I **** at Interviews!!!

[TwinKristi]

Gosh I hate interviews soooo much! I lucked out with my first few kids because I knew their mom and my first real interview was a shoe-in! She said "ok great, I will talk to my husband but I'd like to start next week." Ha! Then the next was a cousin of a friend and super easy, but the last few I just didn't feel confident. One mom chose me and then quit her job 8wks later so all that work for nothin! Now I'm on the brink of desperation and truly try not to appear as desperate as I am so it's a balancing act.
Today I had one and I have another Wednesday afternoon. Both for little babies! Today I thought I had a pretty good chance but she made it clear she was interviewing many people but would bring her older son and dh over to meet me as well. Now I'm almost more nervous about Wednesday... Why so much anxiety!?!? I hate it!!

[Sugar Magnolia]

I hear you, I often feel that way too, especially if an interview doesn't pan out. I have had some real duds lately and blame either my interview skills or some minor thing I think isn't right with the facility. I did one on Saturday, which I don't usually do, and felt I came off as desperate. I feel your pain, Twins. :confused::hug:

[Blackcat31]

The trick to a great interview is to always remember that regardless of how desperate you are or aren't.....NEVER show it.

Speak as if you have many other people interested in the spot. Speak as if you are interviewing more than one person for the space.

Always ask what is the earliest date the family will be needing care...add, because I have several interviews wanting this space and won't be making a final decision until atleast Friday. (at the VERY least, require 24 hours before deciding.)

Talk about your rules/policies as if they are the Bible in which you live by and won't even entertain the thought of doing "special" for anyone for ANY amount of money.

Make statements that clearly end in a period and not a question...kwim?

Speak as if you have ALL the confidence in the world (even if you have none).

Seriously....something weird happens to people when they are faced with someone who is confident and proud of what she/he does. (even if it's a fake confidence)

Oddly, it seems the more someone "thinks" they can't have something or there is possibility that they might not "get in" makes them nutty....and then they want into your program even MORE...

I have NO idea why that is, but early on in a public speaking course I took waaaay back in the late 80ies we were taught to do this and to practice if necessary and then try it.

I am telling you, it works.

[Cradle2crayons]

Gosh I hate interviews soooo much! I lucked out with my first few kids because I knew their mom and my first real interview was a shoe-in! She said "ok great, I will talk to my husband but I'd like to start next week." Ha! Then the next was a cousin of a friend and super easy, but the last few I just didn't feel confident. One mom chose me and then quit her job 8wks later so all that work for nothin! Now I'm on the brink of desperation and truly try not to appear as desperate as I am so it's a balancing act.
Today I had one and I have another Wednesday afternoon. Both for little babies! Today I thought I had a pretty good chance but she made it clear she was interviewing many people but would bring her older son and dh over to meet me as well. Now I'm almost more nervous about Wednesday... Why so much anxiety!?!? I hate it!!

My granny used to say, related to things like self confidence etc..... FAKE IT TIL YU MAKE IT. And it works. Like BC said.

It will get easier the more yu do it though.

[TwinKristi]

I definitely didn't want to come across as desperate so I just went with the flow, she already had my contract and we discussed when she'd start and such. I just felt so uncomfortable being so desperate inside and trying to appear confidant outside. I've been recommended by her cousin and another provider so I think I have a shot. Plus I have a low ratio, lots of boys here (she has 3 boys) and I think I made a decent impression despite my DS trying to share every toy he had and DCB who was coughing all over (I asked him to cover his cough and got him water) but it was kinda noisy and I was nervous. We'll see. I really need to fill these empty spots!!! I also told her I have an interview Weds for another baby.

[caregiver]

The trick to a great interview is to always remember that regardless of how desperate you are or aren't.....NEVER show it.

Speak as if you have many other people interested in the spot. Speak as if you are interviewing more than one person for the space.

Always ask what is the earliest date the family will be needing care...add, because I have several interviews wanting this space and won't be making a final decision until atleast Friday. (at the VERY least, require 24 hours before deciding.)

Talk about your rules/policies as if they are the Bible in which you live by and won't even entertain the thought of doing "special" for anyone for ANY amount of money.

Make statements that clearly end in a period and not a question...kwim?

Speak as if you have ALL the confidence in the world (even if you have none).

Seriously....something weird happens to people when they are faced with someone who is confident and proud of what she/he does. (even if it's a fake confidence)

Oddly, it seems the more someone "thinks" they can't have something or there is possibility that they might not "get in" makes them nutty....and then they want into your program even MORE...

I have NO idea why that is, but early on in a public speaking course I took waaaay back in the late 80ies we were taught to do this and to practice if necessary and then try it.

I am telling you, it works.

Totally agree with Blackcat! Also, just be yourself. It's always that first impression that will tell the parent if your who they are looking for. I think that it is when they first walk into your home, that they kind of form their decision that early. Is your house neat and clean,that is always a given for me when I do interviews. Also when I do interviews I will always ask to hold the child and talk while holding their child.
Parents always seem to like that as it shows them that you really take a interest in their child. If the child starts to fuss the parent usually will take them as I only do interviews in the evenings and the child most likely is tired and just wants Mommy. Also I am a kitchen person and do my interviews sitting at the kitchen table. It just seems more friendly or like you can talk easier then in the living room. Then after talking a bit and finding out what they are looking for and tell them what I do, I will ask if they want a tour of the house to see where their child will be playing and napping. If they say no to seeing the house, then I know they are not interested.
If my husband is home, I will introduce them to him so they at least see him and can know what kind of person he is. He will usually get into a conversation with the parents a little bit. This what I do for interviews and I do get nervous,but just try and be myself and be honest about everything and if they don't like what I say or offer, then too bad, it would not be good fit then. Both parties have to feel comfortable about each other and if they don't get a good vib from you,then they probably won't go with you.
Good Luck and please post if you want to on how your interviews went.

