How to Interview a Domestic Helper: Questions That Actually Work

The goal of an interview is not to catch someone out. It is to understand whether she fits your household, your routines, and your communication style.

Helpers are often nervous in interviews, and many have learned to give the answers they think employers want to hear. Good questions lower that pressure and invite real, specific answers. Here is how to ask them.

Questions that do not work

Some of the most common interview questions tell you almost nothing, because the answer is always the same.

• "Are you hardworking?" Everyone says yes.
• "Do you like children?" Everyone says yes.
• "Can you cook?" Almost everyone says yes.
• "Will you follow my instructions?" Always yes.

Closed questions invite a yes. Open questions that ask for a story or an example invite the truth.

Questions that reveal real fit

These seven questions work because they ask for specifics. Listen less to what she says and more to how concrete her answer is.

1. Walk me through a typical day at your last employer. This shows her routine, her pace, and how well she remembers and explains her own work.
2. What was the most difficult thing about your last placement? A thoughtful answer shows self-awareness. Blaming everyone else is worth noting.
3. What do you do if you break something by accident? You want honesty and a willingness to tell you, not hiding it.
4. How do you handle it when you do not understand an instruction? The best answer is that she asks. Silence and guessing lead to mistakes.
5. What do you enjoy cooking? This reveals her real strengths and what she is comfortable preparing day to day.
6. For childcare: tell me about the youngest child you have cared for. Listen for age, tasks, routines, and how she handled difficult moments.
7. For eldercare: have you assisted with bathing or mobility? A direct question deserves a direct, specific answer.

What to observe beyond the answers

How she behaves in the interview can tell you as much as what she says.

• Eye contact: comfortable, not fixed, and not constantly avoiding you
• Listening carefully: does she wait for the question to finish and respond to what you asked
• Asking her own questions: a helper who asks about the household and routines is thinking seriously about the job
• Warmth and manner: how she speaks about previous employers and the people she cared for

Remember that cultural differences and nerves affect all of these. Look for patterns rather than single moments.

Red flags to watch for

No candidate is perfect, but some patterns deserve a closer look before you decide.

• Contradictory answers, where details change as you ask follow-up questions
• Very vague recollections of recent work, with no names, tasks, or routines
• Reluctance to discuss why she left her previous employer
• Strong reactions to simple questions, or an unwillingness to answer at all

If something feels off, say so to your agency. A good agency would rather clarify a concern before placement than after.

See our full interview questions guide

Common questions