I'm 54 yo-babysat growing up-no kids-no recent exp.- fed'l career now retired. how to get experience now?

I am now retired. I have step-grandchildren but too far away to babysit and have experience that way. I signed up for online babysitting and for online dog sitting. How r u supposed to be able to get a job if u have no recent experience? I'm far away from the children I used to babysit and their parents-lord only knows! So how do I get experience %26amp; give references when I've no recent experience? need answers with the BABYsitting aspect and also for dog/pet sitting. I have fbi clearance %26amp; fed'l govt security clearance-worked for ssa. totally clean record.

Any and all help will be appreciated!

Also have questions separate sections re:returning to college and getting computer experience for ex:microsoft excel, etc? I'm 54 yo-babysat growing up-no kids-no recent exp.- fed'l career now retired. how to get experience now?
1: get bonded. Easy to do with your clearances, and an important advertising feature.



2: get a magnetic car sign that advertises what you do. you'd be surprised at how inexpensive they can be and the contacs you will get.



3. leave fliers at vet offices and groomers in better neighborhoods; have a discount coupon be part of the flier. (Don't let people combine discounts or free things: you don't want to work for some cheap jerk who tries to get you to stay a week for free. Hand out fliers at the dog training classes at Petco etc. Make sure your flier says that ';I spoil them when you can't'; or something. Explain what you do to get to know the dog to make it happy, less stressed, etc.



4. offer to do dogwalking during the day, to break up the dog's day and so they won't be so bouncy when their owners come home. My former housesitter now makes more as a dogwalker than at anything else.



5. hand out a marketing/promotional item with your name on it. Make it cute, like a keyring with a bone shaped tag that has your name and phone. These aren't too expensive and they really make people remember you.



6. get a part time job at a vet's office (front office is fine). Once people meet you--you sound like a sweetheart--then I'm sure you could get sitting jobs. At the vet's office you can learn to give shots and then you could market that--a petsitter who is capable of taking care of diabetic or other issues would make a fortune. My MD's RN makes $750 a week housesitting for a family with older dogs who need meds, and she keeps a daily dog diary so the owners know what the dogs did each day for fun, did they eat well, etc. She keeps a binder that has a sheet on each pet (w/photo) w/ meds, favorite snack, etc.



Good luck--you sound like a real treasure, just what everyone needs!I'm 54 yo-babysat growing up-no kids-no recent exp.- fed'l career now retired. how to get experience now?
volunteer at a day care center or elementary school to get experience. volunteer at the local animal shelter.
Darlin I don't think babies have change to much, how ever long it's been, and everyone has their own ideas on how to raise their children, and will tell you what they expect anyway, they have their own choices of diapers,bottles,formula,foods,schedules. and it's different for each family. Place an ad in local papers and once you start you will have more referrals than you will need. Good Luck.