Extend or recruit, what factors in to your decision?

[Anonymous]

Hello! First time HM and realized the onboarding process was more intensive than I planned for. With that in mind, I am curious what factors into your decision making around whether to extend, possibly with an "okay" AP that is already onboarded versus going through the interview process again and onboarding. And any other lessons learned you want to share.

I've learned some key lessons:
* Interview more around driving skills (but still expect to take time to get driving up to speed)
* Rookie mistake I made was to plug AP into conversational English course right off the bat thinking it would help her meet other young people her age locally and help her language skills - I think it would have been better for her if she could have had that free time to connect with other APs instead.

[Anonymous]

What factors make you think she’s just okay? Since you’re new to the program you don’t have context. Maybe she’s a really good AP relative to other APs, maybe she’s one of the better ones.

[Anonymous]

Do not extend with an "okay" AP. We almost made that decision our first year at 7 months in but by the end she went from "okay" to "awful". As a more veteran HM I've finally come to the conclusion that as a rule we don't extend. If it was literally the world's greatest AP we'd consider it, but I didn't this year with our amazing AP this year. Because:
-everything is new the first time around. She'll likely get bored when it's her second easter egg hunt, second halloween, etc.
-her friends will start leaving and that might be problematic
-at some point shes going to wake up and realize it's time to start her life
Yes it sucks to onboard new APs. But I'd rather start fresh with someone who is really excited then continue on with someone who is over it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do not extend with an "okay" AP. We almost made that decision our first year at 7 months in but by the end she went from "okay" to "awful". As a more veteran HM I've finally come to the conclusion that as a rule we don't extend. If it was literally the world's greatest AP we'd consider it, but I didn't this year with our amazing AP this year. Because:
-everything is new the first time around. She'll likely get bored when it's her second easter egg hunt, second halloween, etc.
-her friends will start leaving and that might be problematic
-at some point shes going to wake up and realize it's time to start her life
Yes it sucks to onboard new APs. But I'd rather start fresh with someone who is really excited then continue on with someone who is over it.

I completely agree with this. I think AP's in general get a little burned out after a year when they see many of their friends going home and have gotten over the initial excitement of a new country. We extended with our first and things quickly went downhill. I also find starting with a new AP gives me a chance to make any necessary changes.

[Anonymous]

We've extended with 2 APs and would have with the other 2, but they had to go home.

They were all very good APs, but none of them arrived being great. They just had good attitudes, and then it took a lot of onboarding, coaching, mentoring and managing from me. But putting that effort in was well worth not having to start from scratch again the next year.

Are she truly just ok? or would she be better with much coaching.
Also, don't make the decision until at least 8 months.

[Anonymous]

Never thought about hosting New AP every year would be ideal but all the comments above give me a new perspective. My supposed to be extended AP has to go home after 1 year so I have the new AP overlap with her for the onboarding training.