The Assistant Company

Hiring Domestic Staff & Nannies: Interview Tips for Success

Hiring the right household professional requires more than reviewing a resume. The Assistant Company is a domestic staffing and nanny agency specializing in the placement of highly qualified Estate Managers, Personal Assistants, Executive Assistants, Butlers, Nannies, Housekeepers, and Private Chefs for private households and luxury estates.

We proudly serve clients in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Tucson, Arcadia, Biltmore, and surrounding Arizona communities, providing expert guidance to help you confidently interview, evaluate, and select the right candidate for your home and lifestyle.

There is a fine line between finding a qualified candidate and finding the right candidate.  Our search process ensures that each candidate sent forward will meet your initial requirements, but no one knows your specific needs better than you.  For this reason, your role in the selection process is paramount and requires a thought-out job description and detailed interview questions.  It is easier to arrive at your destination if you know where you want to go, so establish a clear set of expectations for the position before meeting with the candidate.  The Assistant Company is available to assist on a case-by-case basis, but general areas you may want to touch upon when meeting include:

Personal and Professional History:

Education and training?

Professional strengths and weakness?

Personal endeavors that may contribute to the position?

Find out the who/what/where/when/how of their last role?

Determine both the immediate and long-term professional and personal goals of the candidate you are interviewing.

Specific Job Requirements and Responsibilities:

Are there children involved?

Are there pets involved?

Does the candidate need a driver’s license and/or car?

Is the position live-in or live-out?                         

Will the candidate be asked to fill in for any other member of the staff?

Compensation and Criteria:

Hours required of the position

Flexibility required on the part of the candidate

Gross annual salary

Overtime policies

Benefits and vacation

Tax withholding policies

Chemistry :                                                 

Typically, you will be able to tell within the first three minutes of meeting a candidate if they are someone for you will feel comfortable having in your home or office.  

Regardless of previous work history, references and other tangible factors, often time you will just know when it's the right fit.

Selecting the right household professional is a highly personal decision. The Assistant Company is here to guide you through every step of the process, ensuring a thoughtful, discreet, and successful placement tailored to your unique needs.