Maid Interview Questions — What to Ask Before You Hire
The video interview is the single most important moment in hiring a domestic helper — more important than the biodata, more important than the nationality, more important than the agency's recommendation. It is the only time you can assess the specific person you are about to bring into your home and trust with your family. The questions in this guide, drawn from three decades of placements at Agensi Pekerjaan PMA Sdn Bhd, cover the areas where clarity now prevents problems later.
How the Video Interview Works at PMA
After reviewing the biodata of shortlisted candidates, you choose who to interview. PMA contacts the source-country agency to schedule the video call — usually via WhatsApp or Zoom. You join from your side; the candidate joins from hers, typically at the source-country agency's office or a facility arranged for this purpose.
A PMA consultant can be on the call to facilitate translation or clarification if the language gap is significant. For Indonesian candidates, most Malay-speaking employers find direct communication workable. For Filipino candidates, the interview typically runs in English.
After the interview, take a few minutes to write down your impression while it is fresh. If you are interviewing two or three candidates, a simple notes document prevents the candidates from blurring together.
Before the Interview — What to Have Ready
- Her biodata — printed or on screen so you can refer to specific items
- A list of your household's main tasks and who needs care
- The dishes your family eats most often
- Any medical or mobility information about the person she would be caring for
- Your proposed rest-day arrangement and working hours
- A notepad or document open to record answers
Do not read questions off a list like a job interview checklist. Let the conversation flow naturally, and use this guide to make sure you have covered each area before you end the call.
Work Experience and Employment History
The biodata tells you where she worked. The interview tells you what that work actually involved. A candidate who worked "in Malaysia for 3 years" may have cared for two elderly grandparents alone, or she may have been one of three helpers in a large house. The specifics matter.
1"Tell me about your most recent job. What did a typical day look like?"
Listen for: specific tasks, not vague descriptions. "I cleaned, cooked, looked after the baby" is a starting point — follow up with "What time did you start? How many meals a day did you cook?"
2"How many employers have you had, and how long did you stay with each?"
Cross-check against the biodata. Discrepancies deserve a gentle follow-up, not an accusation. Short stints (under 6 months) should be explained.
3"Why did you leave your last employer?"
Listen for: specific, believable reasons (contract ended, family returned home, employer relocated, helper returned home for family reasons). Vague answers ("not happy" or "problems") warrant a follow-up: "Can you tell me a bit more about what happened?"
4"What was the most difficult part of that job?"
Self-awareness is a good sign. An answer that identifies a real challenge — a child with special needs, a household with very different food preferences, a communication gap — and describes how she handled it, tells you more than "nothing was difficult."
5"Have you ever had a disagreement or misunderstanding with an employer? What happened?"
You are not looking for a perfect "no conflict ever" answer — you are looking for how she handles it. Describing a misunderstanding that was resolved through communication is a healthy sign.
Cooking Questions
Cooking is the source of the most household friction in the first month. Be specific about what your family actually eats, and ask her to be specific in return.
6"What dishes can you cook? Give me three you are confident about."
A candidate who can name specific dishes — "nasi goreng, ayam masak merah, stir-fried vegetables" — is more credible than "I can cook anything." Follow up on at least one: "How do you make [dish]? What spices do you use?"
7"Our family often eats [specific dishes]. Have you cooked these before?"
Be specific. "Malaysian food" is too broad. Say "Penang laksa," "bak kut teh," "char kuey teow," "rendang," or whatever your family actually eats.
8"How comfortable are you learning new recipes? How do you like to learn — written recipe, watching once, or being shown step by step?"
Her answer helps you plan the first week. Some helpers learn fast from written recipes; others need a demonstration. Knowing this upfront lets you prepare accordingly.
9"We have a [halal / Chinese / vegetarian / other] kitchen. What does that mean for how you cook, and are you comfortable with that?"
For halal kitchens: an Indonesian Muslim helper will understand immediately. For non-halal kitchens: be explicit about whether the family eats pork and whether she is expected to handle it.
10"What food do you personally eat? Any allergies or strong dislikes?"
You are responsible for providing her meals. Knowing her preferences prevents an unnecessary point of friction.
