When looking for a sitter, if a see a super-short application, I usually go to the profile to see what is there, but honestly, if I have other suitable applications, I might not. I don’t think it’s a question of “selling yourself” as much as simply giving the host a reason to check your profile and reviews.
When I apply as a sitter, I take the time to write a complete application. In the rare times when I don’t have time immediately to write something eg I am replying on my phone through the app and won’t be able to write out a thought out reply for a while, I mention that.
I would say mine is medium-ish compared to what others have posted…
express interest in their sit and spending time with their pets
Reason for the trip
Highlight specific experience that I have in my profile that forrelates to their needs
Demonstrate that I’ve read their profile and refer to it
Refer to my reviews for evidence of habits on the sit pertaining to strong communication, hygiene and ability to follow instructions
In our case, call out we have dual membership so can empathise from direct experience
Provide alternate contact details and interest in discussing the situation further on a call or video chat AND provide some options for timings to connect
Thank them for their consideration
As an HO, I want to know that folks have read our listing and I don’t want to have to chase for more information or spend forever going back and forth for contact details or clarification of sitter’s experience to move on to next steps. I want to see a profile that clearly anticipates the concerns we’d have as HO. I like people who show clear interest and that means a somewhat customised message, but I don’t need a life story. And I like to see proactive and prompt responses to messages.
As an HS? The format above combined with being very prompt in responding to messages means we usually have a choice of sits, even in highly desirable cities and with somewhat limited sit experience (we host slight more than we sit but the combined experience means our interactions tend to be very effective at getting offered the sits we want). Our limited experience in the app, but is negated by the formal training and outside experience we readily provide through socials, professional websites, etc. So I think it’s very clear to HOs by how we frame info that we can back up our claims.
Agreed. I would automatically reject a one sentence app like this unless their profile absolutely blew me away and it was clear they’d be a good fit for us. But even then, I’d expect at least a contact number and timings for when they’re available to chat to be provided. A one-sentence message like this seems to me to be more of a phishing message of someone blindly applying to a ton of sits and seeing what lands.
I’m not at all interested in feeing like a sitter “swipes right” on every sit they come across.