How to Ace Your Interview Calls
Interviews are not easy. They can feel like that nerve-racking first date or being the new kid at school. Being prepared and in the right mindset can make this short phone call a make-or-break moment!
Here are some key pointers to acing your job interview calls:
First, find a quiet place to speak with potential clients. Loud background noises are distracting and make it hard for clients to feel connected with you. Baby noises/kids playing in the background do not help - they show that you take calls while babysitting, a big no-no for parents. They looking for signs that you will be focused on minding their children at all times if they hire you.
Take the lead and smile! Introduce yourself, address the client by name and show them what you know about them. While clients can’t see your face, smiling while speaking naturally adds warmth and friendliness to your voice. If you need a little help, put a mirror in front of you during the call.
Be confident when showing your expertise. Parents, especially new parents, appreciate it when you can demonstrate clearly your experience with infants or children in the relevant age range. Share how long you have been a babysitter, night nanny or tutor, how many parents you have worked with, the age of the children, and if any of them had special needs that might be of interest to the parents.
For example,
“Hi Linda! I’m Mary Joe. I’m so glad we’re speaking today. I see you are looking for a part-time sitter for your two kids. Let me tell you a bit about myself and my babysitting experience.”
Ask insightful questions. Good questions show that you want to understand what the job entails. This can be a great comfort to parents, especially if they have not thought of those questions. These questions are good conversation starters and allows you to share your approach to situations. And most importantly, client’s answers give you more information to see if you want to work with them!
Some examples include:
“How do you typically handle tantrums?”
“Do you prefer the crying baby to be held immediately or to let it cry it a bit first before tending to them?”
Lastly, a good closing + follow-up. Don’t forget to thank your clients for their time! Take it a step further by sending a thank you note and ask about next steps (such as when you can expect to hear from them) or if they would like to book a single trial session with you. This also helps to show your professionalism and your interest in working with the family!
Conversely, if it’s not a good match, let them know! They would appreciate the honest feedback and be able to continue their search. Your professionalism and favorable impression may lead them to recommending you their friends.
Practice makes perfect. Interviewing with family and friends, so your intro rolls off your tongue and ask them to give you some hard questions to practice answering. This way you’ll have answers prepared and won’t be thrown off guard during your conversation.
Using these tips will make this a winning interview call! Families want to know there was a connection made and that they have a perfect match. Smile, focus, stay confident and listen to their needs. Stay true to yourself and to your wants and needs. Remember - you are the best provider for this job! You got this!