From the time I gave birth to my daughter till last year I always had a helper with me since I was still working and a baby needs a lot of attention and I couldn’t manage doing all household chores with the limited time I have. 2007 till now we did not have a helper around the house. I was still able to manage since my daughter is five already so she’s a bit more independent compared before and I was also working from home with my fashion accessory business. I’ve been on the lookout for a helper since mid-last year but with not much luck and on the verge of giving up. A good and reliable househelp is really a gem and they are not easy to find.
I personally prefer helpers from personal referrals by friends and relatives rather than getting them through employment agencies. I’ve been contemplating checking employment agencies, but I am wary of being scammed.
A good friend suggests checking the agency’s background and understanding the contract before signing anything.
- is it tried and tested? better choose an agency referred by friends too.
- check government agencies like Department of Labor, Bureau of Internal Revenue if its a legitimate operation.
- do the candidates have NBI and medical clearances?
On deciding who to hire, evaluate the following:
- Skills and work experience. I prefer those with experience but alas those gems are hard to get by too. They should have the necessary skills since I don’t really have much time to supervise them.
- Personal Background. Ask about her family. Her education, etc. Is she the breadwinner? This will give you a clue on her maturity level and her expectations. From my experience, helpers who have small kids, would most often as for long vacations, advances etc.
- Physical appearance. I’m not suggesting you discriminate, but do weigh in if she is neat, is she dressed like a pop-star? If you’re looking for a baby-sitter, put great consideration on how your child would receive her.
my parents used to hire relatives (or a neigbor) from the provinces who need work. aside from the little allowance, my parents also send them to school so that they can at least complete high school education.
attitude and intelligence are also important factors in choosing helpers.
hope u can find a good one.
ceblogger, thanks for hopping by.. good and reliable helpers are hard to come by na talaga. i agree right attitude and intelligence are important factors most specially if they are going to handle kids.