Leonard Ng | Updated: March 23, 2026
Hiring a domestic helper in Singapore is one of the most important decisions you’ll make for your household. The bio on a profile can tell you about her experience and skills — but the interview is your only chance to assess her honesty, attitude, and whether she’ll genuinely fit into your family’s daily life.
Whether you’re conducting a video call interview or meeting in person, this guide gives you 33 essential questions to ask, tips on what good answers look like, and the red flag responses that should make you think twice.
Before you start, make sure you’ve also read our guide on red flags to watch for when interviewing a helper — it pairs directly with this list.
These opening questions help you get a baseline picture of who she is, her work history, and whether her situation is stable. Pay attention not just to what she says, but how she says it – confidence, clarity and honesty matter here.
1. What is your name? How old are you? Simple and warm. It breaks the ice and confirms what’s on her profile.
2. Where are you from? What languages do you speak? Important for communication. If your household speaks Mandarin or has elderly parents who don’t speak English, language ability is critical. Follow up: “Can you give me an example sentence in Mandarin/English?”
3. How many years have you worked as a domestic helper? Cross-check against her profile. If she says “6 years” but her work history shows gaps, ask about them.
4. Why did you leave your last job? This is one of the most revealing questions. A good answer is specific and neutral – “My employer relocated to the UK” or “The contract ended naturally.” Watch for excessive blame of the previous employer. See Red Flags section below.
5. What work did you do for your last employer? Listen for specificity. A helper who can describe her daily routine in detail (“I started at 6:30am, prepared breakfast for the children, sent them to school by 7:15am…”) is telling the truth. Vague answers suggest embellishment.
6. Are you comfortable following house rules? This sounds obvious but it sets the tone immediately. A confident “Yes, I prefer clear rules – can you tell me more about yours?” is a great answer.
7. Are you comfortable sharing a room if needed? Important to clarify early to avoid surprises on Day 1.
Domestic skills are the core of the role. Don’t just ask “can you cook” – ask her to demonstrate her knowledge with specifics.
8. Can you clean the house thoroughly? Follow up: “How do you clean a bathroom? What products do you use?” A helper who knows the difference between cleaning a toilet bowl versus cleaning tiles versus wiping counters has real experience.
9. How do you clean a kitchen after cooking? The kitchen is the highest-effort area. Good answer: wipes down surfaces, cleans the stove, mops the floor, empties the bin. Weak answer: “I just wipe everything.”
10. Can you wash and iron clothes properly? Ask specifically: “Have you ironed formal shirts and office wear?” and “How do you handle delicate fabrics?” This matters if you wear work clothing.
11. Can you cook? What cuisines can you prepare? Don’t accept “yes” alone. Ask her to name 3 specific dishes she’s confident cooking. If she claims to cook Singaporean food, ask: “Can you cook char kway teow from scratch or do you need a packet sauce?”
12. Can you follow a recipe or learn new dishes? A good helper will say yes and give an example of a dish she learned on the job. A concerning answer: “I only cook what I know.”
13. Can you do grocery shopping independently? Important if you need her to go to the market or NTUC alone. Follow up: “Are you comfortable using a budget and giving receipts?”
If she’ll be responsible for your children, these questions are non-negotiable. The answers reveal whether her experience is real or rehearsed. Browse our childcare-experienced helpers if this is a priority for your household.
14. Have you cared for a baby or young child before? Ask for specifics: ages of children, how long, what her daily routine was with them.
15. Can you prepare milk feeds and change diapers? A helper with real infant experience will answer confidently and may add details like “I always sterilised the bottles after each feed.”
16. How do you bathe a baby safely? Listen for safety awareness: water temperature check, support of the baby’s head, never leaving the baby unattended. A vague answer here is a red flag.
17. What will you do if a baby cries for a long time and you can’t calm her? This is a scenario question — there is no single right answer, but a safe and honest one looks like: “I would check if she’s hungry, has a dirty diaper, or has a temperature. If I can’t calm her after trying, I would call you immediately.” The wrong answer: “I would just carry her until she stops.”
18. How do you keep children safe at home? Look for awareness of basics: socket covers, keeping cleaning products locked away, never leaving a child near water unattended.
19. How do you handle a naughty or defiant child? This is where values show. The right answer involves patience, distraction, and communication with the parents. The wrong answer involves any mention of physical discipline.
