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Hiring

  • 1.  Hiring

    Posted 09-03-2019 02:48 PM
    Good afternoon.  Does anyone have any suggestions on where to post for jobs?  Our center has been hiring since January and are having no luck in finding qualified candidates.  We have used Indeed, Craigslist, and local colleges on their job boards.  No luck.  I know that currently there are more jobs than people looking.  We are getting discouraged and worn out.  Thank you.

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    Cynthia Bohrer
    Director
    Kids International Early Childhood Education Cente
    Ellisville MO
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  • 2.  RE: Hiring

    Posted 09-04-2019 05:48 AM
    I find your challenge is shared by a good number of Owners, Administrators and Directors in Early Childhood Education. I believe it is challenging to find qualified people as the focus on quality and accountability continues to be a priority.

    I suggest beginning with your Annual Budget and determining if the compensation package you are offering is compatible with the quality you expect of your teaching staff. Next, I would look at where the supply of qualified candidates is being created. For example, Community Colleges, Colleges and Universities in your area and if they have Career Placement Services where you can post your positions. Then find the organizations offering the 120 hour CDA course and develop a relationship with them to provide candidates who need a placement for the required 480 hours of practical experience and enter into a partnership with the organization(s) to take candidates and support them, with the intent they will become members of your staff when they earn their CDA. There is also the option of supporting individuals who want to enroll in an online CDA course. For these individuals, you will probably need to provide them with support as they create their Professional Portfolio that is required to apply to the Council for Professional Recognition for a decision whether or not to award the CDA. Some high schools are now including the CDA course in the Career and Technical Education High Schools. I also think developing a robust Professional Development Plan to support teachers in continuously improving their knowledge, skills and disposition necessary to offer a quality learning environment for children is necessary.

    I would also suggest becoming engaged in a NAEYC affiliate and their advocacy efforts to ensure all young chlidren have the opportunity to reach their full potential which includes highly effective teachers.

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    Robert Gundling, Ed.D.
    Better Futures LLC
    Senior Consultant
    Washington, DC
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  • 3.  RE: Hiring

    Posted 09-04-2019 07:57 AM
    Dear Mr. Grundling,
    Thank you for the information.  We have a competitive package within our area and we also sponsor a scholarship for CDA programs, Assoc. and Bach. programs in early childhood.  We have used our various affiliate resources with no luck.  All of the centers in the area are having difficulty finding staff, even unqualified.  We have not had any luck and we are just looking for different options for where to post the jobs.  Again, thank you.  

    Cindy

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    Cynthia Bohrer
    Director
    Kids International Early Childhood Education Cente
    Ellisville MO
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  • 4.  RE: Hiring

    Posted 09-04-2019 07:57 AM
    I know the high school students are very young but I would contact your local ECE teacher and make some connections. Some students are working on their CDA's in high school and will turn eighteen at graduation! Good Luck!

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    Terry Rawley
    Layton UT
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  • 5.  RE: Hiring

    Posted 09-05-2019 02:27 PM
    No luck with high schools or colleges.  The area that we are located in is full of centers.  Our center and two others have been around for twenty plus years.  In the past five years, 4 additional centers have opened in the immediate area creating another issue for hiring.

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    Cynthia Bohrer
    Director
    Kids International Early Childhood Education Cente
    Ellisville MO
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  • 6.  RE: Hiring

    Posted 09-05-2019 09:41 AM
    Good Morning,

    It is definitely a challenge to find staff these days.  The other suggestions are great and I agree with them.  You might also try to build a relationship with the college professors and have them mention it in their classes, see if they'd be willing to give extra credit for their seniors, or even if the local community college would be willing to create an independent study/work study course. 
    Another possible avenue could be churches/synagogues/mosques depending on how they feel about posting secular job opportunities.
    We're definitely trying to think of as many ways as we can to widen the pool and attract this generation to service careers.

    Good luck!

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    Barbara Brothers
    Cambridge MA
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  • 7.  RE: Hiring

    Posted 09-05-2019 11:32 AM
    We are in the same boat in Central PA.  We have also used LinkedIn to post for jobs.  Unfortunately, as you mentioned, there are way more jobs than good candidates and the decline in education majors has really put a crimp in our ability to hire qualified teachers.  It is truly disheartening.  Thanks for letting us know we are not alone!

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    Diana Verbeck
    Executive Director
    Danville Child Development Center
    Danville PA
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  • 8.  RE: Hiring

    Posted 09-05-2019 02:21 PM
    I feel a bit better knowing that it is not just us.  We are having trouble getting people to apply or even to show up for interviews.  If we do get to interview, the applicant says that they can't work the times that are needed or doesn't want to work with the age group listed in our ad.  We have been trying to hire for a lead two year old teacher since January.  This has put me, as director, in the classroom and unable to get my work completed.  It is becoming very difficult on myself and current staff.  We have even asked families if they know anyone.

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    Cynthia Bohrer
    Director
    Kids International Early Childhood Education Cente
    Ellisville MO
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  • 9.  RE: Hiring

    Posted 09-06-2019 12:57 PM
    Here in the New Orleans area, we have a Facebook group called "New Orleans Mom".  I'm sure most areas have something similar.  As a mother of two little ones myself, I'm a member of this group with a few thousand other moms.  I have posted a few times advertising positions we had open.  We offer a 40% discount to our staff for their own children's tuition if they enroll them.  I've gotten a few great teachers this way, who wanted to jump back into the workforce, but also have their little ones nearby, and not have to spend their whole paycheck on care.  Some of them don't have prior childcare experience, but everyone has to start somewhere, and I've paired them up with very experienced staff who can begin to show them the ropes and train them well.  A couple of my very best have started this way.

    You could try to see if there are any such social media groups around you, and see if they would permit such advertising.

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    Audra Detillier
    Director
    Celebration Christian Daycare
    Metairie LA
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  • 10.  RE: Hiring

    Posted 09-06-2019 04:41 PM
    Great discussion topic. Hiring staff who shares your core values and business culture is a challenge. I prayerfully select ladies who have technical experience, friendly, cleanliness and character traits suitable for my event childcare setting. Some work out better than others. Sources: colleges, referrals, classes and workshops offered by childcare agencies, my website email form and social media.

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    Janel Northington
    Mobile Mommies
    Columbus OH
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  • 11.  RE: Hiring

    Posted 09-22-2019 07:44 AM
    Hello,

    One thing that I've found is that the bigger presence you have in the community, the more people will reach out. By setting up an information booth at community fairs, back to school nights for local school districts, national night out, etc. I've received a number of applications directly to my email when we do not have any job postings. It can also support enrollment, but more importantly even, is community support. 
    Good luck!

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    Heather Ha
    PPPIF Facilitator
    Program Manager
    CHI St. Joseph Children's Health
    Lancaster, PA
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  • 12.  RE: Hiring

    Posted 09-23-2019 04:01 PM
    Thank you so much for the ideas.  We have been very involved with the community for the past 22 years.   We sponsor fireworks at the local park, we go to the local high schools and tech schools to meet with the students. There just seems to be a shortage in all of the centers around the area.  I will review our presence to refresh it.  Thank you, again.

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    Cynthia Bohrer
    Director
    Kids International Early Childhood Education Cente
    Ellisville MO
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