish they can afford you and go home, do the math and can't and maybe are too embarrassed to call you.

and some are down right rude people who don't care and you don't want them anyway, so just keep your head up and you will get better at your flake radar soon. I am really good at it now.

Hugs

[wdmmom]

Before I waste my time and their, I require a phone interview. I ask all sorts of questions from hours they need care, where they live, where they work, etc. If they work or live farther away, I tell them that distance looks like it could present a problem.

I had a potential client ask my rates a few months ago. I wouldnt even entertain the rate discussion because I didn't have 3 openings and couldn't accommodate her schedule. She got all pissed and hung up. Better being honest than wasting anymore time.

Another called me on a Friday and wanted to start Monday. I told her I require 2 in person interviews before signing on a new family. Then she started bad mouthing the current provider and her kid got 4 ear infections while attending there. I told her while I do clean often and deep clean once per week, I could never make any kind of guarantee that their child wouldn't get ear infections if attending here. She went off the deep end so I ended the call.

Get as much information ahead of time before you dedicate time to interviewing.

[EchoMom]

Thanks for the idea. I hate phone interviews as I feel I don't represent myself the BEST that way, and it's hard to think on the fly, and no body language, etc.

I represent myself and professionalism VERY well through email. I rarely rarely rarely ever do a phone interview. I do lots of talking through email back and forth before the interview. I thought that was plenty.

In email I ask their hours, days, start date, #children, ages. I tell them the intersection I'm near to and tell them to look it up on a map to make sure it works for their commute before interviewing. They know the rates ahead of time. They know my maximum hours ahead of time. They learn a lot by skimming through my website before hand. I don't interview anyone pregnant or looking for care a few months out.

I just don't understand how we can do so much email talking, then a 30 min.-hour long tour/interview/meet & greet w/kids and my DS, send them the references, BCI/FBI, handbook, stuff they wanted, and then...... NOTHING. NO RESPONSE.

It's happened a few times over the year and I can't STAND it.

So, maybe I'll try always phone interviewing first? Anyone else do it this way?

Right now I average about 3-4 interviews for every one new person who signs up. I'd like to get that much lower! A HUGE waste of my time and stress on us and my DS.

[littlemissmuffet]

I do a phone or email interview first to ensure they are clear on: my rates, hours of operation, illness policy, my vacation/holidays/sick time is paid, rates are based on an available space not time used... all of which is non-negotiable. If they start trying to negotiate, I move on.

I also inquire about the child and where they are developmentally (self feeding, napping, etc), if the child has been in another daycare, if so if the parent is willing to give a reference from former daycare, why they are seeking new daycare, how the child is parented, etc.
Sometimes red flags are raised with these questions and again, I move on. If the family sounds like a good fit, I will book an in-person interview.

A parent is only provided with necessary paperwork after they pay their holding fee and or first month's fee. I do not email paperwork either. Too many people steal it and use it to start their own childcares. I make it extremely clear during interviews that if they don't sign up and pay, I continue interfviewing and WILL fill the space immediately. I have only had one interview where the parents chose someone else - as the other provider was bilingual and I am not.
I have had a hand full I have turned away, but that was before I began to pre-screen with phone/email interviews.

[SilverSabre25]

Seriously, I think it's a thing around here, EchoMom. A lot of people do it to me, too, you're not alone. And often I've held their babies and met their kids and I'm 95% sure it's not just competition checking...they just don't know/don't think to call and say that they chose someone else or whatever.

I really think it's a regional problem. I've noticed it with other types of appointments too--people don't call to cancel or confirm or say they chose someone else or anything.

[daycaremom76]

I've had 3 interviews set up in the past two weeks and all 3 were no call no shows! All were lengthy phone or email conversations. So I'm right there with you!

[Sugar Magnolia]

I'd be inclined to vote "flaky" on this topic. Many times people aren't sinister or spying, just lazy and uninterested in being polite. As a center, I have many tours, and only people who sign up ever call back. I have never ONCE had a tour call back and say "I appreciate your time, but I have decided to enroll elsewhere." I get their name and number when they make an appointment for a tour, but I NEVER call them back and ask if they have Amy questions or feedback. Everyone who calls me is offered a tour. About ten percent make an appointment by actually giving me a name and phone number. Of those who make an appointment, 50 percent show up. Again, I never call if they don't show. Of those who show up and tour, 50 percent say they will "let me know". Only the ones who enroll ever actually "let me know".
OP, you can't let it bother you, Its either just human nature or good old fashion apathy. Its likely not personal, they simply don't care enough to give you polite feedback. Bothersome. Time consuming. I know this is your home and family you are opening up to these folks that interview, and its hard not to take it personally. I get that. Yeah, its rude to not get back to someone, but I think all us have sadly come to expect some of that from some:: people, some of the time. Its tough to control entropy. ( no offense @) EntropyControlSpecialist :: )
Try not to let it bother you. Easier said than done, I know. Hope that helps a little.

[crazydaycarelady]

I have never felt like another provider has come over for a phony interview. rarely does it happen that I don't hear from someonever again but ai do hate it when it happens.

[Patches]

I'm pretty sure I had a fellow provider scope me out over the phone. They called when I put an ad on Craigslist saying they were looking for childcare but the questions she asked seemed a little fishy to me and every time I asked her questions about her kids (like how many and how old) she was very hesitant to answer and seemed unsure like she had to think about how old her kid was. Never heard from her again

[Sugar Magnolia]

I'm pretty sure I had a fellow provider scope me out over the phone. They called when I put an ad on Craigslist saying they were looking for childcare but the questions she asked seemed a little fishy to me and every time I asked her questions about her kids (like how many and how old) she was very hesitant to answer and seemed unsure like she had to think about how old her kid was. Never heard from her again

Doesn't everyone have caller ID these days? I sure do! I have had other centers call me from their business lines and ask questions, unabashedly. Hilarious. :::::: I played along.

[Kim]

A couple years ago I decided I was so tired of wasting my time and ink printing paperwork only to never hear from people again that I started waiting until a second interview to give out any paperwork. I don't email paperwork either. Not that my handbook has anything spectacular in it or anything different from the average provider but I took the time to word things on my own and so should they. Use the basic ideas and policies and think for yourself. Use your brain and word those basic policies YOUR way and the way that those policies apply best for YOUR daycare and what YOU offer.

I had a provider just starting out come for a fake interview and copy my paperwork word for word. She was good. I had no idea she wasn't seriously looking for care. She forgot to change my daycare business name in a couple spots and a family that interviewed with her contacted me. That's how I found out! :: The family never went with her because of her lack of professionalism. They worried that they couldn't trust her since she had already proven herself to be dishonest. They wanted to interview with me and I would have loved to have met with them but I didn't have any openings at the time. The whole incident made her look like such an idiot and she stumbled over herself when I called to confront her about it. She closed within a year. So don't fret- karma catches up eventually!