Caregivers: Frequently Asked Questions

Now that you have created your profile, it is time to start browsing the jobs posted in your area. Near the top of nearly every page on Care.com you will notice a search bar with your zip code already entered for you. You can choose the type of job (Child Care, Senior Care, etc.) and the search radius in miles, and when you are ready, click Go.

On the next page, the search results will list all of the jobs that are closest to your zip code, but you can also use a dropdown menu at the top of the page to sort the results by start date, job post date, relevance, number of applicants, and more. On the left side of the job results page, you will also see a variety of options to refine your search, including a keyword search.

Once you have found a few matching jobs, it's your turn to contact the person and let them know why you think you're perfect for the job. Click on the title of the job that you want to apply for and scroll to the bottom of the page. Type in a brief description about your qualifications and your experience and then click "Submit" to send your application directly to the person that posted the job.

Important: Keep in mind that your application is also directly tied to your profile. As you are browsing jobs on Care.com, those families are also browsing profiles. A strong profile includes a lot of descriptive language that can help families and individuals understand the experience, hobbies, and skills that make you unique among applicants. For more ideas about strengthening your own profile, check out our article about getting better responses on Care.com. To update your profile now, click here.

When you search for jobs using the search bar at the top of the page, you will notice that the results will vary based on the mileage radius of your search. In order to sort the results into a more manageable list, you can use the Sort by dropdown menu in the center of the page, just above the first job result. By default, the results are sorted by Relevance, but you can also sort by Distance, Start Date, Number of Applicants, and by Job Post Date. (for example, Job Post Date will reshuffle the search results so that the most recent posts appear first.)

The left side of your page offers a variety of options for refining your results. These options may include hourly rate, transportation requirements, etc. Here you can also search by keyword.

You have browsed through the job listings, and you see a position that might be right for you. To apply for the position, you can click the "Apply for Job" link which will allow you to send a message directly to the family or individual looking for help.

There are three things to look for if you find yourself having trouble applying to a specific job post:

• You must be a registered member of Care.com
• You need to be logged into your account. Check the top right-hand corner - just because it says your name, doesn't necessarily mean you are logged in. If it gives you the option to log in, then you will need to enter your email and password to continue.
• You also need separate profiles in each individual service category to apply for jobs in that category. For example, you can have a child care profile to apply to child care jobs, but you also need a pet care profile if you want to apply to pet care jobs. If you don't currently have the correct profile created, we will prompt you to create one when you click the Apply for Job link. If you would like to create an additional profile, or to update your existing profile, simply click here to view your options.

Keep in mind that all job applications are directly tied to your profile. As you are browsing jobs on Care.com, those families are also browsing profiles. A strong profile includes a lot of descriptive language that can help families and individuals understand the experience, hobbies, and skills that make you unique among applicants. For more ideas about strengthening your own profile, check out our article about getting better responses on Care.com.

When you are at your Care.com home page, you will see the My Applications link on the left side of the page. By clicking this link, you will see a list of every application you have sent out. The Status column indicates the status of the Job itself (i.e., Open, Closed). The Date Applied column indicates the date that your application was successfully delivered to the recipient.

At this point you can continue your search and apply to any number of jobs you feel are a good fit. The families and individuals that post the jobs will have their own review process and contact those that most closely fit their needs. You can also make sure that your profile remains up to date, as the detail you include there is what will help you stand out among the other applicants.

Once an application is sent you cannot make changes to your submission. However, if you have forgotten to say something, or if you wish to add more information, you may send a follow-up message. First click on the My Applications link located on the left side of your Care.com home page. From your list of applications, click on View Messages. You will be able to add a reply to your initial application from this page.

If you choose to send a follow-up inquiry about a position, or if you forgot to include information in your initial application, you can do so by visiting the "My Applications" page located on the left side of your My Care.com homepage. From your list of applications, click on "View Messages". You will be able to add a reply to your initial application from this page.

If you offer more than one service, you have the opportunity to apply to jobs in multiple categories by creating multiple service profiles. Having profiles in a variety of categories also increases your exposure to the families and individuals that are seeking your services. To create a new profile, or to update your existing profile, click here and you'll be redirected to your Profile & Settings page.

