You’re back from an interview — and it seemed to go really well! But then days go by and you hear…nothing. One of the most frustrating aspects of applying for a new job is when the family never gets back to you to tell you why you weren’t selected.
At Care.com, we try to help by encouraging families to use the “No, thanks” button next to every application, but at the end of the day, it’s up to them. Often, they select their nanny or caregiver and move on without informing the other candidates.
Which get you wondering what went wrong…were they just not that into you? We went straight to the source and asked parents who have hired nannies, housekeepers, and caregivers to share some of the common reasons they didn’t get back to a prospective caregiver.
- The Family Was Inundated With Candidates
You apply to a job and wait with baited breath, looking at an empty Care.com inbox. Meanwhile, the family is looking at an inbox jam-packed with applications. It’s easy for them to get overwhelmed and only reach out to the people they want to hire.
- Your Profile Needs Work
If you apply to lots of jobs, but never get a response, it could be that your profile needs work. Do you have a great picture? Is your bio engaging? Did you write a message to the family that was unique, talking about why you’re a good fit for this particular job? If the family doesn’t feel like you put a lot of effort into the job application, they’ll be less likely to respond to you. Why should they take the time to say no thanks if you didn’t put a lot of effort into applying? - There Was No Rapport
If you make it to the interview stage, congratulations! You’re clearly doing something right. But this job may not have been the right fit.“I had to ensure they were a good fit with my family,” says Rhonda McRae, a mom from Seattle. “When you have someone in your home every day for most of the waking hours, you want to feel as though they enjoy being there, and likewise, you want to enjoy chatting with them at the beginning and end of each day.”
Adds mom Elissa Scott from Portland, Oregon, “I once did an interview with a prospective nanny who just rubbed me wrong because she answered questions with monosyllabic responses. I didn’t get a warm-fuzzy feeling, and her coldness was a red flag.”
“Prospective nannies should make sure they give confident answers to interview questions and do their best to make the interview a conversation, rather than a question and answer session, says career coach Kolby Goodman of TheJobHuntr.com.
- You Don’t Explain Gaps in Your Background Adequately
“One seemed to have dodgy explanation of what she had been doing for a period of her work resume,” said Kelly Lyle, a mother who lives in Denver.Lots of people have gaps on their resume for various reasons, but you need to put your interviewer’s mind at ease by explaining what you were doing — maybe you were caring for a family member of your own, taking classes or trying a different career for a while.
- You Don’t Seem Capable
Most interviews don’t end like one that Boise-based mom Julia Angele Joy had. “Sometimes the interview goes so poorly that I literally never want to speak to you again — like the gal who told me she needed a job in order to get her own child back from protective services.”Usually the causes are generally more benign, such as parents who cited a lack of experience with kids the same age or a nanny who didn’t seem up to the multitasking needed. But if you’re not what the family is looking for, they may not get back to you.
- They Only Reply to People They Want to Interview
Not hearing back from employers isn’t just a Care.com or caregiver job complaint. When you apply to non-nanny jobs, it’s not very common to get a response to every application you submit. Yes, if you get to the in-person interview stage, the family should be courteous and let you know if they hired someone else. But don’t be shocked if you submitted an application and didn’t hear back.
- You Charge Too Much
Yes, you should be paid at least minimum wage and the going rate is for your area (check our calculator to see what the rates are in your neighborhood). But being unwilling to budge on rates can be a deal breaker — although it could be one that’s worth it to you! If parents can’t afford what you’re worth, then they may move on to the next candidate.
- They Didn’t Know They Should
Ignorance is never a good excuse, but maybe the family has never hired someone before and didn’t realize this is something they should to do.
- The Family Is Uncertain About Your Interest
Angele Joy mentioned that she’s reluctant to hire a nanny who appears to be only looking for a stop-gap position while searching for full-time work. She recommends that even students should be clear about their plans; maybe mention that you want to be a nanny for two years until you graduate and pursue another career.Adds Carrie Hillen, president of Town + Country Resources, “If a candidate is interested in a position, they ought to send a thank you note after an interview and reiterate their interest. Parents really like a potential caregiver who will go the extra mile.”
- They’re Just Busy
It may not be fair to you and the other job candidates, but sometimes the family has a lot going on and just wants to be done with the hiring process. Maybe they’re so happy to have hired someone that they forget about the people waiting by the phone.As Angele Joy says, “I have four kids — that should be reason enough.”
- The Job Is Still Open
Or you might be jumping the gun by worrying. The job might still be open, but the family is a little slow about sifting through applications and getting back to people. Hillen says that often families are uncertain about their needs and therefore, they might be taking time to think through what will work for the long term. She recommends following up to see if there are further questions you can answer.Get advice on How to Follow up About Jobs.
The bottom line is that not every person is a fit for every job — it could be something as simple as your schedule not meshing with theirs or a preference for someone with more experience. Polish your profile and photo and stay active on the site, and the perfect job is bound to materialize.
