Tips for Success During the Trial Phase
You鈥檝e had a successful interview (or several) and now you have arranged a聽trial聽in a client鈥檚 home. That鈥檚 great news but the job is not yet secured – 聽a聽trial聽is your opportunity to show off your skills, learn more about the job, and find out if its a good fit for both employer and employee. This week, we鈥檝e compiled our top tips for a successful聽trial. Remember, our recruiters are always here to help if you have questions or need advice before a聽trial.
What is a Trial?
础听trial聽is a short (usually 1-3 days) time period where a candidate works in the family鈥檚 home and, ideally, mimics regular work days. This is the chance for the candidate, the client, the other staff, and any children to see how they work together and if it is a good fit.
Our Top Trial Tips聽
Dress for Success.
础听trial聽is different than an interview in that you will be on your feet doing work most of the day. Dress professionally and dress appropriately for the work at hand. The goal is to be polished and practical. Until you better know the family鈥檚 preferences, it is best to avoid perfumes and scented products, and to keep makeup, hair, and nails simple.
Be Prepared and On Time.
It is critical that you are not late to a聽trial. While we all understand life happens, a聽trial聽is your chance to give a client a glimpse into what working with you will be like. If you are late at this stage, many clients will assume you are unreliable and consistently late, even if that is not the case. Most clients are very busy and many won鈥檛 even meet with a candidate who arrives late. First impressions are extremely important. We recommend planning your route ahead of time, allowing extra time for unexpected delays, and even doing a test-run of the trip if the address seems tricky to locate. Depending on the hours of the聽trial, it is best to come ready with a simple lunch, snacks, and water for yourself. The client may provide food but if it isn鈥檛 explicitly discussed ahead of time, it is better to be prepared than sorry.
Put Your Best Foot Forward.
Ask the recruiter ahead of time if there are any specific requests or information you should know. Get a good night鈥檚 sleep the night before. Brainstorm questions you might have for the principal. Think about things you learned in the previous client interviews that may help you succeed at this stage in the process.
础听trial聽is a careful balance of following a client鈥檚 lead and being proactive and showing your experience and how you can excel in the role. Err on the side of proactivity and try to anticipate needs without overstepping. Make sure to be respectful of other staff and remember that your behavior with every person in the home matters. Silence and stay off your phone (except in the case of emergencies) and be present in all your interactions.
Ask Questions.
础听trial聽is for the benefit of both the client and the candidate so make sure you ask questions about the role and expectations. The goal is to find out if it is the right fit on both sides. Asking appropriate questions also indicates to the client that you are engaged and serious about the role.
Be Yourself.
The best advice is to be your best authentic and professional self. A job will not be sustainable if you鈥檝e behaved differently in the聽trial聽than you would in real day-to-day life. You are likely to be happier in a position long-term and find a better fit if you present your real self during the聽trial.
Follow Up.
Consider drafting up a simple Thank You card beforehand thanking the family for their time and consideration of you for this role. Put in an envelope and leave with the principal or your main contact in the home upon leaving. You could also follow up with a simple text or email t hanking them for their time; you can also send this to the recruiter in charge and ask them to forward it to the client. If you aren鈥檛 sure what kind of communication is appropriate, feel free to ask the recruiter who is working with you on the role for advice.
If after the聽trial, you don鈥檛 feel the role is for you, it is best to communicate this directly with the recruiter who sent you and let them speak to the client about it. It鈥檚 best to be honest and direct with recruiters so they can best assist you in your job search.
More Resources聽
Blog Posts
Top Tips for Preparing For An Interview
What Should Be Included in my Contract?聽
Commons Reasons Candidates Are Not Selected聽
Top Tips To Optimize Your Online Presence for Future Employers
Resume Guidelines
Resume Samples聽
(when customizing the resume templates, you can edit the files in聽Word or in Canva):
General Resume Template:聽Word doc听辞谤听
Sample Nanny Resume:聽Word doc听辞谤听
Sample NCS Resume:聽Word doc听辞谤听
Sample Housekeeper Resume:聽Word doc聽辞谤听
Sample Chef Resume:聽Word doc听辞谤听
Sample Caregiver Resume:聽Word doc听辞谤听
Sample Executive Resume:聽Word doc听辞谤听
For those interested in applying, you can sort through our聽聽by keyword, category, position type and/or location. Select the job you鈥檙e interested in and apply through that page. Note: Your resume will still be considered for other positions that we have.聽Contact us聽if you have any questions.聽