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Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Basic Pointers on Interviewing a Potential Live-In Housekeeper

By Alice Sy


A live-in housekeeper is important for a lot of households especially among families who have a busy lifestyle, demanding work schedule and time-consuming jobs and careers. Having somebody to do the work at home such as the cleaning, food preparation and laundry becomes a necessity in such situations. Still, it is important to take the time to interview an applicant for the safety of your home.

Here are some helpful hints to consider during an interview with an applicant.

One of the first things that you have to know is the applicant's personal background. Get as much information as you can such as the full name, age, civil status, hobbies and interests, religion, ethnicity, culture and practices. Take the time to determine if the applicant has specific religious and ethnic practices which she observes that may cause conflict in your home. Remember that you are hiring a live-in housekeeper. This means that you are opening your house to a stranger. It is best to know relevant information pertaining to the personality of the applicant prior to making a decision to hire.

Second set of questions include capacity to handle the job including health considerations. Determine the applicant's limitation when it comes to household chores. Can the applicant handle multi-tasking? Is she capable of cooking, doing the laundry, cleaning the house, caring for the plants, feeding the pets and so on. Is her health fit for the job? Consider the major tasks that need to be accomplished at home and ask the applicant if she is capable of handling all the duties. Include in this set of questions if she can work with minimal supervision.

Third, ask about her previous employments and employers. Ask about the responsibilities she had before, how she handled conflicts and her relationship with her previous employers and work mates. Take the time to let her explain how she meets the demands of her job and what she does to improve her performance. Always maintain eye contact from time to time and see if she answers the questions truthfully and confidently.

Lastly, ask the applicant if she had ever been subjected to police disciplinary measures. Ask her to explain in full detail and take the time to listen and sense her sincerity. Ask for police clearances and check for any criminal records. Although these can be acquired from the agency, asking the applicant directly is also for your own security.

All the above information can be obtained from the agency. However, it is best that you double check the data and to check the consistency of the information handed to you.

An interview with a potential live-in housekeeper can help you find somebody who you can be comfortable with and best meets your requirements.




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