Interviewing Care Providers 101

Interviewing potential caregivers and service providers before hiring them for a job is crucial, whether you will need them for an hour or for a week. Safety and security checks are important, but only through an interview will you be able to determine whether or not a caregiver is a good personality fit for your family or loved ones.

The phone interview

Once you have a list of potential candidates, it's a good idea to ask them some general questions over the phone. This will give you a better idea of whether the caregiver is someone you would like to meet. Make sure you know and write down the provider's full name, age, address, and phone number. Also, ask for references, which you may already have by finding your caregiver at Care.com.

Be sure to have a list of questions prepared before you give them a call. Here are some good talking points to help you get started:

• What do you like about (babysitting/dog walking/tutoring/etc.)?
• How long have you been caring for (children/pets/seniors)?
• What certifications do you have?
• What is your availability?
• What is your rate?

Meeting the Candidate

Trust your instincts. Ask the candidates you're most comfortable with to come to your home for a face-to-face interview. This will help you further determine how well each person will fit in with your family. Depending on what the caregiver will be required to do, every family has different criteria. Don't be afraid to ask the tough questions. In order to get the most complete picture of the candidate, it's important to cover all of the following categories:

Prior Experience

• How many (children/pets/seniors) have you cared for at one time? What were their ages or circumstances?
• Are you still working for any of these families?
• Describe the most difficult employer you have worked for and why.
• If I talked to your previous employers, how would they describe your strengths and weaknesses?

Caregiver Scenarios

• Do you ever lose your cool and how do you get through it? Give me an example of a recent situation.
• How are you in an emergency? Describe a crisis or emergency you faced and how you handled the situation.
• What is the toughest feedback you've ever heard about yourself, and what did you do about it?

Personal

• Do you follow a particular (child care/pet care/tutoring/etc.) philosophy, and discipline method?
• What are your hobbies and interests?
• Have you ever faced a situation where you felt you had to compromise your integrity or values? Can you describe that to me?
• What kinds of things boost your morale, and what are your pet peeves?

Feedback

• Does working for my family sound like the kind of job in which you are interested?
• What do you expect of me?
• What questions do you have for me?
• Do you have any concerns about this job?
• When are you available to begin?

The bottom line

A good interview is a key part of the hiring process. It allows you to learn about a prospective provider?s personality, experience, and care philosophy. You can also see the provider in action and observe how she interacts with your loved ones. But you should not stop asking questions once you hire a tutor, find a pet sitter, or enroll your child in day care. Continue to visit the site for observation, get your family member's feedback, and communicate with the caregiver. There is no question that is not worth asking when it comes to your loved one's safety and happiness.