What Are Parents Looking For in a Babysitter?

Here's what parents are looking for when they're hiring a babysitter: Someone skilled.

Parents will feel better about leaving their children with you if you've taken a babysitting course that includes First Aid and CPR training.
A babysitting course is an excellent thing to have on your babysitting resume! Someone trustworthy.
Of course, a parent isn't going to leave their baby or child with someone they don't feel 100 percent comfortable with.

If you come across as even a teeny bit irresponsible, they won't hire you to babysit.
Things like being on time, listening to all instructions and coming across as mature and responsible are extremely important if you want to get a babysitting job.
Someone who is reliable.

If a parent has to leave three messages before you call them back, or you say "no" to babysitting jobs too many times to go out with your friends, they're going to realize you aren't very reliable. Someone who enjoys working with kids.

Parents want to get an idea of how you'll interact with their children, so be prepared to answer questions about why you want to babysit and what kinds of activities you might do with them before they give you a babysitting job.
Someone who can handle difficult situations.

Parents may ask you questions about how you'll deal with everything from a temper tantrum to a stranger at the door to a fire in the kitchen. A babysitting course will go over many different emergency situations and help you learn how to confidently deal with them.