by Kevin Mcinturff

Created on: September 02, 2008   Last Updated: October 07, 2008

While working as a manager for a janitorial service, I was required to hire many people to perform the same duties as a maid in a residential environment. Although cleaning is a demanding task, the criterion applied when hiring an individual has more to do with other qualities than their ability to perform the work. The follow is a set of guidelines we used when considering people for open positions:

Work ethic: The candidate needs to have an attitude of performing the work quickly and efficiently without constant supervision.

Honesty: A very important factor. The person needs to be able to be trusted not to pilfer or go through other's personal items.

Punctuality: They need to show up on time ready to work everyday.

Consistency: Their work should be performed to a certain standard on a daily basis.

Respect: The person should show respect to managers and other employees.

When selecting a candidate, references are necessary. Three references are important; two are a must have. During the interview, I need to determine what their attitude will be concerning the work and their pay. I ask about previous jobs and how things went with who they worked for earlier. Were they happy or were there problems? I ask about their transportation situation. I make sure they understand the job requirements and expectations and most importantly, I ask why they want to work for me. If they are sure of their reasons, then I feel more confident about hiring them.

Hiring a maid is more about trust than the work. Inviting someone into your home to work around your family requires someone you can feel comfortable with. With a little discernment, you should find the right person to fit your needs.

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