There are three things to look for if you find yourself having trouble applying to a specific job post:

• You must be a registered member of Care.com
• You need to be logged into your account. Try logging out, then back in, to be sure.
• You also need separate profiles in each individual service category to apply for jobs in that category. For example, you can have a child care profile to apply to child care jobs, but you also need a pet care profile if you want to apply to pet care jobs. To create a new profile, or to update your existing profile, click here and you'll be redirected to your Profile & Settings page.

Like any job you will ever apply to, it is good to keep in mind that you are not the only candidate. Your application and your profile should really make you stand out, highlighting the best of your experience and your passion for what you do.

You can apply to a variety of positions, focusing on the most recent jobs to be sure your application is among the first delivered to the families in need. When those families have a significant list of applicants, they will review and contact those that seem the best fit for the position.

All communication on Care.com works in a messaging system that is just like sending an email. Keep in mind, these are private messages and you can include contact information.

Important: Keep in mind that your application is also directly tied to your profile. As you are browsing jobs on Care.com, those families are also browsing profiles. A strong profile includes a lot of descriptive language that can help families and individuals understand the experience, hobbies, and skills that make you unique among applicants. For more ideas about strengthening your own profile, check out our article about getting better responses on Care.com. To update your profile now, click here.

When applying for jobs, there is never a precise timeline. Most families will take some time browsing the list of applicants for their job posts before choosing whom to contact. When the right candidates emerge, contact begins by messaging through Care.com. You can view your messages on your My Messages page, and if your Privacy Settings allow, we will also send you a private email to notify you that you have received a response.

At this point you can continue your search and apply to any number of jobs you feel are a good fit. The families and individuals that post the jobs will have their own review process and contact those that most closely fit their needs. You can also make sure that your profile remains up to date, as the detail you include there is what will help you stand out among the other applicants.

Technically speaking, Care.com does not post the jobs. The families and individuals that are seeking help create and manage the job posts that you see on the site. This means that new jobs pop up often. When you are running a search for new jobs in your area, try using the Sort by option from the dropdown menu at the top of the list to focus your search on the most recent job posts. This small change in the way you view the jobs can result in a more efficient way of targeting current posts.

Keep in mind that your application is also directly tied to your profile. As you are browsing jobs on Care.com, those families are also browsing profiles. A strong profile includes a lot of descriptive language that can help families and individuals understand the experience, hobbies, and skills that make you unique among applicants. For more ideas about strengthening your own profile, check out our article about getting better responses on Care.com. To update your profile now, click here.

Care.com's Premium Membership is a great way to stand out and stay ahead of the curve throughout your job search. Click here to review your subscription options and upgrade your account. If you would like more information about what comes with the Premium Membership, check out this article about the benefits of upgrading.

Please note that with the Free Basic membership you can still advertise your services and apply to jobs. The Premium Membership comes with several extra benefits including:

• Your profile will appear highlighted in the search results.
• You will also be ranked higher in the search results.
• Receive priority email notification of new job listings: these emails arrive hours before Free Basic Members would receive them.
• The ability to search the "Families Seeking" categories.
• See which families have viewed your profile.
• The ability to contact families that have not yet posted a job: this allows you the exclusive option of contacting them and introducing yourself before anyone else!
• Free Preliminary Background Check!

Additionally, if you would like to get a better understanding about what comes with the Premium Membership, check out this article about the benefits of upgrading.

Your account information is your personal information: your legal name, permanent street address, email, password, etc. For verification purposes, we ask that you keep this information complete and accurate. If you need to edit or update this information for any reason, you can click here. Please note that changes to your personal information may take up to 24 hours to be approved. For your reference, this information can always be accessed from your Profile & Settings page.

The only private information we make publicly visible on Care.com is your first name, the first initial of your last name, the town and state you live in, your gender and, unless you opt-out, your age and approximate location through Google maps. We do not share your street address, email address, last name, birth date, or social security number. If you have elected to share your phone number with potential employers, it will be available on your profile. It is also visible on your profile whether you have connected to Care.com through Facebook. If you have elected to verify certain information with Care.com or to have a background check performed, we may also disclose that information in your profile. Please visit our privacy policy for more about our information collection, use and sharing practices. [You may also visit your General Information settings and your Privacy Preferences to see what options you have to limit the sharing of your personal information.]

Please also know that any personal information you post in your profile, in groups you participate in or in reviews or other postings on the site will be visible to site visitors and/or other members. Also, any personal information you include in your communications with other members will be visible to them. We encourage you to use discretion in sharing personal information with others. Our Safety Guide offers additional tips for making safe decisions throughout your search.

