TheQuasimother
Registered User
Congratulations Thanka! Glad that it worked out for you 
Arrow really hit the spot for us!
- Thread starter thanka2
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age?
Congratulations. How old is this helper? I am planning to hire my first helper and is now gathering information on what to look for and how to look for one.
Congratulations. How old is this helper? I am planning to hire my first helper and is now gathering information on what to look for and how to look for one.
Our helper is actually on 31 but she has a 9-year-old and 4-year-old son so she is experienced. Make sure you have some sort of face interview--we had ours over Skype and that was the best way to determine for us if she was suitable. Also, ask tough and specific questions and notice the answering style. Good luck!
List of questions to hire helpers?
I just want to say "thank you" to thanka2 - I'm a newbie to HK and need to hire a DH ASAP so I can return to work part time....seems to be a mine field and so all the help I can get the better! Posts more than helpful - I am going to contact Arrow and see what they can offer me!
BTW does anyone have a list of questions they asked when interviewing their helpers? I haven't ever hired DH - we had a cleaner in UK but its very different when you will have someone living with you and looking after your baby!
I just want to say "thank you" to thanka2 - I'm a newbie to HK and need to hire a DH ASAP so I can return to work part time....seems to be a mine field and so all the help I can get the better! Posts more than helpful - I am going to contact Arrow and see what they can offer me!
BTW does anyone have a list of questions they asked when interviewing their helpers? I haven't ever hired DH - we had a cleaner in UK but its very different when you will have someone living with you and looking after your baby!
Nashua852
Registered User
Some suggestions;
- Why do you want to work in HK
- How involved were you in the day to day care of previous employers kids
- what sort of food did you prepare for the children (this gets a better response than below question)
- What kind of food have you cooked in the past?
- Scenario questions:
If I were hurt would you call my husband or an ambulance first? - Mean, but a common sense tester.
- What are your expectations; food allowance/ eat with the family, if you live further out - do they expect non work related travel allowance? (are you happy to provide this?)
- Is there a household chore that you do not like to do / not as fond of?
- Do you have any medical problems that may affect your health (eg back problems) when taking care of a small child?
Think of what is important to you and your family and it should flow easily.
- Why do you want to work in HK
- How involved were you in the day to day care of previous employers kids
- what sort of food did you prepare for the children (this gets a better response than below question)
- What kind of food have you cooked in the past?
- Scenario questions:
If I were hurt would you call my husband or an ambulance first? - Mean, but a common sense tester.
- What are your expectations; food allowance/ eat with the family, if you live further out - do they expect non work related travel allowance? (are you happy to provide this?)
- Is there a household chore that you do not like to do / not as fond of?
- Do you have any medical problems that may affect your health (eg back problems) when taking care of a small child?
Think of what is important to you and your family and it should flow easily.
Nashua852
Registered User
I want to add that Im not exactly crazy about Arrow's administrative skills or lack thereof. You will need to be persistent.
However, they generally attract good helpers and this is why I still recommend them.
I have friends who have not been thrilled with them overall but ended up with helpers that have been a good fit for their family so the frustration hasn't panned out in the long run
However, they generally attract good helpers and this is why I still recommend them.
I have friends who have not been thrilled with them overall but ended up with helpers that have been a good fit for their family so the frustration hasn't panned out in the long run
Capocelli.
Here are the questions I asked our current helper:
1. Tell me an example of one Philippines dish and one American dish and one Chinese dish you know how to make. Tell me the basic ingredients and how you would make it.
2. What is your impression of Chinese people? What are Chinese people like? What is your impression of American people? What are American people like?
3. My son doesn't want to take a nap in the afternoon. Tell me what you would you do?
4. What do you think of this statement: "It is better to have good discipline for children even if that means you make them uphappy."
5. Why do you want to come to Hong Kong to work?
6. What is the biggest problem you are going to face when coming to Hong Kong to work?
7. How do you plan to deal with the fact that you are leaving your own children to come here to work?
8. Why do you think you are the absolute best person to work for our family?
These questions were designed to tease out information about things we felt are important to us. Just by her response to these questions (unlike the other candidates we interviewed, she knew how to give a direct and appropriate response to the question and follow up with "Did I answer your question well?") I could tell immediately that this helper was "switched on"--she was ambitious and had street smarts and common sense--which to me are the top two things we need in a helper. Our previous helper was a bit of a "dim bulb"--never really running at full capacity.
Our new helper is BRILLIANT--I am just looking for a savvy woman to work beside me in running my household, well, because, I consider myself to be pretty savvy and I just can't be bothered to deal with someone who doesn't have their wits about them.
Good luck!
Here are the questions I asked our current helper:
1. Tell me an example of one Philippines dish and one American dish and one Chinese dish you know how to make. Tell me the basic ingredients and how you would make it.
2. What is your impression of Chinese people? What are Chinese people like? What is your impression of American people? What are American people like?
3. My son doesn't want to take a nap in the afternoon. Tell me what you would you do?
4. What do you think of this statement: "It is better to have good discipline for children even if that means you make them uphappy."