[TwinKristi]

The baby is itty-bitty and was asleep in his seat but I did ask about him, his name and such we'll see!

[Leigh]

The trick to a great interview is to always remember that regardless of how desperate you are or aren't.....NEVER show it.

Speak as if you have many other people interested in the spot. Speak as if you are interviewing more than one person for the space.

Always ask what is the earliest date the family will be needing care...add, because I have several interviews wanting this space and won't be making a final decision until atleast Friday. (at the VERY least, require 24 hours before deciding.)

Talk about your rules/policies as if they are the Bible in which you live by and won't even entertain the thought of doing "special" for anyone for ANY amount of money.

Make statements that clearly end in a period and not a question...kwim?

Speak as if you have ALL the confidence in the world (even if you have none).

Seriously....something weird happens to people when they are faced with someone who is confident and proud of what she/he does. (even if it's a fake confidence)

Oddly, it seems the more someone "thinks" they can't have something or there is possibility that they might not "get in" makes them nutty....and then they want into your program even MORE...

I have NO idea why that is, but early on in a public speaking course I took waaaay back in the late 80ies we were taught to do this and to practice if necessary and then try it.

I am telling you, it works.

Completely true. Same when it comes to money. When someone tries to negotiate, I tell them that they get what they pay for...that their children get what MINE gets. Healthy food, positive attention, opportunities to learn, a safe, supervised environment, and the peace of mind that comes with knowing that I have been background checked and have at least 1x/month visits from the state.

[TwinKristi]

Well she wants to bring her older son by, I take that as a good sign right?

[caregiver]

Well she wants to bring her older son by, I take that as a good sign right?

Good sign! Good luck!

[melilley]

When I first opened, I was so nervous about doing interviews, but after my first one, it wasn't so bad. I always talk myself up (in my mind; I have mock interviews in my head) and have it in my mind that the the interview will go well. I always act like I'm confident and every interview, but one (recently) I landed the family. And this last interview, I didn't talk myself up and wasn't ready at all and I could tell it wasn't like the other one's.

For some reason I **** at the phone part! I don't know why, but I get so nervous and mix my words up. I'm getting better, but I've always been that way whether it's making appointments over the phone or ordering a pizza, any time it's someone I don't know. It's weird, I'd rather talk in person than on the phone.

And I think it's a good sign that she wants to bring her oldest, especially since she said she was interviewing others. Good luck!

[Angelsj]

The baby is itty-bitty and was asleep in his seat but I did ask about him, his name and such we'll see!

I always ask if I can hold babies. Not only do I really enjoy them, and I think that comes through, but it also allows the parents to see how comfortable you are holding and working with the tiny ones.

[Josiegirl]

Ugh, interviews un-nerve me too. I figure first impressions are the best and I'm always so nervous that I'm sure I don't come off very confident. However, if I can keep that feeling inside me of 'who cares if I get this one or not?' then I say/ask/do what I need to and see where it goes. It's funny though, the potential dcfs that took up most of my time never came through with signing up. One dcm I must've emailed back and forth for a couple months, she and her dh,ds came to visit, she knew others that I care for and I came highly recommended. Her issue was she had done dc too and wanted to be home with her ds. The other's ds had some kind of health issue they were in the middle of diagnosing and we must have talked for 2 hrs. on the phone, she was a no-show at the 1st interview, wanted to reschedule, I said I don't think I'm what you need.

What I do is have a simple 10 cent folder ready, filled with all my paperwork and some add-ins I've collected over the years. I include an introductory letter, that kind of gives them a bit of background into why I do what I do, talk just a little bit about my own kids(adults), my dogs, etc.
I sit down on the playroom floor, sit and chat while we all play with their child. I ask questions, they ask questions. I tell them you need to find childcare that will fit their needs, mesh with their philosophies, because not everyone offers the same.
They might look over the packet or wait till they get home. I tell them to please call with any other questions. Sometimes they commit right then, sometimes they call back, sometimes I never hear from them at all. I count it all as good experience. Trouble is I've always wanted to reconnect with the ones that I never hear from again, just to find out what they were looking for that I didn't offer, only to see if there were changes I could make.

Good luck with both your potential dcfs, let us know how it works out!

[caregiver]

I also have a notebook/folder that I will have with all my letters of recommendations that parents have written for me, so they can read them while they are here if they want. Some do and some don't, some just skim over them, but I also have pictures of some of the kids that I have cared for,given to me by their parents, cards that I have gotten from the kids or parents, or pictures the kids have drawn for me in my folder.
Also I do not do interviews during the day as parents have voiced their opinion that they do not want strangers around their kids that they do not know even if I am interviewing for more DCK's, which I totally understand.
I do my interviewing in the evenings when my husband is home, I just feel safer that way, you just never know what might happen these days as far as trusting people,it's terrible to have to be that way,but that is the way the world is today.
Let us all know how the interview went. Wishing you Good Luck!

[TwinKristi]

She came with her 3yr old and they played for almost an hour here! He didn't want to go! She said she still had a couple more people to meet with but would be in touch very soon! One more interview tomorrow afternoon and that's it!