We do our best to only send you emails that are useful, but if you'd like to stop receiving some (or all) promotional emails from us, just click here to visit the Privacy Settings and Preferences area of your Care.com account. Here you can specify which promotional emails you'd like to receive and which you'd rather not. You can also unsubscribe using the link at the bottom of any promotional email we send you.

If you want to stop receiving specific job alert emails (i.e., child care) you can just hide any of the services in which you are not currently looking for a job.

Please note that even if you opt-out of receiving marketing emails, we may continue to send you administrative emails regarding Care.com, including, for example, notices of updates to our Privacy Policy, if we choose to provide such notices to you in this manner.

To unsubscribe from text message alerts, just click here to review your options. By unchecking the boxes and clicking Submit, the text alerts will stop coming to your phone within 24 hours. You can opt yourself back into the text alerts at any time through the same link, or by visiting your Profile & Settings page.

It's possible that your new phone number was previously owned by a Care.com member. To cancel the text messages, please email careteam@care.com and be sure to include the phone number (with area code) that you wish to remove. We will remove your phone number from our system immediately.

The confirmation code is the seven-digit code that confirms that you own your mobile phone and allows us to send you text message alerts. If you have not received your confirmation code, we would first advise you wait at least 24 hours. If it's been more than 24 hours, you can always edit your Text Alert settings. You should see a link that says Request New Confirmation Code. We recommend that you only request one confirmation code in a 24 hour period, as requesting multiple codes may result in the code not working.

Please also note that if your carrier isn't listed in the Text Alerts menu, you will be unable to receive texts. Check your Privacy Settings to endure that your email notifications remain uninterrupted.

If your mobile phone carrier is not listed in the available text alerts menu, then your phone is not eligible to receive text message updates. But not to worry! The text alerts are not required. You can receive email notifications which deliver the same alerts to your personal email inbox. To check your email settings, simply visit your Privacy Settings.

If you would like to remove your age from your public profile, you can do so by visiting the Privacy Settings and Preferences section of your Profile and Settings page. From here you can edit your privacy options by unchecking the corresponding box for age. Be sure to click the Submit button to save your changes. Please allow up to 24 hours for any changes to be reflected in your profile.

Individual profiles (e.g., child care, pet care) cannot be deleted, however you can hide one or all of your profiles at any time. When your profile is hidden, you are not visible on the site, and you can unhide your profile when you are ready to use the site again. If a profile is not approved, the status will remain Pending Approval and it will not be visible or active on the site.

Found a great job and no longer need the Premium Membership? To Downgrade back to the Free Basic Membership simply return to the Membership Information section of your Profile and Settings page. By clicking the Edit link you will have the option to Downgrade your account, which is your way of telling the account not to renew. At the end of your current subscription period the account will return to the Free Basic Membership, and you will no longer be charged. You may also click here to downgrade your account immediately.

If you would like to inactivate your profile and save your information for later, you can hide one or all of your profiles at any time. When your profile is hidden, you are not visible on the site, and you can unhide your profile when you are ready to use the site again. For future reference, you can always hide or unhide your profiles from your Profile & Settings page.

If you would preder to close your Care.com account entirely, simply return to the Membership Information section of your Profile and Settings page, and from here you can edit your Account Status and close your account. Please note that closing your account is a finite action and cannot be undone.

If you are just registering a new Care.com account, and the questions are asking about childcare or any other service that you don't offer, you may have accidentally registered in the wrong category. To fix this, you'll have to simply close your account and begin the registration process again. Click here to delete your account and start over.

If you have received an email indicating that your account has not been approved, it is often a result of your personal information being incomplete, or incorrect. Visit your General Information Settings and double check that all information is accurate, and resubmit by clicking the button at the bottom of the page.

Please be sure you have submitted:

• Your full first and last name
• Your permanent address - your street name and number or P.O. Box in address field
• A valid email address

Your account may also not be approved because we may have determined that you do not meet the eligibility requirements set forth in the Terms of Use for participating in Care.com. We also reserve the right not to approve your account for any reason or no reason, with or without notice. Furthermore, we have no obligation to notify you of the reason, if any, we did not approve your account.

To ensure that your profile is approved, please include the following:

• At least two relevant, detailed sentences in your description.
• Information about relevant experience, skills, or qualifications.
• Use correct capitalization, grammar, and spelling.
• Create a unique profile title to help you stand out.

