Helper Interview Checklist

A good interview is a conversation, not an interrogation. You are trying to understand how a candidate thinks and works in real situations, and whether this is a match that will last. Print this out, take it with you, and jot a few notes as you go.

Before you begin. The most reliable sign of a good match is not a flawless answer — it is a candidate who is honest, settled, and likely to stay the course. Give her room to speak, listen more than you talk, and pay attention to how she reasons through a situation rather than whether she says exactly the “right” thing.

Preparing for the interview

Have the candidate’s profile and experience in front of you
Know your own must-haves (children’s ages, elderly care, cooking style, working hours)
Set aside enough time not to feel rushed — 30 to 45 minutes is reasonable
Arrange an interpreter if you are not confident you share a common language
Plan a warm opening: introduce your family and put her at ease first
Have a pen and this sheet ready for notes

Part 1 — Will this match last? (ask these first)

Stability matters more than any single skill. A settled helper who stays for the full contract is worth more to your family than a slightly more experienced one who leaves early. Start here.

Family support for working abroad

How does your family feel about you working in Hong Kong?
Who is looking after things at home while you are away?

Notes

Coping when home feels far away

Working abroad can be hard, especially the first few months. What helps you when you miss home?
On a difficult day, what do you do to feel better?

Notes

Past contracts, in her own words

Tell me about your last position. What did an ordinary day look like?
Did you complete your contract? What made you decide it was time to move on?
What did you enjoy most, and what did you find hardest?

Notes

A candidate who has completed her previous contracts, whose family backs her decision to work abroad, and who has healthy ways of coping is showing you the signals that matter most.

Part 2 — Real situations (choose the ones that fit your home)

Ask about situations your household actually faces, and describe them plainly. You are listening for judgement and care, not a textbook answer.

Childcare scenario

My young child refuses dinner and starts crying. Walk me through what you would do.
If a small child had a minor fall and a scraped knee, what would you do first?

Notes

Elderly-care scenario

If an elderly family member was unsteady on the way to the bathroom, how would you help them safely?
They cannot remember whether they have taken their medicine. What would you do?

Notes

Cooking

Which dishes do you cook most confidently? Would you be happy to learn a few of our family’s favourites?
How would you handle it if someone in the family had a food allergy?

Notes

Cleaning routine

Talk me through how you would organise a week of cleaning for a home this size.
How do you keep track of what still needs doing?

Notes

Handling a difficult day

Picture this: the children are unsettled, lunch is running late, and I come home tired and short-tempered. How would you handle a day like that?
If I asked you to do something in a way you were not used to, how would you respond?

Notes

Part 3 — Practical fit

Comfortable with the working hours and duties we discussed
Understands the rest-day arrangement
Any health considerations we should know about (asked openly, and with respect for her privacy)
Comfortable with pets, if we have them
Able to start within our timeframe

Notes

Your observations

Write down your honest impression while it is still fresh.

Warmth and manner:
Clarity of communication:
How she reasoned through the scenarios:
Did she seem settled and genuine?
Overall gut feeling:

A note on the personal questions. Asking about family and homesickness is meant to help you understand whether a candidate is ready to settle and do well, so that you can support her properly once she starts. It is for context, not for catching anyone out. Keep these questions kind, and never press on anything she would rather not share. Trust is built from the very first conversation.