Elderly care requires patience, physical ability, and genuine empathy. If your parents or in-laws will be under her care, these questions are critical. You can also browse helpers experienced in elderly care directly.
20. Have you cared for an elderly person before? Ask for details: what was their condition, how mobile were they, what was her daily routine with them?
21. Can you help an elderly person walk, transfer from bed to wheelchair, or move around? If the person has mobility issues, physical capability matters. Ask if she’s comfortable with this physically.
22. Can you remind them to take medication and keep a record? This requires responsibility and attention to detail. A good answer: “I kept a medication chart and ticked it off after every dose.”
23. Can you help with bathing, dressing, and feeding? These are intimate tasks. Look for a calm, matter-of-fact response – not discomfort or hesitation.
24. Do you know how to check blood pressure or sugar levels? Not all helpers will have this skill, but those who’ve cared for diabetic or hypertensive patients often do. It’s a bonus, not a requirement.
Skills can be taught. Attitude cannot. These questions reveal character.
25. What will you do if you make a mistake or break something? The only correct answer is: “I will tell you immediately and honestly.” Any answer involving hiding mistakes, blaming others, or making excuses is a serious red flag.
26. How do you handle stress or a very busy day? Look for self-awareness and coping strategies. “I take a deep breath, prioritise what needs to be done first, and if I’m struggling I will let you know” is a mature answer.
27. Are you comfortable working in a household with strict rules? Most experienced helpers will say yes. Ask for an example of a strict rule from a previous household that she followed.
28. Do you genuinely enjoy working as a domestic helper? Sounds soft, but attitude towards the job matters enormously for long-term fit. A helper who says “I find meaning in taking care of families” will approach the role very differently from one who is purely motivated by the salary.
29. Are you comfortable caring for pets? If you have a dog, cat, or other animals, this is essential to ask. Some helpers have genuine fears or cultural objections to certain animals.
Cover these clearly to avoid misunderstandings later. Check the latest maid salary guide for Singapore before the interview so you know the current market rates.
30. What monthly salary are you expecting? Know the market rate before you ask. Don’t lowball — experienced transfer helpers in Singapore typically expect $650–$800/month depending on experience and nationality.
31. Are you comfortable working on Sundays or public holidays if needed, with a day off in lieu or extra pay? MOM requires compensation for rest day work. Make sure she understands this is a legal requirement, not a favour.
32. Are you willing to learn new skills or take on new responsibilities? Helpful for growing households. A good helper will say yes and give an example of something she learned in a previous role.
33. When can you start? For transfer helpers already in Singapore, this is often 1–2 weeks. For helpers overseas, factor in processing time.
Even a well-structured interview can be undermined if you don’t know what warning signs to look for. Here are the answers that should make you pause:
“My last employer was terrible / didn’t treat me well.” One bad experience can happen to anyone. But if every previous employer is described negatively, the common denominator may not be the employers.
“Yes, I can do everything” with no specifics. An honest helper will acknowledge limitations. Someone who agrees to everything without hesitation is often just telling you what you want to hear.
“I would handle it myself / I wouldn’t bother you.” In childcare or elderly care scenarios, a helper who wouldn’t call you in an emergency is dangerous. You want someone who communicates proactively.
Vague or shifting answers about why she left her last job. If her story changes, or she becomes defensive when you probe, she may be hiding a termination for misconduct.
Asking about phone usage, curfews, or Wi-Fi before asking about the job. Some upfront negotiation is normal and healthy. But if her first questions are about personal freedoms rather than the role itself, her priorities may not align with yours.
For a deeper look at interview warning signs, read our full guide: 7 Red Flags When Interviewing a Domestic Helper.
Once you’ve found a helper you’re confident in, here’s what comes next:
Ready to start interviewing? Browse verified helpers in Singapore – filter by nationality, experience, skills, testimonials and availability. Contact them directly via WhatsApp or call. No agency fees, no middleman.
Leonard started Employhelpers.com to make hiring a domestic helper simpler, fairer, and more affordable. He helps families skip agency markups by connecting directly with domestic helpers.
Hire Directly. Save Thousands.
Browse trusted helpers available today with no agency fees
Related Articles
English English 
Indonesian
Tagalog