For Safety purposes, please do not include:

• Telephone numbers or email addresses.
• Specific locations or street addresses.
• Last names or children’s names.
• Website addresses (unless you have the appropriate business account).

The General Information in your account settings should include your full first and last name, a complete street address, and a valid email address.

We also recommend that you add a photo and references, as this will greatly enhance the quality of your profile.

A strong profile will represent you as personable and professional. Please do not cut and paste a resume, as your profile is an opportunity for prospective families to hear your voice and get a sense of why you are right for the job. We do encourage you to have a resume prepared to bring to an interview.

Important: Keep in mind that as you are browsing jobs on Care.com, those families are also browsing profiles. A strong profile includes a lot of descriptive language that can help families and individuals understand the experience, hobbies, and skills that make you unique among applicants. For more ideas about strengthening your own profile, check out our article about getting better responses on Care.com. To update your profile now, click here.

Use the checklist below to be sure your primary photo meets the following approval standards:

• You as the Provider must be present in the photo.
• The orientation of your photo must be uploaded correctly.
• Please be sure you as the Provider cannot be confused with anyone else in the photograph.
• Your face should be clear and facing the camera.
• No sunglasses, no hats, hair, or other apparel obstructing your face.
• No pictures that are too blurry, or too dim.
• No group photos or photos of you cropped from a group.
• No photos with anything inappropriate in the background (No alcoholic beverages).
• Photo cannot contain any contact information.
• Photo cannot be photoshopped or black & white.
• Everyone in the picture must be fully clothed, including children.
• Photos cannot be copyrighted.

Secondary photos follow the same guidelines with the following exceptions:

• You do not need to be present in the photo, as long as it is relevant to your field of care. For example, photos of children or pets are ok, but a picture of a flower is not.
• Sunglasses and hats are ok.
• Group photos are ok.

Once you have found a photo that meets these requirements you can resubmit it by clicking here.

Keeping your profile up to date is one of the most important things you can do to stand out on Care.com. Every message and job application you send out are tied directly back to your profile. As you are browsing jobs on Care.com, those families are also browsing profiles. A strong profile includes a lot of descriptive language that can help families and individuals understand the experience, hobbies, and skills that make you unique among applicants. For more ideas about strengthening your own profile, check out our article about getting better responses on Care.com. To review or update your profile now, click here.

Your personal account information consists of your legal name, permanent street address, email, password, etc. For verification purposes, we ask that you keep this information complete and accurate. If you need to edit or update this information for any reason, you can click here. Please note that changes to your personal information may take up to 24 hours to be approved. For your reference, this information can always be accessed from your Profile & Settings page.

If you would like to apply to jobs in more than one care category, you will need to create unique profiles for each service you offer. For example, you can have a child care profile to apply to child care jobs, but you also need a pet care profile if you want to apply to pet care jobs. If you try to apply for a job but don't yet have the correct profile created, we will prompt you to create one when you click the Apply for Job link. If you would like to create an additional profile now, or to update your existing profile, simply click here to view your options.

Keep in mind that all messages and job applications that you send out are directly tied to your profile. As you are browsing jobs on Care.com, those families are also browsing profiles. A strong profile includes a lot of descriptive language that can help families and individuals understand the experience, hobbies, and skills that make you stand out among applicants. For more ideas about strengthening your own profile, check out our article about getting better responses on Care.com.

Congrats! If you would like to inactivate your profile and save your information for later, you can hide one or all of your profiles at any time. When your profile is hidden, you are not visible on the site, and you can unhide your profile when you are ready to use the site again. For future reference, you can always hide or unhide your profiles from your Profile & Settings page.

If you have forgotten your password, just follow this link and enter your info to get instructions sent to your email. Once you're logged back in, you will be able to reset your password to something that you will never forget.

The big box on the right side of your "My Care.com" homepage is titled "My Profile Strength". This is a checklist for your convenience that lets you know a variety of ways you can improve your profile's strength and visibility on the website. Keep in mind, no one else sees this but you. It is an easy way to track your progress when creating a strong profile that will allow you to stand out among the competition. Every recommendation listed here allows more information that families can access, which helps when they are browsing through dozens upon dozens of profiles. Click each link to add and update information to keep families informed of your experience, your availability, your references, and more.

From your Care.com homepage, you will notice a link titled My Connections on the left side of your screen. When you visit this page you will be prompted to invite former employers, family and friends to connect with you and write personalized reviews that will help enhance your profile. Simply add their email addresses to the designated fields and click "Send Requests" to email them your personal message.

