Questions to ask when interviewing a maid

Has anyone got some tips of questions that would be useful to ask when interviewing a helper for the first time? Any tips appreciated.

Interview Tips

Once you've begun to line up potential helpers, you will need to schedule an interview to learn about each candidate's background, personality and qualifications. While most expatriates have some experience in hiring employees in the professional world, their lack of experience with domestic helpers can make this task seem quite daunting. What on earth do you ask someone whose main jobs are cooking, cleaning and childcare?


There are a number of obvious, and less obvious questions that you can ask candidates in order to get a good idea of their skills and experience. There are also several extremely important issues that you need to cover before you invite someone into your home to live. Preparing a list of points and basic questions for the interview will help you stay focused and gets the information you need, and will eventually help you land the most suitable helper for your family.


Typical questions include:



Do you have a valid work permit and Hong Kong ID card?

Do you have references?

How old are you? Are you married? Do you have children? Do your spouse and children live in Hong Kong?

What type of education do you have?

What kinds of jobs did you hold in your home country before you came to Hong Kong?

How long have you lived in Hong Kong? How long do you plan to remain in Hong Kong?

Are you familiar with the district I live in?

Do you speak Cantonese?

Do you smoke?

Do you have any health problems? Have you had a recent medical check?

What hours will you work? Will you work overtime for an agreed price? Will you be willing to travel with our family on holidays?

What salary are you expecting? What benefits do you require (bonus, raise, etc.)?

What special skills do you have?

What do you enjoy the most about your job? What do you enjoy least about your job?

It's a good idea to have some discussion points prepared as well as direct questions. Discuss your needs and what her responsibilities and schedule will be. Does she seem receptive and willing to undertake the work? Is there some special skill that you require (i.e., cooking or first aid), and if not, would she be willing to attend a course at your expense? Make sure to bring up any special needs or concerns that you may have during the interview.


If you intend for your helper to provide childcare in your absence, it's essential to spend significant time asking about her experience with children. Has she ever been in charge of a child when a medical emergency or accident occurred? How did she handle it? What are her thoughts on discipline and corporal punishment? Present a hypothetical situation (i.e., "Imagine I am gone from home and the baby stops breathing, what would you do?") and listen to her answer. While she may not give you exactly the response you're looking for, what she says will give you an insight into how she will handle herself in an emergency. If she's bright and willing, you can help teach her the right thing to do.


If the person you're interviewing brings a friend, make sure that the candidate is the one whose doing the talking and try to avoid any emotional stories. Many helpers have had their contracts terminated and must leave Hong Kong within a prescribed period unless they secure a new position - don't feel guilty. It's always worth it to wait until the right candidate comes along because hiring the wrong one can create real problems in your home.


More than anything, you should follow your instincts when interviewing potential helpers. Remember, this person will be sharing your home, so just liking her counts for a lot. And, once she's begun work, keep the same open lines of communication that you used in the interview to avoid any misunderstandings. If you (and your new helper) are lucky, you are about to embark on a long and successful relationship.