Do you want to find baby sitter applicants? Then you have a lot to do and a lot of places to start looking. A simple ad posted on a community board can attract potential sitters from all walks of life. The real trouble is in finding the baby sitter who is just right for your family. One way to discover a good sitter is to conduct a comprehensive interview with applicants. Here are some tips to help you conduct a good interview.
Make Her Comfortable
You may think it is only an interview. However, even if you are interviewing applicants, you need to be more than just a potential employer. Conduct your interviews in a nice part of your home that is neither too cozy nor too cold. Make sure she has a comfortable chair to sit on and there is nothing potentially irritating like sunlight, insects or noisy children. Taking the effort to make her feel at home is not just a form of courtesy. It is also an effective way of breaking down her guard. It is in these unguarded moments that you get to know more about people and their backgrounds.
Break the Ice
Keep the applicants at ease. One way is to start asking questions that are not threatening. Begin the interview by asking an applicant to tell you a little bit about herself. Ask her where she is from and if she has any younger siblings.
Nannies are not without dreams and goals. You can also ask her a little bit about her education and goals in life. These questions will get your applicant talking and will provide the starting point for more serious questions. You do have to keep in mind though that there are lines that should be drawn. Do not be too invasive about private matters.
Ask the Obvious
Most likely you will find baby sitter applicants with ready resumes. Even so, you do have to ask questions about what is already obviously outlined in resumes. Ask her to expound about her previous baby sitting experiences. She may be able to reveal more about why she likes to baby sit and if she has learned anything from past experiences. This will help you find out if the applicant has interests that go beyond monetary rewards.
Ask Situational Questions
Nannies need to be quick thinkers. Most parents prefer to hire sitters who can react quickly to situations. In other words parents prefer applicants who know exactly what to do in any given situation. You can test how well an applicant can handle potential situations by asking her what she would do when these situations come up. You could ask her questions which you think are likely to happen especially with your child. If your child has an allergy for example, you can ask the applicant what she would do if your child suddenly had an allergy attack.
Be Observant
Keep an open eye and ear on your applicant. There are more ways than one to find out about a person. One other way is to observe non-verbal language. This is especially helpful if you want to find out if your applicant is telling the truth. Watch for signs of nervousness or uneasiness when you ask questions about her background and past experiences.
By now, you must know that it is not always easy to find baby sitter applicants who are actually good. Your search could take a lot of time but the task is not impossible if you know where and how to start. - 31376
Make Her Comfortable
You may think it is only an interview. However, even if you are interviewing applicants, you need to be more than just a potential employer. Conduct your interviews in a nice part of your home that is neither too cozy nor too cold. Make sure she has a comfortable chair to sit on and there is nothing potentially irritating like sunlight, insects or noisy children. Taking the effort to make her feel at home is not just a form of courtesy. It is also an effective way of breaking down her guard. It is in these unguarded moments that you get to know more about people and their backgrounds.
Break the Ice
Keep the applicants at ease. One way is to start asking questions that are not threatening. Begin the interview by asking an applicant to tell you a little bit about herself. Ask her where she is from and if she has any younger siblings.
Nannies are not without dreams and goals. You can also ask her a little bit about her education and goals in life. These questions will get your applicant talking and will provide the starting point for more serious questions. You do have to keep in mind though that there are lines that should be drawn. Do not be too invasive about private matters.
Ask the Obvious
Most likely you will find baby sitter applicants with ready resumes. Even so, you do have to ask questions about what is already obviously outlined in resumes. Ask her to expound about her previous baby sitting experiences. She may be able to reveal more about why she likes to baby sit and if she has learned anything from past experiences. This will help you find out if the applicant has interests that go beyond monetary rewards.
Ask Situational Questions
Nannies need to be quick thinkers. Most parents prefer to hire sitters who can react quickly to situations. In other words parents prefer applicants who know exactly what to do in any given situation. You can test how well an applicant can handle potential situations by asking her what she would do when these situations come up. You could ask her questions which you think are likely to happen especially with your child. If your child has an allergy for example, you can ask the applicant what she would do if your child suddenly had an allergy attack.
Be Observant
Keep an open eye and ear on your applicant. There are more ways than one to find out about a person. One other way is to observe non-verbal language. This is especially helpful if you want to find out if your applicant is telling the truth. Watch for signs of nervousness or uneasiness when you ask questions about her background and past experiences.
By now, you must know that it is not always easy to find baby sitter applicants who are actually good. Your search could take a lot of time but the task is not impossible if you know where and how to start. - 31376
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