Before you meet candidates, this tool helps you get clear on two things: what your household actually needs, and how to ask questions that surface real answers, not rehearsed ones.
Many helpers from the Philippines, Indonesia, and Myanmar are practised in reading what an employer wants to hear. That's a skill, not dishonesty. The questions in this guide are designed to be harder to game: they ask for stories, decisions, and reactions, not opinions about what good looks like.
In many cultures, "yes" means "I hear you", not "I can do that" or "I agree." It is a sign of respect and attention, not confirmation. If you ask "Can you cook Western food?" and hear "yes," follow up with "Walk me through the last Western meal you cooked." The story tells you what the yes actually meant.
Pick the 3 to 5 values that matter most in your home. Be honest, not aspirational. These shape the questions your candidate needs to answer.
Now pick the 3 to 5 values that matter most in the working relationship with your helper.
Most household friction starts not with the helper, but with what was never said. Sit with these three questions first.
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Work through the sections in order — they build rapport before going specific. Print this and take it into the interview.
We tend to feel comfortable with people who remind us of ourselves. That feeling is not the same as fit. After each section, ask: am I evaluating this person against my values, or against my gut reaction to them?
Ask the previous employer: "Would you hire them again, and why?" You already know what this candidate expects them to say. See if it matches.
HelperCoach helps families set their helper up for success, from the interview to the first 90 days.
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