Top Tips for Hiring Household Staff

The stakes are high when you’re hiring someone to work in your home. You need them to be trustworthy but also to have the skills to get the job done, whether you’re hiring a housekeeper, nanny, personal assistant, private chef, chauffeur, or other domestic professional. How do you find that employee who will be a perfect fit for your family? Use these top tips for hiring domestic workers from our household staffing specialists.

Establish Your Priorities

Before you launch your employee search, you need to know what you’re looking for. List your priorities for your new employee, including:

• The work you want them to do for you and the skills you want them to have
• The experience you want them to have
• The type of employment arrangement you want, such as a live-in vs. offsite employee, full-time vs. part-time, and so on

It’s critical to know what you want from the employee and be able to communicate it upfront so both you and the candidates can know whether they will be a good fit.

Hire a Domestic Staffing Agency

Truth be told, hiring household staff is a challenge, especially if you’re new to the task. Many families hire household employees because they want relief from their busy schedules, so it’s difficult to find the time to find employees in the first place.

A domestic staffing agency can make a monumental difference. The agency takes all the hard work off your plate: creating a job posting, sourcing candidates, screening candidates, verifying references and qualifications, and so on. Not only will you get the staff you need without investing your limited time, but you’re likely to get a better employee because the staffing agency knows what to look for.

Consult with Your Accountant in Advance

The hiring market for top household staff can be competitive, so it’s important to be sure that when you find the right candidate, you’re ready to make them a prompt offer. Consult with your accountant about any essentials you need to have in place before you can hire a new staff member. Unless this is your first household employee, you likely already have an EIN and other necessities in place, but your accountant can be sure that everything is in order so you can hire your top candidates while they are available.

Allow Time to Assess a New Employee’s Skills on the Job

When hiring a new team member for your household, how long will it take to determine if they are the right fit? This will depend on the position.

When you hire a housekeeper, for instance, you will be able to assess their cleaning skills well after just a day or two.  On the other hand, when you hire a nanny, you’ll want to allow time for the nanny and your children to get to know one another. This can take a month or longer.

Starting Your Household Staffing Process

When you’re ready to begin your search for a new employee who will give you more free time and peace of mind, we can help. Contact Joanna Gray Agency for all your US domestic staffing needs.