Are you planning on hiring a domestic worker? Great! However, if you've never interviewed one before, you might feel a bit anxious. Here are a few things to consider to ensure you hold a stellar interview with a domestic worker.
1. Figure out what you need
There are many different types of domestic workers. The term "domestic worker" is actually an umbrella term that describes nurses, housemen, housekeepers, personal chefs, nannies and many others that help run a household.
Before calling a domestic staffing agency, figure out what kind of domestic worker (or workers) can assist you the most. Here are some questions to ask yourself:
- What can I do about about my messy home? A housekeeper can keep your home nice and tidy!
- How can I help my children improve their grades? Hire a nanny who can help your children complete their homework on time and assist them when studying for tests.
- What kind of food can I cook to eat healthier? A personal chef can cook delicious, healthy recipes for you.
By analyzing your personal needs before searching for professional help, you can ensure you're hiring the right people.
2. Do your research
When you're working with a staffing agency, the firm will have already completed most of the candidate's background research for you prior to the interview. However, that doesn't mean you shouldn't (and can't) take initiative to conduct a thorough background check on the candidate by yourself.
Researching the candidate accomplishes two things:
- It saves time in the interview so you can focus on pertinent information, which we'll discuss shortly.
- It shows the candidate you care, which could increase their excitement about the position.
How can you conduct this background research?
Start by gathering all of the information you can from the staffing firm. You can even provide the company with a list of questions you'd like the recruiters to ask during phone screens. Once you're presented with a candidate, look them up online – check out their social media accounts or other web sites that might give you insight into how they think and act. After all, it's critical you bring someone on board who can not only can succeed at his or her job, but who's also a great cultural fit.
3. Conduct an in depth interview
When conducting your interview, skip some of the simple, overused questions such as:
- What do you see yourself doing in five years?
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
- How well do you perform under stress and deadlines?
Let's be honest: Many people don't know what they're going to be doing tomorrow, let alone five years from now. We understand that employers want to hire long-term employees, but they can already find the answer to this question on the Bureau of Labor Statistics website. According to the BLS, the average tenure for U.S. male employees in 2016 is 4.3 years. That number drops to 4 years for women.
If an employer offers their employees opportunity to grow, great pay and benefits, and an excellent working environment, there's a good chance that employee will stay much longer.
If you're interested in hiring domestic staffing professionals to complete domestic jobs around your home, talk to a domestic staffing agency. Contact Colonial Domestic Agency today!