Are you looking for an extra job via Yepstr or have you just been called for an interview to become a babysitter? Then you're in the exact same situation as I was. In this blog post you get some tips, but also a view of what it was like for me the first time I finally got a job.
Read more about how childcare on Yepstr works.
When I was babysitting for the first time
My first job via Yepstr was an assignment where I would look after two children twice a week. It was a long way for me to go, but since the school I go to has good connections to Saltsjöbaden in Nacka where the assignment was to be carried out, it was easy to get there. I decided to give it a try.In the advertisement for the assignment, I read that it was about looking after two children aged 1- and 4. This meant diaper change. It was one of those things I was honestly a little scared of.I applied for the job and wrote a short summary about myself and my experiences. After a short time, I got an answer from the parents who wanted to meet with the children to show me around the house and also at kindergarten where the children were to be picked up. This is so that I could then take care of everything myself.
Emotions and thoughts before the interview as a babysitter
The day came and I was going home to the family for an interview, you could say. I was extremely nervous and thought of all the different scenarios. Bad as well as good, which of course is natural. Somewhere I still thought it would go so extremely bad that they did not want to see me again. After all, it is their children and houses they hand over in great confidence. But my parents welcomed me well and it exceeded my expectations.I was shown around the kindergarten, which door and which shelf both children had their clothes on. Even what clothes would be left and the like, just like I already had the assignment. The road from the kindergarten which is located in Nacka outside Stockholm and home to their home.The first thing I saw was a long, long hill. My only thought was âNO! Should I walk this hill myself with a child in a pram and another who complains about walking? â The thoughts were quickly pushed aside because of all the information I received from my father. Once I arrived at the family, it showed me around the home, it was large but the impression was somehow still soothing.
Now we come to the part where we talk about the middle ground
POOP DIAPERS ... They showed me clothes for both children so they were easy to find in case the clothes needed to be changed. How the TV worked, which programs were most loved and which of the children would eat every day after kindergarten. The nightmare was that it would always be different and that things would change places. The last information I received was the code for the door. How can I remember this, were the only ones I thought. But it still felt perfectly okay.When all the info had been shared and the day was coming to an end, only the last message would come. Did I have to continue and then also do this myself or are I not satisfied?Everything had gone well. The children had gotten to know me a little and so had the parents. They seemed satisfied. I was relieved when I heard them say that they liked me and that they wanted me to continue and do this myself. Now it was just waiting for the day to come.
The first day alone with the kids
The day had come. I would take care of everything myself without having anyone to ask for small things. I was nervous and hoped that nothing would go wrong. When I arrived at the kindergarten, the children's things were to be taken. I asked the staff if the day had been good and if they had eaten properly.After that, I would just take the kids to the pram. It was actually easier than I had thought! The girl who was 4 years old came at full speed to hug me and the boy of 1 year was at first a little sad, but it got better as time went on. He was something of a mother pig and even though it was sometimes crying from the girl when she was not allowed to sit in the pram, we came home anyway.
Read More: Tips for you who are or want to be a babysitter
When we finally got home, their hands would be washed.
Yes, damn how dirty they were. Mellis was to be served, but like almost all toddlers, they were not always happy with what was served. Then you had to do your best to cheer them up and maybe replace the candy if it was too difficult to get them to eat.The day went by and they sat in front of the TV and watched Youtube. The 1-year-old guy, however, had a hard time sitting still and focusing, so then we had to play. It was actually quite fun!Time passed relatively quickly and one of the parents came home. Then I told him how it had gone and if anything special had happened. Then it was just to go home with a relief and a proud feeling!
My best lessons and tips
Here are some of my tips for landing a job as a babysitter.
- When you apply for an assignment, write something short about yourself. Try to introduce yourself in person and tell us a little about what you are interested in.
- Remember to write why you are good and what can differentiate you from others.
- Feel free to end in a nice way with, for example, "Feel free to contact me if I sound interesting" If you are interested, get in touch and ask for more information.
- When the customer has informed about, for example, a trial job, it can be good not to cancel or try to change the time at first. This makes the customer feel more secure and can trust you more. It builds trust.
- Even after the first assignment, it is important to be clear when it comes to bookings and times. If you need to cancel or change time, be sure to do so well in advance. It also helps the customer feel safe and can trust that you can take responsibility and gain confidence that you will not put them in a seat that is difficult to solve.Be yourself! When you are yourself, it always goes best.
Good luck and hope my experience can help you!