Where can I get a photo of me with kids?

StormWarrior

I'm applying for a childcare job and I have to put a photo of me with a child or several in the application. I have alot of childcare experience from my old home town, but now I'm living hundreds of miles away from there and I don't know anyone with kids here. I thought of asking in a nursery, maybe offering to volunteer for a day in exchange but I very much doubt they would agree. They would probably need the parents permission or something. Short of walking up and down the streets asking random strangers, what can I do to get a photo of me with a child?

miss no stars

tell them you didn't think it appropriate to be taking pictures of yourself with kids!!!! Then upload a picture of you looking friendly with a nice big smile. It'd be weird if you found kids just to get a picture!

dudara

Odd request. I would be straight out honest with them and tell them that you have no photos of yourself with children, and additionally that you don't think it is right to contrive a photo.

rosepetal

StormWarrior wrote: »

I'm applying for a childcare job and I have to put a photo of me with a child or several in the application.

Thats a really odd request, I have worked in different areas of childcare for years and have never been asked for a photo of myself with kids. What would the photo show or prove? That random kids arent scared of you or something:)?

Santa Claus

Was there ever any photos taken in your last childcare job in your home town ??

Silverfish

LeTache, please read this forum's charter before posting here again.

LeTache

Pffft nah

Silverfish

Ok, week off.

LadyMayBelle

In my opinion OP it's very unprofessional of the agency to request that from you. In many organisations I have worked with and clubs with kids permission must be sought before using a childs photo, indeed sometimes the parents are given the option to not have their child photographed etc...I think you should take the advice given here already and give a photo of you smiling but argue your case with not having one with kids. good luck!

jimmycrackcorm

OP, if you don't have any nephews or nieces, cousins or kids yourself then what are you doing?

StormWarrior

They want the picture as proof that you have looked after kids. Like I said, I have done so in the past but I didn't get any photos of me with them. Why would I, I never thought I would need one. I've seen other girls' applications, they have photos of themselves surrounded by kids.

MarkR

Can't they call the place where you have previous experience?

StormWarrior

I've included 2 references with my application but they say I'd stand much more chance of getting hired if I had a photo.

I have already included 2 photos, one of me smiling and one of me hugging a little dog and laughing, but it would be a lot easier if I had one of me hugging a child and laughing.

January

I find that very weird... Just tell them you have no photographs of you with children and you don't know anyone with children and wouldn't feel comfortable asking someone to let their child in a picture with you.

Maybe... going out on a limb here... they are just making it difficult for you to get the job... ?

rosepetal

StormWarrior wrote: »

They want the picture as proof that you have looked after kids.

A photo of you with kids doesnt prove you looked after them!! They could be relatives, neighbours kids etc. Good refs are the vital thing, and if they are somehow implying a photo is better than, or equal to, that ? ......... hmmm very odd. As another poster said you would have to get permission from the childrens parents also before you could submit any photos.

dudara

TBH, such a request would make me very wary of this crowd. It's a bit freaky.

jinxycat

dudara wrote: »

TBH, such a request would make me very wary of this crowd. It's a bit freaky.

i agree with this, that's a very strange request alright, a photo isn't proof of working with children at all, they could be anyone. they should except your refreneces as enough proof.

In any company that i've worked in you need parents consent to take photos of their child and then further more permission to show it to other people.

I would have questioned their reason for needing such a request, if i was a parent and someone came up to me and asked for my child to be in a photo for a job position i'd be asking what kinda job it was and then telling them to politly get lost.

bandraoi

The idea, which I agree is weird, is to show that you get on well with kids.
Instead of a photo maybe you could submit artwork/cards kids have given you or sent you?

If you don't have any lying about could you arrange for nephews/nieces/friends kids to make you a card saying how much they love you.

That way, even without the photos there's a bit of heart tugging/our favourite aunty/babysitter type thing going on. It also has the advantage that you don't have to be there for them to send it to you.

Liam Byrne

StormWarrior wrote: »

I've included 2 references with my application but they say I'd stand much more chance of getting hired if I had a photo.

Weirdest request I've ever heard, especially considering how wary parents are of having photos of their children going outside their immediate family / friends circle.

Tell the job that you can't because it was child-protection policy not to photograph the children.

If they're a reputable creche, then they'll know all about that.

gaybitch

I downloaded a couple of au pair forms last year when I was thinking of doing it. It's not "freaky" that they ask, it seems to be a standard question.

I suppose it shows that the company require you to have an experience of looking after children you know extremely well - much like you'd have to have if you were looking after children as an au pair. You become like a member of the family.

Do you have next door neighbours that have kids? Do you have any nephews of nieces? Are there any pics of you at a family member's birthday?

Show whoever you need to show that you're on the level. And if you're really stuck, ring up the company and just ask honestly how compulsory it is, because you can't get any photographs right now.

Don't stress! Good luck with the application.


EDIT: Most of you are looking at this in the context of a creche, but from the OP I got the impression it's more of a child-minder set-up she's applying for. Previous experience of being an au pair would leave you with photographs of yourself and children. It's typical of this knee-jerk political correctness that people would find it disturbing that a childcare company is requesting concrete proof of child-minding. FFS.

LadyMayBelle

I really don't think tho that any organisation ought to be asking for photographs of other peoples children. There is something wrong with that IMO full stop. Telling the OP that she would stand a better chance of getting the job if she had a photo is very unfair. Are these photos returnable?

Good luck regardless tho!

StormWarrior

The job I'm applying for is not in a creche. It's something where you get to travel around Europe, staying in different places and looking after people's kids while they are on business. I think the company want the photo so that the parents can see a load of photos of the people who'll be minding their kids, and seeing the workers playing happily with kids makes a good impression on the parents. Anyway, I don't know anyone with young kids here. I'll just have to do without I guess.

mcyclist

dudara wrote: »

TBH, such a request would make me very wary of this crowd. It's a bit freaky.

I would second this.

I would not use a photo like this without the permission of the parents - essentially a model release.
Secondly I would be so suspicious that I would make a complaint to the Gardai. No reputable company would ask for photos of children from someone who was not the childrens parent/guardian.

StormWarrior

I got offered a job in Finland today which I'm seriously considering taking, so maybe I don't need the photo after all!:)

rosepetal

gaybitch wrote: »

It's typical of this knee-jerk political correctness that people would find it disturbing that a childcare company is requesting concrete proof of child-minding. FFS.

I dont think anyone finds it disturbing that a childcare company wants proof of childminding, it wouldnt be a very good company if it didnt! The point is that the op HAS 'concrete proof' in the form of refs, which is a recognised (and far better) form of 'proof', rather than a pic which isnt proof of childcare work at all. The kids could be anyone, neighbours, cousins etc.