Like any job interview, as the doula and caregiver, you are interviewing the family, just as much as they are interviewing you. This is a mutual process of exploring the fit of the relationship and client needs + doula services. It is so important to show up in authentic AND boundaried ways. In other words, only promise things you can and want to provide and honor yourself throughout the interview process, just as you want to throughout your work with families.

In this article, we will offer some very-seasoned-doula-advice about how to ace your interviews so that you land work you feel excited about!

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Pre-Interview Preparation

Before you even schedule a call, it can be so valuable to consider your baseline wishes, preferences, limits, and boundaries. These are a few questions that may guide your process:

• What kind of families are best for you? (Ex: singletons, multiples, first baby, adopted, etc.)

• What is your service area? Will you use travel fees if someone is outside of your area?

• What is within your scope of practice? What tasks, outside of basic birthing person and baby care, are you willing to do? (Ex: Doulas have been asked to walk dogs, clean fridges, pick up groceries, etc. Decide ahead of time what you are willing, and not willing, to do.)

• What are your requirements from the families you work with? (Think about everything from when/how they pay you to disclosing illness to communication requests.)

• What are your limits around illness and bad weather?

• What are your ideal hours? (Ex: Do you work overnights? Day shifts? Both? How long will each shift be?)

• How many days or nights a week do you wanna work?

• Who is your backup in the case of illness, a birth, etc.?

• Who do you refer to if a potential client is not a good fit?

Is there anything else that feels important to consider for yourself, before you begin engaging with families? Add those questions and considerations to this list! Some of these things will become embedded in your contracts and policies, or in copy on your website, and others can become talking points for the interview.

Acing the Doula Interview

On interview day, it can be helpful to take time for a few simple rituals. Ideas for rituals include things like the following: intentional breathing or meditation, setting up your workspace (if the interview is virtual or in your space), affirmation practice, or reviewing questions you suspect families will ask and reflecting on your honest answers. Just Google “questions to ask at a postpartum doula interview”because many families will be doing the same thing!

When it comes to getting dressed and ready for the day, we recommend business casual. Be yourself, while also making an effort to look professional.

Of course, it is important to be prompt for your interview. If you are meeting at the potential client’s home, arrive early but don’t knock on the door until the expected start time. If you are meeting in public, arrive early to find a table that gives you and the family space to chat. Virtual meetings are quite common for interviews these days, and if you’re going this route, make sure all of your technology is set up well ahead of start time.

Your first question can be something open-ended like, “Tell me about your pregnancy and your baby?”

Questions you will probably want to ask the growing family during the interview:

• Where are you planning to birth? Who is your care provider?

• How many babies are you expecting? Are there older siblings?

• If you have had previous births, how did those go? How was your recovery and postpartum?

• Does the birthing person have time off work? The partner? How long?

• Who else will be around and supporting during the postpartum period? What might their roles be?

• What are you looking for in a doula? And how do you imagine I can support your family?

• What are your plans for feeding baby? How do you imagine I could support you in those goals?

• Are there any medical or accessibility needs you want me to be aware of?

• Is there a separate space for the baby and doula to rest during overnights or daytime naps? Is there a bed/couch available?

After the Interview

The day of or day after the interview, we recommend sending a follow up email to the potential clients. This is where you can include your contract, next steps for booking, and any resources you may have mentioned during your chat. This helps people keep track of your information, especially if they are interviewing multiple doulas.

If 3-5 days have passed and you have not yet heard back, a gentle check in can be a good approach. If the family gave you a timeline for their reply, however, you may skip this step. That said, we have had many, many families thank us for the nudge because they got busy with other preparations, and our reminder helped bring them back to booking a doula.

Hope to See You in Class Soon!

We’d be honored to see you in training soon, whether it’s in Austin in March, Asheville or Richmond in May, somewhere else, or online! If blocking out 2 days and/or traveling doesn’t work for your schedule but you are set on becoming a postpartum doula, our on-demand training is for you. See you in class soon!

*Photo credit: Christina @ wocintechchat.com onUnsplash

Thanks for reading ABG Postpartum Doula Blog! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.