Please note that review writing is a feature provided exclusively for Care.com members. To leave a review on your profile, people you invite to connect are required to have a Free Basic Account.

Reviews can strengthen your profile and let prospective employers know about your experiences with other families. To get a review, you can ask previous employers, or friends and family, to say something great about you on your profile. If you have met a family through Care.com, they can easily write a review by logging into their own account, visiting your profile, and scrolling down to the Reviews and References section.

If your previous employer doesn't have a Care.com account, they can write a review by using the "My Connections" feature. Please note that to write a review, they do have to create a free Care.com account. We don't want just anyone on the internet surfing in and writing all over your profile.

Follow these three steps to get reviews through the "My Connections" feature:

1. The people that will write your review are required to have a Free Basic Membership with Care.com. Invite them to sign up today!
2. Visit your "My Connections" page, enter their email address, and send them an invitation.
3. By connecting with you, they will be prompted to write a review for your profile.

That's it!

Reviews on Care.com cannot be removed once they are submitted and approved. However, the person that wrote the review can edit or remove the review at any time. To have a review removed, you will need to consult the author to request removal. As reviews are intended to reflect a family's experience working with you, they are listed as permanent parts of your profile. Per the Care.com Terms of Use, the authors are solely responsible for such content.

Adding and keeping updated references is the trademark of a strong profile. You can add, edit, or remove your references at any time by visiting the "My References" link located on the left side of your "My Care.com" homepage. Here you will note that your references are listed along with links that allow you to "add another", "edit", or "remove" the reference completely. You can also click here for a convenient link to visit your references page.

The References listed on your profiles will be considered fulfilled when there are two or more references listed on each of your individual service profiles. When you click the link, you will notice that the page will default to your primary service profile (for example, your child care profile). If you have multiple service profiles, you will need to click on each individual tab to add references to the individual profiles. Once this is completed, the References link in your "My Profile Strength" box will be fulfilled.

References are contacted only when requested by a potential employer. Once a reference leaves a recorded reference interview the first time, they will not have to do it again! Subsequent requests will have access to the same initial interview as long as it is hosted on your profile. You can remove your references and recorded interviews at any time by visiting your My References page.

Your availability allows families to know if your schedule is in line with their needs. We encourage you to check and update your availability regularly. You can find a link to your My Availability page directly from your Care.com homepage. You may also click here to visit your My Availability page.

You will notice in the top right corner of the page, or by clicking the "Promote My Services" link from your homepage, that Care.com offers a referral program for getting your friends and family involved in Care.com, while also earning yourself an Amazon gift card. Follow these three steps to earn your gift card:

1. By visiting the Refer Friend page you'll find your own unique referral link.
2. Copy and paste your referral link into an email, and share it with your friends and family.
3. When friends or family sign up through your referral link on Care.com, they will need to become paying members for a minimum of one month, and they receive a 20% discount for signing up through your link. When their first month completes, your referral will be complete and you will receive your gift card within 4-6 weeks!

To get started, click here!

If your school name is not accepted while you are developing your profile, you can add it manually using the link below the School Name Search field. You will see a link that says "Add it to our list", and by clicking this link an additional field will appear where you can enter your school name exactly as you'd like. Be sure that the School Name Search field remains blank when adding your name to our list.

If you currently have a service profile and are listed as a care provider on the website, you do not have direct access to contacting other care providers. To contact, you just need to log out of your account and create a secondary account as someone who wants to hire a caregiver. You are welcome to have both accounts, you just need a second email to distinguish between the two.

Because your profile is publically searchable, you cannot block a single person from viewing the profile. However, you may block a member from contacting you at any time. Simply visit the My Messages page located on the left side of your "My Care.com" homepage. Here you can locate the messages sent between you and the other person (if you don't see it here or perhaps deleted the message, you may still locate the message thread in the "Sent Items" link located at the top of your "My Messages" page). By clicking into the message thread, you will see the option to "Block Sender" in the top right corner of the message window.

To report a member or a concern to the Care.com safety team for review, you can email careteam@care.com or you can report your concerns directly through the website. Simply visit the My Messages page located on the left side of your "My Care.com" homepage, locate the messages sent between you and the other person (if you don't see it here or perhaps deleted the message, you may still locate the message thread in the "Sent Items" link located at the top of your "My Messages" page). By clicking into the message thread, you will see the option to "Report" in the top right corner of the message window.

