How many household staff do you need?
Just like the houses they work in, household staff come in all sizes and structures. In this guide, we will help you put together a team that keeps your home…
If you’re thinking of hiring domestic staff to take on some of the burden of running a household, we can help.
In this blog we’ll take you through each step of the hiring process, from identifying your household support needs, to creating a job description, interviewing, and finally recruiting experienced staff.
1. Assess Business Needs
Everyone’s household needs are different, and to ensure you’re spending money in the right place when hiring domestic staff, you should do a full assessment of your personal needs before approaching a domestic recruitment agency.
2. Identifying the specific roles and responsibilities you require
The needs of your household will inform the type of staff you hire. Your requirements may be any combination of the following:
- Chauffeuring
- Childcare
- Cleaning
- Close protection
- Cooking
- Estate management
- Gardening
- Groundskeeping
- House management
- Laundry
You will need to learn which roles can cover these tasks. Read our blog on how many household staff to hire to find out more.
3. Creating Job Descriptions
An accurate and detailed job description is one of the most effective tools when hiring domestic staff. Recruitment consultants will help you finesse the document to target the most relevant, experienced candidates.
4. Advertise Job
With your job description ready you can now work with your recruitment agency to craft an appealing job advert. This will include the description, as well as details of salary, benefits, and a small amount about the household they would be working within. Job adverts will typically be posted on your recruiter’s own jobs board and, with your permission, partner job boards they work with.
5. Screen resumes
As applications for your domestic role begin to come in, your recruitment consultant will build a shortlist of the best candidates, cutting out any that lack the relevant experience. To decide which of these shortlisted candidates to interview, you will need to screen their resumes carefully, something your consultant will be able to assist with. Check for relevant experience, skills, values, and previous employers who could be contacted for referrals. You should also run a criminal record check on all applicants before progressing to the interview stage. For more information, read our guide on how to screen resumes.
6. Interviews
By this point you should have a strong understanding of a candidate’s employment history and skillset. The interview is a chance to get a better idea of their values, and to test some of those skills. As domestic staff will have close contact with your personal life, it is best practice to conduct face-to-face, or at least video call interviews, to find out whether you feel comfortable with them.
7. Recruiting Candidates
When you have made your choice on a new employee for your household you will need a formal contract to finalize the recruitment process. If this is your first time employing someone, we can help with writing your contract. Remember, you should still consult a lawyer to be sure the contract is legally binding.
Tiger also offers a payroll and contract service, which can take on much of this work and give you some distance from employees, if you prefer more privacy.
8. Onboarding Candidates
The final step in hiring domestic staff is the onboarding process. With household support, this will involve basics such as orienting them around the property, drawing up their schedule, and laying down any ground rules to follow while they are on-site. If you hire a house manager or butler, much of the training and onboarding process for other household staff will then be handled by them.
Managing Your Domestic Staff
Household employees require ongoing management, and this aspect of hiring domestic staff should be planned for well in advance. If the daily admin becomes too much work as the domestic team grows, it’s advisable to hire a house manager or butler.
Looking To Recruit Domestic Staff
Whether you’re looking for housekeepers, butlers, or gardeners, temporary or permanent, we can provide you with exceptional staff. Our expert team will advise on hiring for any role and any property type, so please get in touch with your requirements and we will be happy to set up a consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of household staff are commonly hired?
The most commonly hired household staff are housekeepers and nannies. Housekeepers are able to perform a range of duties, such as cleaning and cooking, making them an affordable option for small- to mid-sized properties. Specialist domestic staff such as butlers, gardeners, estate managers and close protection are less common.
How do I create a job description for domestic staff?
A job description for domestic staff should include details of their duties, the type and size of the property they will be working in, the terms of employment, (temporary, permanent, full-time, part-time), and the living arrangements of the owners (how many occupants, whether there are children or pets).
How do I find qualified domestic staff candidates?
The best way to find qualified domestic staff for your household is to work with a domestic staff recruitment agency. They can advise you on the type of staff you need, assist in creating the job advert and posting it on job listing websites, and screening potential candidates to find the best fit. Speak to our consultants to find out more about our recruiting process.
How do I conduct effective interviews with domestic staff candidates?
To conduct effective interviews with domestic staff you should first have a full understanding of what will be expected from the member of staff. Write a checklist and ensure each of the following is clear in your mind:
- Tasks to be covered by the domestic employee (have a job description ready)
- Terms of employment (start date, hours of work, permanent/temporary, part-time/full-time)
- Salary
- Vacation allowance
- Any non-negotiable house rules
You should also set your limits for any negotiable aspects such as salary, bonus, sick pay etc.
What should I look for in a domestic staffing agency?
It is best practice to partner with a domestic staffing agency with dedicated specialist consultants, and especially ones with experience of working in domestic roles. These consultants will work to your specific brief and have a deep knowledge of the type of staff that would best suit your needs.
