Welcome
to the University of Southern Maine's Career Services and
Professional Life Development office. We want express our thanks to you for listing your child care position with us. It is our mission to assist you with your search for the ideal caretaker, yet it is important for you to remember that we do not screen or check references of students applying for childcare positions. Here are some helpful hints to keep in mind while you are finding the right caretaker for your child:
1.
Develop a detailed job description prior to talking to potential candidates. This may include such things as driving a child to various activities, preparing meals, marketing and laundering children's clothes.
2. Ask insightful questions of the job applicant.
Why do you want this job?
What was your last job and why did you leave it?
What do you think a baby my child's age needs most?
How do you see yourself spending the day with a baby this age?
How do you see your role in my child's life?
How do you discipline young children?
3.
Ask these questions of yourself based on your observations of the candidate.
Did the candidate arrive well groomed, neatly dressed and on time?
Does the applicant seem to have sense of orderliness that's compatible with your own?
Is the candidate physically capable of handling the job?
Does the candidate seem good with children?
(Remember the interview isn't complete until the applicant spends time with your child.)
Are you comfortable with the candidate?
4.
Check references! Insist on the names of the previous employers. If work experience is limited or non-existent, ask for names of teachers, clergy or other more objective judges of character. Don't take the word of an applicant's friends or family.
Thank you for your support. We look forward to working with you and would appreciate a phone call if you hire a USM student.