Please note that reporting a member is a private communication between you and the Care.com Safety Team. This message is kept confidential at all times (except as required by law).

A Preliminary Background Check relies on criminal record data that is provided by jurisdictions across the country to a national database. The specific data in this database and the frequency it is updated varies by jurisdiction. For many jurisdictions, only felony conviction records - not arrest records - are included in the database. Massachusetts includes only registered sex offenders. Read What's Covered By A Background Check to learn exactly what records are searched.

A Preferred Background Check includes everything in a Preliminary Background Check, plus:

County Courthouse Records Search - This is a search of the records on file in each county where the user is known to have lived in the past 7 years. This type of search can find criminal records in jurisdictions that do not provide information to the national criminal records database. (Note: Due to local regulations, for most counties in New York, a county courthouse search will be replaced by a statewide search).

Federal Courthouse Records Search - This is a search of the records on file in each federal jurisdiction where the user is known to have lived in the past 7 years. This type of search can find criminal records for federal offenses in jurisdictions that do not provide information to the national criminal records database.

The Preferred+ Background Check includes everything that the Preferred Check covers, but additionally includes a search of public driving records. This is particularly recommended for positions that require driving or transportation.

Your background check does not display your Social Security Number. In fact, your SSN is not stored anywhere on your Care.com account. The only information that is visible to prospective employers is your full legal name, your city and state, the fact that your SSN was verified, and the results of your criminal history report.

The Preliminary background check results are generally returned immediately after submitting your information, while the Preferred check can take as long as a week. The Preferred+ can take up to ten business days pending the Motor Vehicle records search.

Preliminary Background checks expire after one year, but you may request to update your current background check at any time.

Your background check is only visible to people that you specifically grant access to. Because this is your background check, you need to give permission each and every time someone requests it. When you apply to a job, you may proactively give permission by checking the corresponding box. This sends a separate email along with your application allowing permission to access your background check.

Because this is your background check, you need to give permission each and every time someone requests it. When you apply to a job, you may proactively give permission by checking the corresponding box. This sends a separate email along with your application allowing permission to access your background check. You may remove access to your background check at any time by visiting your My Background Check page.

Keeping your billing information up to date makes it easy to upgrade and downgrade whenever you would like to use the Premium services. To change your billing information, visit your "My Profile & Settings" page, and scroll all the way toward the bottom. One of the very last sections is titled "Credit Card Information". And of course, you can always click here.

The most common billing errors can be fixed by double-checking all of your input information:

• You must be located in the United States and have a U.S. billing address.
• Your card must be a Credit or Debit card - no pre-paid cards, no gift cards, and no cards based outside of the United States.
• Check all of the numeric fields that the information is accurate, and be sure to select the proper card type from the drop down menu.
• The billing zip code should match the zip code you have on file. Check your General Information to be sure.

Less common errors may be included in the following list. In general, these errors indicate that you would need to contact your banking institution for more information.

• New or recent address or name change may cause an Address Verification decline. If you've recently moved, you may try your old zip code to correct this error.
• Insufficient Funds.
• Your banking institution may require verbal confirmation from you directly. (This can sometimes happen with subscription services.)

Care.com forwards all credit card numbers it receives from members to our credit card processor for validation and payment processing. Once our processor validates the credit card information, we delete the credit card number from our database (with the exception of the last 4 digits). This deletion typically occurs within days of our receipt of your credit card. Accordingly, we only retain your credit card number (with the exception of the last 4 digits) for only a few days.

If you first attempted to run your card, and if you were prompted to correct certain information or entered information incorrectly, your card will have declined. This decline may appear as a pending charge on your bank or credit card statement.

Care.com reverses any pending charges you see as a result of a card decline, generally within 24 hours. Your bank or credit card company's timeline processing this reversal may vary based on their policies, but usually takes between one and three business days.

Teen caregivers are care providers on Care.com that are 14 – 17 years of age. These caregivers can create service profiles just like every other provider on the site, however these are parent-monitored accounts in which a parent or guardian is notified of all activity and messaging through the account.

There is no cost to use Care.com. It is completely free to register your account, create your profile, and apply for jobs. Once you have turned 18 and your account becomes a basic individual account, you will have the option of using Care.com’s premium membership to further enhance your job search.

