Preparing for a Domestic Helper Interview: A Guide for Employers

This guide offers practical advice to help employers effectively manage the interview process and maximize the potential of their meetings with domestic helper candidates.

Develop a Job Description

After determining your priorities and management style, it’s advisable to create a detailed job description. This should include specific tasks, priorities, and the desired personality traits of the helper. A well-crafted job description aids in streamlining the recruitment process and setting clear expectations with candidates about the role they’re applying for.

Establish Clear Interview Goals

View the interview as a chance to gauge the candidate’s personality, attitude, and work ethic. The goal is to determine if there will be effective communication and collaboration between the helper, you, and your family. Setting specific objectives for the interview can guide your assessment process.

Prepare Interview Questions

It’s beneficial to prepare interview questions ahead of time. Aim for at least a 30-minute interview to thoroughly understand the candidate and assess mutual compatibility. This article offers guidance on structuring the interview and suggests pertinent questions to ask. Open-ended questions will be better to gauge the worker’s understanding of the matter rather than a Yes or No question

Prefer In-Person Meetings

While video calls are convenient, in-person interviews often yield better communication. If feasible, conduct interviews at your home. This approach allows candidates to meet all family members and understand the work environment. If a video call is necessary, focus on personality assessment and give a virtual tour of the living space provided for the helper.

Document Your Observations

Taking notes during interviews is crucial for informed decision-making. Prepare a simple template for interview notes to maintain consistency across all interviews.

Some Notes to take:

What is their salary expectation?
Relevant experience and skills
Personality/Attitude observations
Do they show a willingness to learn skills/ be
trained?
Do they show an interest in learning about
our household’s preferences?
How different is our working style from their
previous jobs and how did they respond to
this?
Did they seem interested in the job?