 |
|
 |
Intro: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| The American Red Cross and other organizations offer babysitting classes that cover infant and child care, safety, and first aid. Ask your school guidance counselor, youth group leader, or city parks and recreation department if they know of any such classes in your area. Completing a class shows you're qualified for the job and serious about it. |
|
Before you start looking for your first job, ask working babysitters about the going rate for babysitting in your neighborhood. More experienced sitters usually get more, and most sitters charge extra for more than one or two kids. Don't undervalue yourself by charging less than the going rate, and don't charge more either: You won't get much work. Now you just have to convince people to hire you. Here are two good ways to find your first clients:
Volunteer. Volunteering to help watch children at your church or temple or at the YMCA introduces you to a group of kids and their parents--potential clients. If there are kids in the group you really enjoy, approach their parents about babysitting. Word of mouth. Put the word out among your friends and neighbors that you're looking for babysitting work. Talk to trusted adults who know lots of families with young children: for instance, your minister, family doctor, or old kindergarten teacher. When business gets rolling, ask satisfied clients for references: They'll be good sources of new clients. Here are some others: Advertisements. Make flyers or cards advertising your services, and post them in places where parents of young children go, like the library or a local preschool. Include your name and phone number, and be sure to ask for permission before you post it. Babysitters' club. Ask friends who sit to pass on your name to their clients if they can't do a job. Or form a club (yep, just like in the books). Your members can advertise together and share clients: If one of you can't make it, maybe another can. If you're all good sitters, parents will be thrilled to use your club. They'll know they can get a sitter when they need one. Note: Check with your parents before you advertise. They may not be comfortable with your posting personal information in public. If they're concerned, ask if you can advertise in familiar places, like your family's church or gym. That way, even if your parents don't know a family, they probably know someone who does.
|
|
Find a job