All individual providers on Care.com can apply to jobs by creating the appropriate profile (ie: childcare, pet care, etc.), and using the search bar located at the top of the page. Once you find a job description that interests you, you can apply and send a direct message to the families and individuals seeking help.

Additionally, the following safety tips may prove helpful during your search:

• Personal Information - do not share any personal information (last name, phone number, personal email, home address) unless it has been discussed with a parent or guardian.
• Interviews - any interview or meetings should happen in a public place and always have a parent or responsible adult present.
• Messaging - messages should be sent through the Care.com monitored messaging system only (no personal email messages or texts)

For more extensive information about applying to jobs, please feel free to browse our full Jobs and Applications FAQ.

To activate your teen caregiver account, a parent or guardian must register with you. This is done for safety and verification purposes, and all teen caregiver accounts are required to be parent monitored.

At Care.com we are parents, friends, family members, and pet owners just like you, and we understand the concerns that come with finding jobs online. Because of this, the safety and security of our members is always a top priority. Care.com offers care providers a way to advertise their services to clients and families looking for help, and to communicate with these members in a safe and monitored environment.

Additionally, the following tips may prove helpful during your search:

• Personal Information - do not share any personal information (last name, phone number, personal email, home address) unless it has been discussed with a parent or guardian.
• Interviews - any interview or meetings should happen in a public place and always have a parent or responsible adult present.
• Messaging - messages should be sent through the Care.com monitored messaging system only (no personal email messages or texts)

Please visit the Care.com Safety Center for more tips and information about being safe online, and making safe decisions throughout your search. The Safety Center is our way of keeping you involved so that you can make the best decisions for yourselves and your loved ones.

For the safety of both care seekers and caregivers, any caregiver under the age of 18 is required to have a parent or guardian oversee their account. The parent/guardian has their own login information, full access to the account and profile information, and is copied on all incoming and outgoing messages.

While Care.com takes your safety and security as a top priority, we also want you to make safe decisions throughout your job search. You can find a lot of helpful information in our Safety Center, and we encourage you to take the time to explore the information available and check back often for updates.

Additionally, the following tips may prove helpful during your search:

• Personal Information - do not share any personal information (last name, phone number, personal email, home address) unless it has been discussed with a parent or guardian.
• Interviews - any interview or meetings should happen in a public place and always have a parent or responsible adult present.
• Messaging - messages should be sent through the Care.com monitored messaging system only (no personal email messages or texts)

Please visit the Care.com Safety Center for more tips and information about being safe online, and making safe decisions throughout your search. The Safety Center is our way of keeping you involved so that you can make the best decisions for yourselves and your loved ones.

Care.com’s approval policies are designed for safety and quality purposes. If you have received a message that your account wasn’t approved, check the following guidelines, update your profile information, and resubmit your info when you’re ready.

All teen caregiver accounts require that a parent or guardian is also registered on the account.

Your general account should have complete and accurate information. Please be sure you have submitted:

• Your full first and last name
• Your permanent address - your street name and number or P.O. Box in address field
• A valid email address

To ensure that your profile is approved, please include the following:

• At least two relevant, detailed sentences in your description.
• Information about relevant experience, skills, or qualifications.
• Use correct capitalization, grammar, and spelling.

For Safety purposes, please do not include:

• Telephone numbers or email addresses.
• Specific locations or street addresses.
• Last names or children’s names.
• Website addresses.

We also recommend that you add a photo and references, as this will greatly enhance the quality of your profile.

Direct contact information is not visible on any Care.com profile. For privacy purposes, your phone number, email address, last name and street address are kept private at all times. Care.com offers a messaging system that allows families and caregivers to send private messages to one another, just like email. We also encourage you to use this messaging system for all initial contact with other members, and when you are comfortable sharing personal contact information, you may do so through your private messages. Check out our Safety Center for further recommendations about making safe decisions during your job search.

While all of your personal and contact information remains private on the site, your profile is your way of sharing information about your experience, your availability, and the types of jobs that you are looking for. Your profile is also a great way to confidentially share your references and get reviews from previous employers. You can edit your profile to keep your information up to date by visiting your Profile & Settings page.

For safety purposes, your specific age is not shown on your Care.com profile. However all teen caregiver profiles and messages very clearly state Under 18, and that this is a parent-monitored account.

Because of varying state laws, legal restrictions and protected information for individuals under the age of 18, background checks are not available for teen caregivers.

