When searching for a new child care position you may see an array of job posts. Some are perfectly written with all the information you need to make a decision, while others are too vague to know if you are the right fit for the family. Here are 3 tips to consider when you run into vague job posts:
1. Look Over the Information the Family Provided
This is an important step because vague doesn’t necessarily mean empty or without any information. Review what they have included and use it to start your reply. This will show that you paid attention to their post, and can start to build trust.
For example:
“Hello Thomas Family, I see that you all have two preschool-aged children that you are requesting care for. I have availability open soon, but I would love to learn more about your family’s needs in order to determine if I am a good fit for your family.”
2. Determine What Information You Need Right Away
Typically, the next step after your initial connection is an interview, so determine what needs to be asked now and what can be asked during the interview. The goal is not to overwhelm the family with questions, but to gather important information that will help you decide if an interview is appropriate, or if your search should continue. Below you will find some key information to gather:
- Days and hours needed: Asking this right away can help you to determine if their needs are aligned with your availability. There is no need to interview for a job that you aren’t available for.
- Duties: What does the family need from you? Are you open to the duties they are requesting? Be clear about what you are comfortable with and stick to that.
- Hourly rate: Does what they want to pay align with what you wish to get paid? Knowing your acceptable pay range and what they are offering is vital.
- Pets: Are you comfortable with a job that includes pets? This question can make or break your decision. If all the questions above align with your ideal job, but they have a big dog that you may be anxious about or scared of, it’s great to know this upfront.
Be Clear About What You Need From Them
Once you have figured out what information you need before the interview, ask them clearly and directly. Let’s face it, parents are busy and they want to be able to read your message, reply, and move on with their day. Because of that, you don’t want to include a long, drawn-out paragraph. Instead, simplify your thoughts and make it easy for them to answer.
Here’s an example message:
Hello Thomas Family, I see that you all have two preschool-aged children that you are requesting care for. I have availability open soon, but I would love to learn more about your family’s needs in order to see if we’re a good fit for each other. Can you answer the questions below?
-What are all the days and hours you’re looking for care?
-What duties will be included in this job? (only child care, pet care, light housework, etc.)
-Have you all decided on an hourly rate? If so, is it negotiable or set?
-Do you all have any pets? If so, what kind?
I look forward to hearing from you all. Until then, I hope you have a great day!
Talk soon.
There’s always a lot of information to cover for child care, so make sure to find out exactly what you need to know so that everyone finds what they’re looking for. This may be a parent’s first attempt at finding in-home care, so it could be up to you to make sure that important information is covered.
