Inspirational and Empowering Child Care Business Owners To Build Successful Child Care Businesses

Posts tagged ‘Hiring employees in childcare’

Picking Good People…The Test of Your Leadership

 Picking good people for your business can sometimes seem like a treasure hunt and it is a test of your leadership. In fact, this has been the area of operating a childcare business that has tested my leadership on may occasions.

During the interview process the applicant appears to be positive, he or she will say all the right things and wear the right clothes. However, the test begins on the first day of employment.

One thing that I have learned with selecting employees, is the simple fact that people do not reveal their true self until after they have been hired. Today I want to share with you some tips on how to pick good people for your child care business.

Selecting a Good Employee For Your Child Care Business

Schedule an interview with potential applicants during a time when the kids are gone are sleeping. Ask the following questions:

  1. Tell me about you
  2. Why should I hire you
  3. Are you willing to work flexible hours
  4. What would your previous employer tell me about you
  5. What are your goals
  6. What would a day be like in your class

Asking the  questions above, will help you to determine if you want this person working in your childcare business or not. Be sure to contact the applicant’s previous employer, to verify employment dates and ask the following question, “Would you rehire this person.” If they say “No”, then I think you can make an educated decision and decide if this person is right for your business.

What happens if you discover that this person is not  right  for your business

Another Lesson that I have learned in this business is; “Be fast to fire and slow to hire.” If you notice behavior that you do not like, address it immediately and discuss a plan of correction. If the employee continues to repeat the behavior, do not hesitate to terminate employment.

Employees are very observant and if they notice that you will allow them to slack in the beginning, they will continue that behavior throughout their employment in your business.

If you keep the wrong person on your team, it will cause you more headaches than you ever thought you could have. The wrong person= wrong results.

Here are some traits of the wrong person: gossip starter, negative about your business, does not honor your request, slacks in performance along with many other negative attributes.

There is no perfect employee, however, you would know when an employee is right for your business, because you will see good results and  you would be so glad that you made the decision to hire the employee.

Moreover, picking the right people will make your job easier and they will be an extension of you and represent your business well!

Bob Biehl says that 60-80% of the success of any company is in these 3 factors:

  • Clear direction
  • “The Right people”
  • Sound finances

Happy Employee Selection,

Shiketa

Ready to improve your Human Resource Practices or Grow as a Business Leader? Subscribe to my Child Care Business Management eCourse or Download my Art of Owning a Center Audio Series.

Category:

Employee Management, Hiring Employees, Human resource, Leadership, Work Place Laws

Tagged with:

Makeover Your Hiring Practices and Lower Your Turnover Rate in 2014

staff

As a Center Owner, the area that has challenged my business skills the most has been….. Staff turnover!

Child Care Centers are known to have a Very High Turnover rate, however, I have managed to have staff to stay with me for (3-7 years). However, I recently received  news from two of my recently hired team members that they were going into another field and I thought to myself…Oh No, I have to hire more staff and Spend more Time Training!

In fact, I told my husband, I am going to master this area of the Business and I began to re-evaluate my hiring practices. So I took some time to reflect on past and current hiring practices and here is what I discovered:

  • The teachers that were with me for 3 or more years, had early childhood education and experience
  • The turnover rate has only been high amongst the lower skilled staff
  • Never hire someone, simply because they need a job, Child Care is a Calling..not a Job!

My recent evaluation of Staff Turnover, reminded me to stick to my original plan: Hire Professionals Only!

Sure you can train someone to work with children, however, only a skilled professional understands the whole child and takes their job very seriously.

I’m sure you may be thinking about the cost that is associated with hiring educated professionals, however, it will cost you more to keep hiring low skilled child care workers and the emotional stress is definitely not worth it.

If you want to reduce your staff turnover rate and reduce the amount of time, spent training staff, hire right the first time and get professionals!

Furthermore,  in this business, I have learned more from my frustrations that I have from what comes easy for me in this business.

I hope that this blog post has inspired you to hire Early Childhood professionals that may have the following: a CDA Credential, a Certificate in Child Care or working toward an Associate Degree in Early Childhood.

If you have a large Family home Child Care Business, when you need staff, seek to hire early childhood professionals as well, it’s a great investment and a great way to market your business!

In closing, I have found that, teachers with a Bachelor’s Degree or higher are great employees, however, they may not stay with you long, because they could make more money working in the public school system.

I know that Everyone that you hire will not stay with you forever, however, you must hire smart, to lower your  staff turnover rate! Your time is very precious and so is your decision making…when it comes to Hiring professionals for your team!

To a Successful 2014!

Shiketa

For Center Management tips, join my Center Owner Membership Club

Are you ready for a Business Makeover? If so, Grab my Virtual Child Care Business Owner Makeover Kit!

Category:

Business Management, Child Care Center, Staffing

Tagged with:

Tag Cloud