Care.com does not offer the ability to run background checks on the families that are seeking care on the site, however you are highly encouraged to view the Care.com Safety Center for more information about making safe decisions throughout your job search.

Yes. The parent or guardian associated with your account can write messages on your behalf through the account.

Once a teen caregiver turns 18, the parent or guardian portion of the account is deactivated, and the profile will no longer be listed as Under 18. At that time, the account becomes a basic individual provider account, and the account holder will be eligible to have a background check on file or to use Care.com’s premium membership services. More information about premium memberships can be found in the Managing Your Account section of the FAQs.

Your Family Child Care account is a unique way of advertising your program to families on Care.com. Family Child Care is its own independent category that allows families to find you and your services quickly and easily. Also, your profile will be prominently featured in search results, and clearly identified as a Family Child Care service.

We encourage you to fill out a detailed profile, list any relevant licensing or accreditations that you may have, post photos, and ask existing and prior customers to give you written reviews.

When you first set up your profile, we asked if you offered childcare from within your own home. If you checked yes, your account has been automatically converted to the Family Child Care format. This change is to allow families the ability to search for family child care programs and find your services quickly and easily. Additionally, your profile will clearly define your services within child care search results.

If you do not, or no longer offer care out of your own home, you can create a babysitter or nanny account separately. You will need to close your Family Child Care account to proceed.

Family Child Care accounts are designed specifically for child care providers that would like to offer care out of their own homes. Whether you are just starting out, or if you have an established Family Child Care program out of your home, you can register an account at any time to advertise your services to families that are looking for help.

Care.com does not require licensing for you to offer childcare services out of your own home. We do encourage you to research your state’s requirements and regulations. Also, we do include a field during your profile creation where you can specify whether or not you are licensed. Families will see that you are by an indicator on your public profile.

Your initial registration with Care.com is the first step in setting up your account. With the free registration, you will not be advertised on the site. However, registering an account does allow you to upgrade your membership whenever the need arises. If you would like to advertise your services on Care.com, apply to child care job posts, and communicate with families, you have the ability to upgrade your account at any time.

Once you’ve upgraded your account, you will be able to build a significantly more robust profile which, once approved, will appear in the public search results on the site. This will allow both Care.com members and non-members to find your service profile by searching in both the Family Child Care category, as well as within the broader childcare search.

You will also have the ability to apply to care jobs that are listed on Care.com. This gives you the added benefit of communicating directly with families that are looking for care in your area.

Additionally, Care.com has partnered with the National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC), and any accreditation that you receive through them will be clearly displayed on your profile.

With the Premium account, you do have the ability to apply to any of the job listings that you see fit. Keep in mind, that since your profile appears as a family child care program, you may want to be more informative and clear in your application about any additional services you offer.

The National Association for Family Child Care is a reliable source for gaining accreditation and recognition for exemplary practices in the field of family child care. For more information, we encourage you to visit their website.

Additionally, your accreditation and membership with NAFCC will be clearly displayed on your Care.com profile. This allows families to see your qualifications at a glimpse while browsing through providers.

If you have accidentally been enrolled as a Family Child Care service, but this is inaccurate for any reason, you may close your account at any time. Simply click here to close your account and begin your registration again.

There are two primary ways that families will find your service profile in search results on Care.com. First, they can run a generalized childcare search that will list you mixed in with other childcare services, such as nannies, babysitters, and day care centers. Additionally, families are able to search the dedicated Family Child Care category to find your services specifically.

To close your profile first log in to your Care.com account. Once logged in you can click the My Profile & Settings link on the left hand side of the screen. Then scroll down to your Membership Information and edit your Account Status. From here you can downgrade your account, which will be effective at the end of your current billing cycle, and you will no longer be charged. You also have the option to close your account completely. Please note that closing your account is a finite action and cannot be reversed.

When you no longer need to advertise your family child care program, you can downgrade your account at any time. This is your way of telling your account not to renew at the end of your current billing cycle. Once your account downgrades, your profile will not be visible on Care.com and will not appear in search results. However, should you choose to upgrade again in the future, all of your information will be saved and available once you have done so.

When you no longer need to advertise your family child care program, you can downgrade your account at any time. This is your way of telling your account not to renew at the end of your current billing cycle. Once your account downgrades, you will not be able to access messages, appear on the site, or communicate with families, however your information and messages will be saved and available should you choose to upgrade again in the future.