Every helper candidate will tell you she can cook, clean, care for babies, handle elderly relatives, work long hours, and never complain. The challenge isn't finding someone who says yes to everything — it's finding someone who's telling the truth and who's genuinely a good fit for your household.
These 20 questions are designed to go beyond rehearsed answers and reveal what you actually need to know before making a hiring decision.
Before the Interview: Know What You Need
Before you ask a single question, be clear on your non-negotiables:
- Is childcare the primary duty or housework?
- What's the age of your youngest child?
- Do you need someone who can cook specific cuisines?
- Are there pets in the house?
- Are there elderly family members with specific care needs?
- What's your communication style — hands-off or detailed instructions? Knowing these upfront means you can focus interview time on what matters most.
Part 1: Background and Experience (5 Questions)
1. "Can you walk me through your last job — what did a typical day look like?"
A genuine answer includes specific times, specific tasks, and specific details about the family. A rehearsed answer is vague: "I do everything — cooking, cleaning, baby." Push for details.
2. "Why did you leave your last employer?"
Listen carefully. "Contract ended" or "employer relocated" is neutral. "The employer was bad" or vague evasion may signal issues. The best answers are honest and specific.
3. "What ages were the children you cared for, and what did you do with them daily?"
If childcare matters to you, this question exposes real experience versus claimed experience. Someone who actually cared for a toddler can describe nap schedules, feeding routines, and playground supervision in detail.
4. "What appliances have you used before?"
Washing machine, microwave, oven, vacuum, rice cooker, dishwasher, induction stove — go through the list. Many helpers from rural areas have never used certain appliances. This isn't a dealbreaker, but it tells you how much training to expect.
5. "Do you have any health conditions or allergies?"
This is important for both sides. Chronic back pain, for example, will affect cleaning and childcare physically.
Part 2: Scenario Questions (5 Questions)
These questions test how she thinks, not what she knows.
6. "The baby is crying and won't stop, and the doorbell rings. What do you do?"
A good answer: picks up or secures the baby first, then addresses the door. A worrying answer: leaves the baby to answer the door.
7. "You accidentally break a glass while cleaning. What do you do?"
What you want to hear: "I clean it up immediately and tell you." What's concerning: hesitation or a history of hiding mistakes.
8. "You're cooking dinner and the child falls and bumps her head. What's your first action?"
Prioritizing the child over the cooking is the only correct answer. This also reveals basic first-aid awareness.
9. "You finish all your tasks early. What do you do?"
"I rest" is honest but not ideal. "I look for other things to do" suggests initiative. The best answer shows awareness that there's always something to tidy, organize, or prepare.
10. "You disagree with an instruction I give you. How do you handle it?"
You want someone who can respectfully voice a concern — not someone who silently resents instructions, and not someone who argues back.
Part 3: Attitude and Compatibility (5 Questions)
11. "What was the hardest part about your last job?"
This reveals self-awareness and honesty. Everyone has struggles. A helper who says "nothing was hard" is either lying or lacks the ability to reflect.
12. "What do you do on your rest day?"
This is a soft question that reveals personality. Does she meet friends, attend church, go shopping, sleep? All fine — you're just getting to know who she is as a person.
13. "How do you feel about phone usage rules during work hours?"
If phone use is important to you (and it usually is), ask directly. Her reaction tells you how she'll respond to boundaries.
14. "When you come home from outside, what's the first thing you do?"
This is a hygiene indicator. "Wash my hands" is the answer you want. If she doesn't mention it, that tells you something about her baseline habits.
15. "On a scale of 1 to 10, how clean do you think you are?"
A surprisingly revealing question. Most will say 8–9. Follow up with: "What would make it a 10?" Her answer shows self-awareness.
Part 4: Practical Assessment (5 Questions)
16. "Can you show me how you would wash these dishes?"
If the interview is at home or at the agency with a sink available, this takes 2 minutes and reveals more than 20 minutes of talking.
17. "Please fold this towel."
Simple, fast, and immediately shows attention to detail.
18. "What would you cook for a family dinner with [your dietary preferences]?"
Don't just ask if she can cook. Ask for a specific menu. A helper with real cooking experience can rattle off dishes immediately.
19. "Can you read this instruction label for me?" (in English)
Hand her a medicine box, a cleaning product, or a food label. This tests functional English — not conversational English, which can be faked.
20. "Do you have any questions for me?"
A helper who asks questions about the household (how many rooms, how old the children are, what time dinner is) is showing genuine interest. A helper with zero questions may just want any job, anywhere.
Red Flags to Watch For
- Can't provide details about previous employment — may be fabricating experience
- Speaks negatively about every previous employer — pattern of conflict
- Avoids eye contact or seems overly rehearsed — may be coached by the agency
- Claims to do everything perfectly — no one is perfect; lack of self-awareness is a red flag
- Extremely eager to start immediately without asking about the household — may be desperate rather than genuinely interested
Green Flags
- Asks specific questions about your children or household — genuine interest
- Describes challenges honestly — self-aware and mature
- Has a calm demeanor — important for childcare especially
- Offers practical details unprompted — knows what she's talking about
- Maintains eye contact and speaks clearly — confidence and honesty
The Trial Day Option
Some employers invite the top candidate for a half-day trial (2–4 hours) before finalizing. This is not common in Singapore but is increasingly accepted.
During a trial:
- Observe how she interacts with your children (if applicable)
- Have her do a basic cleaning task
- Watch how she navigates the kitchen
- Offer a drink and see if she washes the cup without being asked Compensation: S$10–20 for the visit plus transport costs. Most candidates will decline payment, but offering it is respectful.
How HelperMate Helps After You Hire
Once you've found the right helper, HelperMate helps you set the foundation for a structured working relationship from day one:
- Setup Wizard — guided household setup and task templates
- Shared schedule — clear expectations in your helper's language
- MOM compliance tracking — medical exams, work permit, insurance alerts A good hire is only the beginning. A good system is what makes it last.
Download HelperMate on Google Play → | App Store →
This guide reflects general best practices for helper interviews in Singapore. For specific MOM employment requirements, refer to the official MOM website. This article is for informational purposes only.