In the well-known fairytale “Cinderella,” a poor girl is visited by her fairy godmother. This girl was not given a choice of fairy godmother, nor did she have a chance to ask for references. In fact, the girl had never spoken to her fairy godmother before that moment. Though fairy godmothers and curriculum developers possess skills that may seem magical, you can check credentials before you choose your curriculum developer.
Finding the right curriculum developer for you may seem tricky. But if you follow these steps, finding the perfect match will be much easier.
1. Find
Ask colleagues for opinions, visit professional websites for recommendations, and use several search engines to compare which curriculum developers for your industry come up first.
2. Look
After you have found a few curriculum developers, look at their webpages. What is your first response to each curriculum developer’s webpage? Do their webpages look professional? Scroll to the bottom to find the copyright. You want a company with a recent copyright, which shows they frequently update their webpages, which professionals do.
3. Look again
On the home page, there should be links such as “About Us,” “Our Services,” and “Samples.” From these pages, you can learn how old the company is, how it has grown, its mission, its services, and review the quality of work found in the samples. The samples should reflect your industry. If they do not, metaphorically run.
The website should also talk about its subject matter experts and writers. A company with an over large pool of subject matter experts, such as A Pass, is guaranteed to provide you with accurate and professional materials. In addition, the number of writers can increase the turnaround time on your project.
Some curriculum developers even offer free resource links on their home pages. Do these look useful for your industry? If there is a blog, skim a few of the articles. Are they current? Do they sound like the writers understand the industry? A Pass Education’s website is a perfect example.
4. Double-check
The website should also talk about its subject matter experts and writers. A company with an over large pool of subject matter experts, such as A Pass, is guaranteed to provide you with accurate and professional materials. In addition, the number of writers can increase the turnaround time on your project.
5. Contact
Once you have narrowed your choices down to a few, contact them. Whether you call or email is up to you. However, how quick the company responds with a knowledgeable and polite professional is up to them. If it takes a company less than a day to get back to you, that may mean it values your time. If the professional you talk to is helpful but not pushy, this may mean the company is confident that its work will speak for itself.
But perhaps the most important element is how you feel. Do you feel like the company is interested in helping you complete your project in the best way possible? Do you feel the professional you spoke to understands your industry?
6. Listen
After you explain what you are looking for, does the professional ask follow up questions that help you flesh out your plan? Does the professional explain which of the company’s services will best fit your needs? But most importantly, do you feel listened to?
7. Take the first step
Once you have found a curriculum developer you feel comfortable with, take the first step. The curriculum developer should make an effort to build a genuine rapport with you. The company should respect your timeline, give you updates, respond quickly to your emails and calls. Any concern is handled promptly and professionally. Most importantly, the company treats you well.
Finding the right curriculum developer for you may be like trying on a shoe to find one that fits. But once you find the perfect slipper, it seems like magic, almost like a fairytale.
