Timelines - any flexibility for outgoing AP?

[Anonymous]

Hi all. Our current AP has an ending date of December 13. This year has been a bit of a struggle as I have realized I didn't drill down into our interviews as much as I should have and am reaping the results. I've been starting to interview for our second AP who ideally would be beginning in January, however I have found someone who seems like a really genuinely fantastic AP yet she wants to start in October. Frankly I be happy to do that but I want to make sure our current AP gets her full experience as well. I'm not interested in having them overlap and I also don't want to lose the candidate that's coming on board. Is there any flexibility here that I'm not seeing?

[Anonymous]

Nope. Your agency might be flexible about your current AP leaving a month early but other than that? You could continue paying her stipend and send her off on a two months vacation... Is your current AP thinking about extending? In that case you might be able to talk her into extending with a different family early (starting with them in October through rematch and then extending for however long she wants).

[Anonymous]

OP here and yes she wants to extend. I didn't realize the extension could start early, so that's a great suggestion. Hmmm. How does one go about tactfully bringing that up? She is just starting to interview with families for her extension, so now is the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here and yes she wants to extend. I didn't realize the extension could start early, so that's a great suggestion. Hmmm. How does one go about tactfully bringing that up? She is just starting to interview with families for her extension, so now is the time.

Just sit down and have a conversation with her. Be kind but direct. Let her know you will be happy to speak to any interested family and get her moving on the matching process. Your LCC and/or program area director can perhaps assist. Also have you asked the candidate you like if she could delay until at least November, that way it's not that much of a difference between terms?

[Anonymous]

Tell her the truth - you've found a great AP and she's like to start in October. So you'd like your AP to finish up early with you if possible.

[Anonymous]

Your AP should be open to leaving early - finding a family around the holidays is tough so October should work for both of you...tell her you are doing her a favor, be prepared for her to leave in september though if she finds a family. it has to go both ways on being flexible.