This post is for families that are looking to hire an amazing housekeeper.
Before hiring any personal staff, you need to know that they will be the right fit for your family and your specific needs. Hiring a housekeeper is no different, and by asking the right questions you can avoid the common mistakes that people make.
Ask the wrong questions, and you could waste time, money and become frustrated. Here we dive into the must-ask questions before you hire a housekeeper.
Who Interviews the Housekeeper?
If you choose to hire a housekeeper yourself, it will be solely down to you to conduct a fruitful and effective interview. You may wish to do this alone, with a partner – or if the housekeeper will also take on nannying duties, you may wish to involve the younger members of the family.
If you choose a personal staffing agency to find you a housekeeper, you may leave them with your requirements and let them conduct the interview process. Alternatively, you may wish to get involved, especially with the latter stages of selection.
Where to Interview Candidates
Staffing agencies will tend to interview the candidates on their business premises, but if you want to meet them or are hiring a housekeeper directly, it is a good idea to interview them at the family home. However, always make sure you welcome strangers into your home with other people around, such as other members of your family or your butler.
If you don’t feel safe enough to do this, a coffee shop can also be a great interviewing location.
Must-Ask Interview Questions Before You Hire a Housekeeper
Interviewing a housekeeper for your role is all about getting to know them and working out if they match your needs and expectations. It is also an opportunity to judge their own plans and how that will impact you.
Avoid Wasted Time
You don’t want to hire someone who is going on a gap year in six months or is planning to change careers soon. This will mean having to do the selection process again, which can lose money and time, while adding stress. You can start this conversation by asking:
- Where do you see yourself in one/three/five year(s)?
- What are your future career plans?
- Do you have any long trips planned?
Situation Questions
The best way to understand how someone thinks and will react is to give them situation questions. These are where you give the candidate a situation and ask them what they would do next. It helps understand how proactive they are and if their actions meet what you would expect of them.
For example:
My child’s school phone to say they are sick, and I am in an important conference call at home, what do you do?
If you struggle to come up with a situation, think back to a moment when a previous housekeeper let you down or really impressed you. You can use their answer to compare to the other real-life situation.
Choose HazeltonClive to Get It Right!
Hire a housekeeper London’s busiest families love with our help. We can provide our clients with stellar housekeepers who have worked discreetly for VIPs, CEOs and some of the most high-profile individuals around.
We completely take over the interview process with your needs in mind or are 100% flexible to give as much control as you need over selection.
Using our service also comes with a 12-month guarantee. If your housekeeper decides to leave, we’ll replace them at no cost!
Contact us now to learn more and start hiring a housekeeper today!
