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Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>Two Minute Interview
nanglgrl 08:32 PM 03-15-2013
I've been told that parents usually decide if they are going to consider your daycare or pass on it in the first couple of minutes after they've met you and entered your home. I asked several of my clients and they indeed said that they were pretty sure they were going to say they wanted a spot before we even sat down. Wouldn't it be nice if we could talk to possible clients for 5 minutes and then give them an out so we wouldn't have to waste more time if they weren't interested? Oh well, I can dream.
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Ups_and-downs 08:57 PM 03-15-2013
I so wish that was possible. Only been doing this for 2 years and I hate the interview part of this job. If they know they are not interested, they should just say so and stop wasting ours and their time. Maybe they think we would be insulted? Haha nope, at least I would know right than and there instead of wondering, " are they going to sign up?" for days.
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Blackcat31 07:33 AM 03-16-2013
Well, think of this same concept in opposite terms....

don't YOU know within 2-5 minutes of interviewing a family if you want them as clients or not?

I know I do.
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frgsonmysox 11:40 AM 03-16-2013
I tell all my interviewing families that if I'm not the right fit for their family, they'll know it, and I won't be insulted by it. I'm not going to be the perfect fit for everyone, so tell me I'm not and we can both move on!
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nanglgrl 12:43 PM 03-16-2013
Originally Posted by Blackcat31:
Well, think of this same concept in opposite terms....

don't YOU know within 2-5 minutes of interviewing a family if you want them as clients or not?

I know I do.
Very true. Now if I could just figure out a way to nicely say (in a way that will not leave me open to a lawsuit), "Sorry, but this isn't going to work. Thanks for stopping by" before their child creates havoc while they are telling me how well behaved they are.
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EntropyControlSpecialist 01:15 PM 03-16-2013
Originally Posted by Blackcat31:
Well, think of this same concept in opposite terms....

don't YOU know within 2-5 minutes of interviewing a family if you want them as clients or not?

I know I do.
I don't. Darn Asperger's ...
If they do something crazy during that time then I know. Otherwise, I'm working on picking up "vibes" better. I'm good at that in my personal life and horrible at it in my business life.

I can't tell if the people interviewing know in 2-5 minutes, either. Although, you would think they would since they've talked to me prior to, seen photos on the website, have a tour within the very first minute, and chit chat until our 30 minutes are up.
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Orie 03:02 PM 03-16-2013
Originally Posted by frgsonmysox:
I tell all my interviewing families that if I'm not the right fit for their family, they'll know it, and I won't be insulted by it. I'm not going to be the perfect fit for everyone, so tell me I'm not and we can both move on!
I really like this statement, and think I will use that the next time I am interviewing. Thanks for sharing.
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Holiday Park 01:41 PM 03-18-2013
Once I knew it was not a good fit before they even walked through my door.
I saw them get walk up to my front door so I opened it right after she knocked. only to find her standing there smiling and not saying a word whole the 4 year old was running around the cars in t drive way, and running around my front yard . she kept shouting for him to come to her ad he wouldn't listen. I got tired of standing there and said whenever your ready let me know, and shut the door.
then when he finally decided to come up the steps he rang my door bell over&over a zillion times and I had to say something when I opened thè door.

When they finally did come through the door, I knew for sure .Once inside it was 10x worse, with several tantrums and non stop (attempted&failed) re-directions by mom the entire time. I couldn't even get the kid to look at me, let alone listen to anything I had to say. It was my worst interview experience. I felt a little bad for her because she was practically begging me to consider a trial period because all the daycares shes tried didn't work out. That also made it hard for me to say anything right then and there.
I had never known so soon and was unsure of how to go about turning her down . I didnt have the guts to say anything. But I did write a email the next day saying I didnt think we would be a good fit and goodluck with her search.

The other time I also knew right away was when the mom insisted on not napping her 2 year old. I tried to reason with her after already telling her naps were not negotiable. She wanted to argue. I should have shown her the door at that moment. but that was before I was even beginning to grow any kind of backbone. I should have just not emailed her and waited to see if she emailed me so I could say the spot wasn't available. Because she ended up writing me this nasty email about how she didnt want to use me anyway because my house smelled strongly of urine and my floors were filthy dirty . Nome of which was true at all! My husband not only cleans carpet for a living so we are meticulous about how the floors look, but at the time I had a very anal/micro-managing dcp of a crawling infant and ahe would have never picked me if my floors were the least bit dirty.
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Texasjeepgirl 02:25 PM 03-18-2013
When I have a potential client contact me..usually by phone call.. I ALWAYS let it go to voice mail...
99% of the time..I'm too busy to speak on the phone..
When I do return the call.. I say.. Hi... I had a message from you regarding your interest in my daycare..
They say.. blah blah blah..
then I say..
Do you have access to the internet...?
I send them directly to my website..
I say.. read my PARENT HANDBOOK... look at pictures... read the ABOUT ME page...
send me an email.. or call this number again...
but I do prefer email contact... since I'm rarely able to be on the phone...
I reply to any emails... answer questions and concerns..
email a list of REFERENCES...
When they contact me to meet me in person..
and tour daycare...
I schedule a time when my assistant is here so that I can focus on them ..but.. I tell them very clearly in the email that the visit will be a brief 10 minute meet/greet.. look around.. LEAVE..
that the disruption to the daycare is too much for a longer visit.
I CHOOSE not to interview after hours...
For one thing... that is when you get 'hung up' with a potential client..
They think that since it is after hours.. you don't have anything else in the world to do except talk to them about their child...
AND... most parents prefer to see the children in care.. see you interact with them.. if only briefly... see if the kids in your care seem happy...

I tell them.. you'll come in...
meet me..
look around...
LEAVE...
any questions or concerns you may have.. you can email me.. or I will call you on the phone..I make it very very clear that the longer they are here.. the more the children will act out.. that it is a HUGE disruption and their visit must be brief....

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jamiem 03:53 PM 03-18-2013
Before I decided to stay home with my baby and start my own in home daycare, my son went to daycare for a few months. I definitely wish there was a quick out because there were quite a few that I knew I wasn't interested in within the first 10 seconds! lol
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crazydaycarelady 03:57 PM 03-18-2013
I have also opened my door and known instantly that it was not a good fit. I proceeded with the interview though. What was I going to say? "I can tell you are uptight and think you are better than everyone else so good-bye!"
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Starburst 07:04 PM 03-18-2013
With the one girl I used to nanny for (10 hour days sometimes up to 8 days straight a few times overnight for a flat rate). I should have known it wasn't going to work out when the mom was over an hour (almost 2 hours) late for our interview (at Starbucks).
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Texasjeepgirl 04:02 AM 03-19-2013
Originally Posted by crazydaycarelady:
I have also opened my door and known instantly that it was not a good fit. I proceeded with the interview though. What was I going to say? "I can tell you are uptight and think you are better than everyone else so good-bye!"
wow.... you have had some of the same one's I've had!!!
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Play Care 04:19 AM 03-19-2013
I'm not sure I agree with this (on the provider end anyway). There have been times where I thought "YES! I want this family!" Only to get them and be And other times I wasn't 100% sure and was pleasantly surprised.
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EntropyControlSpecialist 05:50 AM 03-19-2013
Originally Posted by Play Care:
I'm not sure I agree with this (on the provider end anyway). There have been times where I thought "YES! I want this family!" Only to get them and be And other times I wasn't 100% sure and was pleasantly surprised.
This has been my experience as well.
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