Childcare Questions
If your household has children, these questions are non-negotiable. The answers reveal experience level more accurately than years-on-paper.
11"How many children have you cared for, and what were their ages?"
Caring for a 6-month-old and caring for a 6-year-old are different jobs. Establish which she has actually done.
12"Describe what you would do if a baby wakes up crying at 2am."
For infant care, the answer should show basic process: check diaper, check temperature, offer feed, comfort and settle. An answer that's vague about steps suggests limited actual newborn experience.
13"How do you handle a child who refuses to listen or throws a tantrum?"
You want: calm, consistent redirection, patience, involving the child's preferences. Red flag: physical discipline framed as normal practice, or dismissing it as "I just leave them."
14"Our children are [age and specific needs]. What would a typical day with them look like for you?"
Let her propose a structure. It reveals whether she thinks proactively about the child's needs, or only responds to instructions.
15"Are you comfortable helping with school homework? What subjects are you confident in?"
Relevant for school-age children only. For Filipino helpers this is often straightforward in English; for Indonesian helpers helping with English-medium homework, establish the actual level.
Elderly Care Questions
16"Have you cared for an elderly person before? What were their main needs?"
Specific needs matter: mobility assistance, dementia care, managing medication, assisting with bathing or toileting. These require different skills and willingness.
17"How do you help someone who moves slowly or needs support getting around the house?"
Look for patience and practical knowledge — guiding someone to hold their elbow rather than grabbing their wrist, for example.
18"Are you comfortable assisting with bathing and personal hygiene for an elderly person?"
Ask directly. Some candidates are not comfortable with this, and it is better to know now than after she arrives.
19"What would you do if the elderly person fell, or seemed unwell?"
The answer should include: stay with them, check if they can stand safely, call the employer or family immediately, call for medical help if needed. No guessing about medication.
Working Hours, Rest Days, and Expectations
Mismatched expectations about rest days and working hours cause more early-placement breakdowns than skills gaps. Discuss this clearly and honestly before she signs anything.
20"What does your ideal rest-day arrangement look like?"
Malaysian labour regulations provide for a weekly rest day. In practice, arrangements vary by household agreement. Some helpers prefer cash compensation in lieu; others strongly value a day off. Know which you are dealing with.
21"We are proposing [X hours start to Y hours finish, with breaks]. Does this work for you?"
Be concrete. "About 6am to 8pm with a break in the afternoon" is a different job from "8am to 6pm." She may not volunteer that the hours seem long, so ask directly: "Is this comfortable for you?"
22"Do you have young children back home? How do you manage being away from them?"
Most experienced domestic helpers have children in their home country. This is not a disqualifier — many are highly motivated by financial support for their family. What you want to gauge is her emotional readiness for a two-year contract away from home, and whether there are exceptional circumstances (very young infants, ill parents) that may affect her focus.
23"What do you do on your phone during the day? How do you feel about phone use during working hours?"
Legitimate phone communication with family back home is a normal part of life. If your household has specific rules about phone use during work — say, not during infant care hours — state them now and ask if she agrees. Do not try to prohibit phone contact with her family entirely; this creates resentment and is not reasonable.
24"What would you do if you were unhappy about something — if you felt treated unfairly or had a concern about the job?"
You want: "I would tell my employer directly" or "I would talk to the agency." A candidate who says "I would just stay quiet" may suppress legitimate issues, which compounds rather than resolves them. Encourage her to know she can raise concerns.
Household-Specific Practical Questions
25"Have you cared for pets? What animals, and were you comfortable with them?"
Relevant if you have dogs, cats, or other animals at home. Some helpers are genuinely uncomfortable around dogs; others are fine. Find out now.
26"Can you drive? Do you have a valid licence?"
Most domestic helpers do not drive and are not expected to. If driving is part of your expectation, confirm clearly and check whether her home-country licence is acceptable in Malaysia or whether she needs to re-qualify.
27"How are you at ironing? Do you have experience with delicate fabrics — silk, batik, linen?"
Relevant for households with formal work attire or traditional clothing. Ironing a batik incorrectly can damage it permanently.
