How to Attract Qualified Child Care Staff Without Job Boards: 5 Proven Ideas

TLDR Key Takeaways

  • Use employee referrals with bonuses and social sharing.

  • Partner with local colleges and ECE programs to build talent pipelines.

  • Showcase your center on social media using staff quotes and videos.

  • Get the word out through community groups, libraries, and parent networks.

  • Highlight what makes your center a great place to work, like training, culture, or perks.

Why You Need Fresh Child Care Hiring Strategies

Qualified child care staff are the heart of every successful program. But job boards? They’re expensive, oversaturated, and often don’t deliver passionate, reliable candidates.

You need smarter ways to recruit early childhood educators — strategies that are low-cost, high-impact, and rooted in your community.

This guide will show you exactly how to attract qualified childcare staff without job boards, using proven ideas that directors and owners can implement right away.

1. Tap Into Staff Referrals and Existing Networks

Your current team already knows people in the field. Set up an easy employee referral program and reward staff when their recommendation leads to a hire.

Why it works: People are more likely to refer someone they trust, and referred staff tend to stay longer.

Easy Ideas:

  • Offer a $50–$100 bonus if the new hire stays for 90 days.


  • Create a “Why I Love Working Here” graphic for staff to share on social media.


  • In staff meetings, take 2 minutes to ask:
    “Who do you know who’d love working here?”

Alt Text: Child care teachers enjoying breakroom conversation — employee referral culture

2. Partner with Local Colleges and ECE Programs

Don’t just post flyers. Build a relationship with early childhood faculty and students at local colleges or training schools.

Why it works: You get early access to new talent, and students get real-world experience.

Try This:

  • Email the ECE program head and offer to do a 10-minute classroom presentation.


  • Host student teachers or interns — treat it like a long interview.


  • Attend student career fairs or showcases at local colleges.

Alt Text: Child care director presenting hiring tips to ECE college students

3. Use Social Media to Showcase Your Center

Don’t just post job listings. Post your culture. Use social media to share what it’s really like to work at your center — the fun, the teamwork, the impact.

Why it works: People want to work somewhere that feels real, supportive, and joyful.

Try This:

  • Post photos of staff and kids enjoying activities with a fun caption.


  • Share staff testimonials or mini interviews.


  • Launch a “Meet the Team” series on Instagram or Facebook.

👉 Want plug-and-play templates to help you recruit without job boards?

 Grab the free Staffing Solutions Toolkit and simplify your hiring process today.

Alt Text: Smiling early childhood educators featured in child care center Instagram post

4. Build Local Community Connections

Get the word out offline. Community spaces like libraries, churches, and coffee shops are perfect for connecting with people who may not be actively job hunting — but might be interested in the right opportunity.

Try This:

  • Ask your local library or coffee shop if you can display a small flyer.


  • Mention your staffing needs in your parent newsletter.


  • Partner with community groups to co-host events and network.

Alt Text: Hiring flyer posted on a community board at public library

5. Promote What Makes You a Great Place to Work

You don’t have to offer the highest salary — just make people feel valued and supported. Highlight your center’s perks, culture, and values in everything you share.

Showcase This:

  • Paid professional development


  • Child care discounts


  • Clear onboarding and growth path


  • A leadership team that listens and supports

Bonus Tips:

  • Add a short video or photo series to your Careers page showing the real work environment.


  • Use 1–2 sentence quotes from current staff in your social media and job ads.

Alt Text: Happy preschool staff group photo with testimonial quote about center culture

Final Thoughts: Skip the Job Boards, Build the Dream Team

You don’t need to rely on job boards to find great staff. By using your network, building partnerships, and showing off your unique center culture, you’ll naturally attract people who are committed to early education.

💡 Want help making this even easier?

Download the free Staffing Solutions Toolkit for ready-to-use referral forms, flyers, and more.

By: Early Ed Essentials Team