Applying for Child Care Jobs on Care.com: The Job Process Overview

Let̵7;s face it, any interview process is daunting. And finding the right a child care job is different than most other gigs since building a relationship of trust and respect with your employer is just as important as connecting with the children you̵7;d care for. We teamed up with our child care expert, Carolyn Stolov, to pinpoint the essentials child care providers should know when applying for babysitting or nanny jobs. While every family differs in their practices, this guide is meant to help you prepare yourself ̵2; so you̵7;re only steps away from finding the right fit.

So you̵7;ve applied to a job on Care.com and just received your first message from an interested parent. What can you expect?

1. The phone interview. Most parents will want to set up a phone interview before bringing you home to meet the family. This is where they will address the general requirements and responsibilities of the job, including location. If information regarding salary is not listed in the job post, Carolyn suggests you can politely inquire about it. One way to go about it is mentioning what your responsibilities and salary were at your previous job, and then ask the parents what would be the same or different. The phone interview is your first step to getting in the door and a chance to get a feel for the family. Be prepared to discuss your child care experience, your previous work with kids in this age range and have some questions for the client to show your level of interest.

2. The face-to-face interview. After a successful phone call, parents will want to interview you in greater depth at their home or in a public place, like a coffee house. This will give you a chance to meet the family and get a sense of how your personality̵7;s connect. Sometimes parents will include the kids in the interview process to watch you interact, but there might be a third meeting for this to happen. Take this time to get to know the family and ask as many questions about the job as possible, specifically about the house rules. Don̵7;t forget, you don̵7;t want to get any job ̵1; you want to get the best job for you.

>> See our list of interview questions you might want to ask a family

3. The job offer. Some parents might hire you at the interview. Don̵7;t feel pressure to accept immediately. Before taking any job, make sure that you possess a clear understanding of their expectations and you are comfortable with the terms. The best way to do this is to get the entire job description and requirements in writing, using a nanny contract. This will help you see the house rules, vacation policy, holidays off. Use it to state your needs as well, asking for things like gas money, if carpooling kids is a responsibility.

Read all articles in the Applying For Child Care Jobs Guide: 

  • Applying for Child Care Jobs on Care.com: The Job Process Overview
  • Applying for Child Care Jobs on Care.com: The Interview
  • Applying for Child Care Jobs on Care.com: Questions To Expect and To Ask
  • Applying for Child Care Jobs on Care.com: Next Steps

Previous:

Next:

  • How to Ask for Reviews
    Reviews are a crucial part of your Care.com profile. Caregivers who have them are six times more likely to be contacted by potential employers. You know you’re top-notch at your job, but having reviews can make the difference be
  • Evaluating Out-of-Home Childcare
    Evaluating Out-of-Home ChildcareIn both day care centers and family day care, two processes serve to ensure quality in childcare-licensing and accreditation. Licensing is the means by which childcare providers are monitored by each state. All states
  • 7 Labor Day activities for kids
    Kids generally like Labor Day because they’re off school. But do they know what they’re celebrating every first Monday in September? Sure, we can explain how it’s the holiday dedicated to American workers,