28"Have you used a washing machine? Are you comfortable with separate wash settings for different fabrics?"
Most candidates have; some in rural origin areas may have limited exposure to front-loaders or digital settings.
Health and Medical Questions
29"Do you have any medical conditions we should know about? Any regular medication?"
She is required to pass FOMEMA medical screening after arrival. However, it is better to discuss known conditions — asthma, diabetes, skin conditions — openly upfront than to discover them after she is in your home. Her FOMEMA result is formal; this conversation is practical.
30"Are you able to manage all physical tasks — carrying groceries, mopping, washing by hand if needed?"
For helpers with back or joint issues, heavy lifting or floor-level work may be a concern. Better to know before than to discover it in week one.
Questions She Should Ask You
A good candidate will have questions for you. Proactive questions show that she is thinking seriously about whether this placement suits her — which means she is also thinking about whether she can commit to it properly. If she has no questions at all, that can indicate inexperience, shyness, or (occasionally) that she is applying for any placement rather than thinking about fit.
Common and healthy questions from candidates:
- "How many people are in the household and who are the children / elderly members?"
- "What is the rest day arrangement?"
- "Is there a private room for me?"
- "What is the salary and when is it paid?"
- "What are the main tasks I would be responsible for?"
- "What language does the family use at home?"
Red Flags to Listen For
These are not automatic disqualifiers — they are prompts for a follow-up question. But if multiple of these appear in a single interview, proceed carefully.
| Red flag | What to ask next |
|---|---|
| Vague answers about why previous placements ended early | "Can you tell me more specifically what happened?" |
| Biodata describes 5 years' experience but she cannot recall specific duties | "Tell me what a Tuesday looked like at that job." |
| Cannot name a single dish she can cook confidently | "What did you usually cook for the family you worked for before?" |
| Reluctance to discuss rest days or hours before accepting | "I want to make sure we agree on this before we proceed — what arrangement works for you?" |
| Unclear answers about her own children's ages and care arrangement | Allow silence; let her complete the thought. This touches on something real and emotional — give her space. |
| Describes physical discipline of children as routine | State your household's position clearly: "We do not use physical discipline. Is that something you can fully commit to?" |
| Says she has "no problems" with everything, too quickly | Probe with one specific scenario: "If our toddler refuses to sleep and cries for an hour, what do you do?" |
After the Interview — What to Do Next
Immediately after each interview, write down:
- Her strongest skills based on what she said, not what the biodata says
- One or two things you are uncertain about and want to confirm
- How she made you feel during the conversation — did you feel you could trust her, communicate with her, be honest with her?
Share your notes with your PMA consultant. If there are specific uncertainties — a health condition she mentioned, a reason for leaving that was unclear — your consultant can follow up with the source-country agency for more information before you decide.
If after two or three interviews you have not found the right person, say so. PMA can expand the shortlist rather than pressure you into a choice that doesn't feel right. A placement that doesn't work is harder to resolve than a slightly longer selection process.
Frequently Asked Questions
What questions should I ask when interviewing a maid?
Cover five areas: work experience and employment history, cooking specific to your household's diet, childcare or elderly care if relevant, working-hour and rest-day expectations, and her own health and personal circumstances. Also listen to how she answers — specific, honest answers are more valuable than smooth ones.
How long should a maid video interview be?
30–45 minutes for a thorough interview. Less than 20 minutes rarely gives you enough depth across skills, experience, expectations and fit. If you have specific concerns, allow extra time.
What are red flags in a maid interview?
Vague or inconsistent answers about previous employer departures; inability to name specific dishes despite claiming cooking experience; reluctance to discuss rest days or hours; describing physical discipline of children as normal practice. These are prompts for follow-up, not automatic disqualifiers — but multiple flags in one interview warrant caution.
Can PMA translate during the video interview?
Yes. PMA arranges the call and can facilitate translation or clarification. Indonesian candidates often communicate adequately in Malay; Filipino candidates in English. For nuanced questions, having a PMA consultant available helps.
Can I interview more than one candidate?
Yes, and PMA recommends interviewing at least two. PMA shortlists two to four candidates based on your household profile. Most employers interview two or three and find one is clearly the right fit.