Most interviews with a helper are short, usually by video call, and often a little awkward on both sides. You have perhaps 20 to 30 minutes to judge whether this person will be living in your home for the next two years.

The good news is that the right maid interview questions do most of the work. We started in 2004 in executive search, where interviewing is the job, and the same rule holds here: ask about real situations, not opinions, and listen to how the answer is given as much as what is said.

Before the call

Read the biodata first. Note gaps between contracts, the ages of children or elderly she has cared for, and any duties that match your household.
Write down your three must-haves. For example: experience with a toddler, comfortable with a dog, able to cook simple Chinese meals.
Plan for language. Speak slowly and use short sentences. If English is limited, ask us to join the call to help.

Questions about her experience

"Tell me about a day in your last job." A helper who has done the work will describe it in order and in detail: what time she woke, who she cooked for, when the children went to school. Vague answers ("I do everything") are common from nerves, so ask a follow-up before you judge.

"How old were the children (or the elderly person) you looked after?" Caring for a newborn is very different from minding a seven-year-old. Match her experience to your actual need, not to the word "childcare" on the biodata.

"Why did you leave your last employer?" Ordinary reasons include the family moving overseas, the elderly person passing away, or the contract completed/ending. Listen for whether her story matches the biodata. If it does not, that is worth a gentle second question rather than an immediate disqualification.

Questions about real situations

These tell you the most. There is rarely one right answer; you are looking for calm, sensible thinking.

"What would you do if the baby keeps crying and will not settle down?" Good answers mention checking for hunger, diaper, temperature, then calling you if it continues.
"If Grandma is uncooperative or frustrated and refuses to shower, what would you do?" Look for patience: trying again later, explaining slowly, telling the family. Be wary of anything that sounds like forcing but also be mindful of language barriers.
"What would you do if you broke something in the house?" You want to hear "tell you straight away". This one question says a lot about honesty.
"If you are not sure how to do something I asked, what do you do?" A helper who will ask is easier to work with than one who guesses.

For care-specific questions, see our guides on hiring a helper for elderly care and hiring a helper for a newborn or infant.

Questions about living together

"Are you comfortable with [a pet / a shared room / cooking non-halal food]?" Raise anything that might be a deal-breaker for her now, not after she arrives.
"What do you usually do on your rest day?" This is a friendly way to talk about rest days early. Be clear about what you are offering.
"Do you have any questions for us?" This is a open question for helpers to ask about the family, the duties or the household. Not asking any questions is common, and we'd usually give them time to think about any further questions they may have after the interview.

What the answers tell you

Look less for polished English and more for these signs:

Specific detail. Real experience comes with names, age and routines.
Consistency. Her answers match the biodata's personal and work history.
Honesty about limits. "I have not cooked Western food, but I am willing to learn" is a better answer than yes to everything.
Warmth. Watch how she talks about past employers and the people she cared for.

Remember she is likely nervous, may be speaking her second or third language, and is often on a phone in a shared space. A quiet interview is not the same as a poor helper.

Questions to avoid

Keep to the job. Avoid personal questions about religion or relationships, and do not ask her to perform tasks on camera. Questions like these rarely tell you anything useful and can make a good candidate uncomfortable.

How we help

Every household is different, and this is a general guide. If you would like, we can arrange the interview, join the call to help with language, and share what we know about the candidate from our own screening.

Speak to our team about hiring a helper on WhatsApp. For the full hiring process, start with our guide on how to hire a maid in Singapore.

This guide is general information only. For current rules on employing a migrant domestic worker, refer to the Ministry of Manpower at https://www.mom.gov.sg.

Maid Interview Questions and What the Answers Tell You