Six Essential Steps for Finding the Right Domestic Helper

Whether it’s your first time or experienced in hiring a foreign domestic helper, finding the right helper is a challenge for everyone. Many people, especially first-time parents, have no idea where to begin the search. After you have a few candidates to choose from, how do you decide which one is the best fit for your family?

1. Identify your own priorities: It is often not realistic to expect a perfect helper so you need to prioritize. Do you want a helper who is industrious? Who must be able to speak English (or Chinese)?

2. Pre-interview: If possible, identify at least four or five potential candidates to conduct pre-interview with. Before meeting them in person, pre-screen them on the phone or through video chat (Asia Helpers Home has a video interview function so you don’t have to wait till Sunday to interview). Get a better sense of their background and what they can bring to your family. Don’t forget to ask them to bring at least one references of previous employer whom you can contact and see if they are willing or reluctant to provide that.

3. Interview to gain insight about the person: Pick the top three candidates by phone or video chat and agree to meet them in person at a mutual place (like a coffee shop or park). You can request them to bring a copy of their employment contract and their passport so you can check whether they have breached contract (leaving Hong Kong before the contract expired) and verify their previous employment experiences. Chat with them and ask questions that will offer some insights about her. For example, if taking care of your child is the main reason for hiring a helper, ask what her favorite children’s books are or what children’s songs she likes best. If she can’t offer an answer, you get some idea about how she deals with children.

4. Trial run: Actions speak louder than words. You can agree on a trial run afternoon with a small payment so she can come to your home and perform some household work to see if her working style meet yours. If one of her main duties is childcare, it is a good idea to see if she plays well with your kids.

5. Reference check: When it comes to hiring a domestic helper that you are going to entrust with whole family with, it is really important that she is a trustworthy and a good person. The best way is to find out through their previous employers whether she has any behavioral, credibility or even debt issues. You can also ask them some deeper questions, such as how the helper is with their kids, why she is no longer hired by them, does she has good working attitude, etc.

6. TRUST YOUR INSTINCT! If you don’t feel entirely right about the person, even if she seems good on paper, take the time to find the person you feel right, if possible. Sometimes, small actions can also tell a lot about the person. For example, if a candidate who seems great on paper is late for an interview appointment with you, it might be a telling sign about the ability to prioritize.