I would love honest feedback on my profile, please.
How long does it take to get any feedback once an application has been submitted to sit? I applied for a local sit 3 days ago so that I can build my review base and ease into this process close to home. I can see that my message has been read, but I have not heard anything from the HO. Is this normal? I’m fine waiting, however, if another sitting opportunity arises over the same time frame, would it be bad form to withdraw my application if I’ve heard nothing?
A little background - in addition to what is already listed on my profile:
A few years ago, I joined a friend in Costa Rica for the last week of a month-long house-sitting arrangement she had. It was such a unique experience that I decided if I ever secured a remote job, I would figure out how I could live like a local and explore new places without having to take off work. Fast-forward, my husband and I now work fully remote, and our eldest daughter has moved to New York. It occurred to me that THS may be a great solution to exploring travel experiences, and assuming there is a need for sitters in New York, it would also be a great way to stay close to and visit with our daughter. Fingers crossed that this is in our future!
Note: I am jumping in as a solo sitter. As mentioned in my profile, we have a very fragile diabetic cat that requires highly specialized care. We are unable to travel together at this time, unfortunately.
I can’t see a link to your THS sitter profile but maybe that’s on my end. Make sure you’ve linked them.
As a host I can tell you that I don’t reply to all applications right away. We usually get at least 5 within an hour of posting dates. I look through the list of applicants and choose the most promising based on number and rating of reviews, and giving their profile a quick read to rule out any flags.
I’ll then contact the first applicant to set up a video call. It could be a day or 2 before that happens, at which point I’ll typically confirm the sit and let the other applicants know. If I don’t hear back from the first applicant in a day I’ll contact the next.
It could be several days before all applicants will get a response from me.
I just read your profile. Your age, experience, profession, and references will land sits.
You might want to tone down the part about “evenings and weekends for exploring.” Owners want to <> that you are mainly there to spend time with the pets, rather than going out. I would make an adjustment in your wording.
For example, we honestly state that we love to cook and eat at home, and we rarely eat out. This translates into being at the home more often, with the pets. Others don’t cook but order food to be delivered to the home every day; that also keeps sitters in the home.
Until you receive and accept a host’s formal invite to a sit, it is quite normal and acceptable for a sitter to apply for multiple sits covering the same or overlapping dates. There’s no need to withdraw any application. It’s a first come, first served vetting process. Hosts are expected to move post haste once they publish their sit dates. If they don’t, it’s not your problem. As you gain experience and accumulate good reviews, you may get to a point where you withdraw an application if the host doesn’t respond within 72 or 48 hours but you’re not there yet.
Besides the local opportunities, you might want to check out some last-minute or low-application sits to gather a few reviews. And no worries at all—if you find a different sit you prefer or lose interest while waiting, feel free to withdraw your application. I usually give the host a reasonable amount of time to respond; if I don’t hear back, I’ll withdraw my application. From my experience, hosts who are slow to respond often tend to be less organized overall.
I faced a few declined applications before completing my first sit, but once I got that first review, my upcoming sits have been confirmed within just a day or two of applying.
House and pet sitting through this platform has been such a positive experience for me, and I really hope you enjoy it too!
From your profile… “As a fully remote RN, I realized that there are many opportunities to explore new places without having to take time off work to do so.”
You might want to clarify here. Is remote nurse work done from a host’s home over the Internet or is it a traveling nurse arrangement? The latter would require you to leave the pets alone for long hours which many hosts with dogs will balk over. Clarity on this might (or might not) satisfy hosts reading your profile who, without the clarity, could skip you entirely.
If I’m recalling her profile correctly, she said she provides medical assistance via telemed. That suggests she’s home while working with patients over the Internet. I think…?
As others have said, you have a great profile where you come across as being very caring and love animals @JCHop.
My suggestion is to remove from the About Me section about your experience re medicating and put it into the My Experience section.
You have detailed explanations under your photos but these can only be read using the app so owners using the website will miss out on these.
It won’t be long until you succeed in landing your first sit. Remember to have a video chat before being confirmed so you can ask questions and feel it is a good fit for you too. Remember it’s an equal exchange. All the best.
Thanks for pointing out what might create confusion or concern.
I am not a travel nurse. My position is a salaried position (no clocking in/out), and I support a panel of patients with multiple chronic health conditions telephonically. I will change it to “As a fully remote telephone RN…” Hopefully, that will make it clear that I don’t leave home during the day.
Thank you for your feedback!
You are correct! The pandemic had a major impact on how we deliver care. The world of remote medicine did not go away! I’m thankful to be able to provide care to many people who have transportation and/or mobility barriers. After 25 years of bedside nursing, followed by several years of primary care nursing, I’m happy that I am now able to remotely support patients. If I have access to high-speed internet, I’m good!