5. Why do you want to come to Hong Kong to work?
6. What is the biggest problem you are going to face when coming to Hong Kong to work?
7. How do you plan to deal with the fact that you are leaving your own children to come here to work?
8. Why do you think you are the absolute best person to work for our family?
These questions were designed to tease out information about things we felt are important to us. Just by her response to these questions (unlike the other candidates we interviewed, she knew how to give a direct and appropriate response to the question and follow up with "Did I answer your question well?") I could tell immediately that this helper was "switched on"--she was ambitious and had street smarts and common sense--which to me are the top two things we need in a helper. Our previous helper was a bit of a "dim bulb"--never really running at full capacity.
Our new helper is BRILLIANT--I am just looking for a savvy woman to work beside me in running my household, well, because, I consider myself to be pretty savvy and I just can't be bothered to deal with someone who doesn't have their wits about them.
Good luck!
rani
Administrator
My last update to this thread was over six months ago and I just wanted to say that our current helper is still amazing and doing a fantastic job. We haven't had any real problems with her thus far and when we've had issues or misunderstandings she is completely willing and able to talk about them and correct the problem. She's very mature and pleasant to be around and on top of that extremely responsible. I hope that everyone searching for a good helper can find someone similar to her! What a blessing!
It's true
I am now on the process of hiring a helper through ARROW.
From day one they have been very helpful and kind.
My husband and i went to their office to interview through Skype, a few ladies the agency thought would meet our needs. We had given ARROW our requirement and family background in advance.
They gave us a lot of time to answer our questions and make suggestions to our current situation.
The first attempt of interviews did no succeed, nor the second.
Still ARROW was subtly keeping us posted and asked how our quest was going.
What impressed me most was how they were honest to give us feedbacks on the ladies who were in training. The agent would know what we are looking for and tell us if there would be ladies who would want to work for us.
If the agent in the Philippines finds a suitable candidate, ARROW would let us know and we can arrange for a Skype interview.
This is what I really appreciate. The candidate can see the employer and she can choose to take the job or not. I found it very uncomfortable to do "catalogue shopping" for helpers in other agencies. So doing a Skype interview is much more humane.
So at last, on our third attempt we have found a helper we would like to have in our family.
I do suggest ARROW to help you find a helper. Try, and you will know what I mean.
I am now on the process of hiring a helper through ARROW.
From day one they have been very helpful and kind.
My husband and i went to their office to interview through Skype, a few ladies the agency thought would meet our needs. We had given ARROW our requirement and family background in advance.
They gave us a lot of time to answer our questions and make suggestions to our current situation.
The first attempt of interviews did no succeed, nor the second.
Still ARROW was subtly keeping us posted and asked how our quest was going.
What impressed me most was how they were honest to give us feedbacks on the ladies who were in training. The agent would know what we are looking for and tell us if there would be ladies who would want to work for us.
If the agent in the Philippines finds a suitable candidate, ARROW would let us know and we can arrange for a Skype interview.
This is what I really appreciate. The candidate can see the employer and she can choose to take the job or not. I found it very uncomfortable to do "catalogue shopping" for helpers in other agencies. So doing a Skype interview is much more humane.
So at last, on our third attempt we have found a helper we would like to have in our family.
I do suggest ARROW to help you find a helper. Try, and you will know what I mean.
We are going to try to get a helper through Arrow as well. So far, not very impressed. They said they would e-mail and didn't, they said they would call back and didn't, and the one person we have interviewed so far was an emotional wreck. BUT, I have heard such positive things about them, I am hoping this was just a bump in the road and everything else will go more smoothly. Will update later one way or another.
Honkyblues
Registered User
Their office admin is pretty poor, and they didn't follow up on their promises to support our helper after she arrived (socially, emotionally) - but we did end up with a nice helper, and they were very honest during the interview process about different helpers strengths and weaknesses. Better than most agencies, but room for improvement.
I just thought yesterday it was unfair of them to make her interview when she was clearly still so shaken...kinda like advising someone to go on a date two days after a divorce. Who thinks that will go well? I thought they were pushing her too hard. But then today I got ahold of the HK labor guidelines and I realized after you get fired, you have only two weeks to find a new employer before you get booted out. It's really high pressure. So I can see why they had her interviewing so soon.
But then, if they KNEW this woman was crazy and had fired a bunch of helpers, why did they continue to do business with her? I reckon making 4-5 people an emotional wreck would be enough to want to cut ties.... I guess business is business and they cant train and screen clients like they can train and screen helpers. Pity.
But like I said, I will give them another chance because no one is perfect and if they are understaffed, that may explain some things.
But then, if they KNEW this woman was crazy and had fired a bunch of helpers, why did they continue to do business with her? I reckon making 4-5 people an emotional wreck would be enough to want to cut ties.... I guess business is business and they cant train and screen clients like they can train and screen helpers. Pity.
But like I said, I will give them another chance because no one is perfect and if they are understaffed, that may explain some things.
No, they're not perfect. I don't think the helper hiring process will ever be perfect. But they were the best I found out there after comparing various agencies.
They are honest and their heart is in the right place -- which is more than I can say for anyone else. They do offer some support / follow-up to their helpers -- though you have to remember that no agency can act as a guardian to these women.
We got our helper from Arrow, and we're very happy with her.
They are honest and their heart is in the right place -- which is more than I can say for anyone else. They do offer some support / follow-up to their helpers -- though you have to remember that no agency can act as a guardian to these women.
We got our helper from Arrow, and we're very happy with her.
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