The Interviews have begun

by Rebecca

I've gone over to the dark side. I'm interviewing Helpers today. It only took 3 months for me to go from "I am not having a Helper" to "When can you start"?

We're using a Maid Agency. Check out their ad targeted specifically for Expats. Their other ad for Singaporeans has a very different spin to it.

We'll do the interviews at the Agency. Ms.C is coming with me. The Littles are staying home with Jonathan. Sunday is interview day, because it's generally a Helper's only day off.

I asked Ms.C if she had any questions for the Helper and she had some really good ones.

  • "What is your name"?
  • "Do you have a cable car pass?" We will get the Helper one.
  • "What food do you cook?" Oh man, how did I not think of that one myself?
  • "What games do you play?

I'm focusing on food. I want someone who will prepare meals and do the meal planning and shopping for us. With 2 sets of food allergies, one picky eater, children who never stop eating and the fact that sometimes we just don't like this new food we're trying, this feels like food may be a full time job. After that, as long as they're not phased by occasionally being in charge of 3 loud busy children who may not do what they're told, and the fact that they're under foot most of the time, we're probably good. And the house? Well as long as it's not a total disaster we'll survive.

That's basically:

  1. Feed us. We are hungry and tired of Take Away/Delivery.
  2. Watch the kids sometimes.
  3. Clean the house when you can fit it in.  

Just to highlight the kind of world we are entering into, here are some of the FAQs listed on the Agency's website:

  • I heard so many horror stories about young girls going after the husbands. How can I prevent that?
  • What if my domestic helper makes mistakes?
  • I only want to employ a domestic helper who has worked in an expatriate family. But, I heard that they are "spoilt", so what should I do?

And also some of the common interview questions we came across that gave us pause as we were trying to come up with our own questions:

  • Is your current Ma’am strict? What about Sir?
  • If the baby can’t sleep at night, what are some of the methods you use to get him to fall asleep?
  • How do you keep track of money for going to Market?
  • Do you like partying? Do you go out drinking with your friends?