Nowadays, more and more candidates who apply for Household Staff jobs are invited for an initial video interview prior to a face to face meeting with their potential employer.
It makes sense because interviews via Skype, Whatsapp, Facetime, etc save a lot of time for both an employer and a candidate, and help avoid unnecessary travel expenses, especially if the candidate is abroad.
That is why Morgan & Mallet International decided to provide some tips on how to prepare yourself for a successful video interview.

• Video setting up. An integral part of a video interview is the quality of the sound, video and internet connection. Make sure that your interlocutor will hear and see you well. It is also very important to set up your camera at eye-level so that you are looking directly into the camera in order to make a proper eye contact.

 

• Choosing the location make sure that you have selected some quiet place with good lighting and presentable or neutral background. We would not recommend having an interview in a café, park, your car or while walking as you or your interviewer may be distracted by the background noise or your background in general, and finally it may leave a negative impression.

 

• Your outfit. Even though you are at home where you are used to wearing casual clothes, it is essential to look smart and presentable for a video interview, so preferably wear a shirt or a suit. You have to take video interviews as seriously as interviews in an office. Make sure that you have your CV in front of you and you are ready to follow it with the interviewer. It may demonstrate that you are an organised person.

Those are some basic things that you can do in order to make a good impression on your potential employer.

Consider a video interview as a privilege of technological progress that was made to save your time, especially if you are looking for a job in other countries.

When candidates are invited for an interview, they try to prepare themselves for it as thoroughly as possible.

​First of all, they try to find useful tips on the Internet like what kind of questions to expect and how to answer properly.

But the thing is that a professional recruiter will always have an individual approach to each interview because all the interviews as well as candidates and their experiences are different, each position (especially in a private household sector) is different.

In this article we would like to provide some information on how normally Morgan & Mallet International conducts interviews with candidates, what information we pay attention to and how we decide if the interview is successful.

Morgan & Mallet International’s main goals are to find a suitable candidate, to save the time of our clients while looking for household staff, and to make the recruitment process carefree for them, that is why our interviews normally last for one hour in order to understand if the candidate will be suitable for a particular position.

In the example of a Chauffeur's vacancy, we will try to explain the logic of our interviews and what we expect to hear from a candidate. Our consultants pay special attention to candidate’s skills during the interview.

• Interviewing chauffeurs, we will check if they are able to estimate the approximate travel time. This skill is important because any busy client would not like to be late for a meeting or to come too early for an appointment and waste time in a car or reception area waiting for the arranged time. 

 

• Some clients that have just moved to a new city or are just visiting may ask to recommend luxury restaurants or clubs in the central part of the city. That is why our consultants always ask to name several good restaurants and their location in order to see how familiar with the area the candidate is.  

 

• All our clients have luxury cars or supercars in their fleet. That is why we will definitely ask a chauffeur how they normally take care of luxury cars for example if they will be willing to wash the car by themselves. For some clients such a thing is important in terms of safety, as they do not want anyone to have access to their private car.

 

• Recruiting for a family with children, we will check if a candidate is child-friendly, what normally they need to have in a car while driving children and what rules should be followed.

 

• Our consultants also check the knowledge of parking rules as a good chauffeur will always plan the route so they are parked on the right side of a pavement and it is convenient for the client to get out of the car.

 

• We will also provide imaginary stressful situations in order to check how the candidate will act, and a lot more.

After the candidate has passed this part of the interview successfully, we will discuss their experience working for private families or clients.
Our consultants will ask the reasons why the candidate left the previous positions and in what environment he/she worked. This part of the interview will help to understand if the candidate will be able to stay in a particular position long.

The consultants of Morgan & Mallet International always have an individual approach to each request that we receive from our clients.
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In case you are looking for household personnel and want to make sure that you will not waste your time reviewing dozens of resumes of unsuitable candidates, please feel free to contact our agency.
​We will be happy to do that job for you. 

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It is a well-known fact that each parent wants the best for their child, especially those ones who cannot spend a lot of time with their offspring because of their career or business and have to hire childcare help.
Parents are always serious and scrupulous in the selection of a nanny or a governess for their children that is why it is extremely important to make a good impression during a face-to-face interview.

The consultants of Morgan & Mallet International would like to provide some tips on how to convince your potential employer that you are right for the job:

• First, you judge 'how nice', then you judge 'how wise'. Preparing for a face to face meeting with parents, you have to remember that you are always judged by appearances at first but by your mind later on. As a child carer and a person who will spend a lot of time with children, you are setting an example for them. First of all, your clothes have to be neat, comfortable and at the same time not revealing. Your hair should be clean and in case you have long hair, we would recommend making a ponytail or a nice updo.  Definitely, it is not forbidden to wear light makeup: neutral tones of eye shadow, some mascara and even bright tones of lipstick are preferred (but do not exaggerate with the last one, as both children and parents may not like dark purple or deep brown lips). If you like wearing accessories, we would recommend something neat and discreet for a childcare worker. It is always preferable to conceal tattoos or piercing at least for your first meeting with your future employer but you may mention about it if you are offered the position.

 

• Organise yourself. As a Nanny or a Governess, you have to be ready that parents may ask you what method of education you use or what kind of activities you are going to do with their children, or if you have any certificates or diplomas that may be relevant to a childcare position. Prepare your documents as if you are going to be hired straight after your interview. We would recommend having copies of your certificates (especially First Aid), passport copy, driving licence copy, even if you have recent DBS check you may include that to your folder and do not forget about references from your previous employers. You may also have a folder with different worksheets that you used with children or a diary template that you made for parents. Such approach to the interview will demonstrate that you are an organized, motivated and trustworthy candidate.

 

• Show positive side of your character. It is very important to be either early or on time for the interview. Meeting your potential employer, you always have to remember that you are going to take care of their children and you have to convince them that you are really a child friendly, reliable and warm person, that every child is special and unique for you and you are going to adore your client’s children as they do. You have to remember that you are the person with experience and you have to be confident in your answers that is why it is necessary to be calm, smiling and relaxed. When you have a chance to ask questions, be sure that you get all information about children, their preferences and routine and after you can discuss salary, your schedule, etc. 

If you are looking for a childcare job, please feel free to apply for our current vacancies

Which qualities of a candidate does a recruiter and HR manager take into consideration while recruiting staff ?

A 5-minutes conversation is enough for a professional recruiter from Morgan & Mallet International to recognize a conscientious and responsible candidate, and decide whether it makes sense to proceed with their application.
 
Here are five qualities that will define a good candidate :

• A good candidate always appears for an interview and is always on time. If something happens, for example, a candidate is a little bit late, or fell ill, or changed his/her mind (such situations also occur) or he/she has some other reasons and wants to postpone the interview, in such case a good candidate will warn the recruiter in advance. This shows their respect for other people.

 

• Flexibility. It is one of the most important qualities that shows if a candidate is really interested in a position. Firstly, a good candidate will always try to adjust to the recruiter's schedule, as they know that recruiters’ time is valuable. Moreover, a flexible candidate will be willing to negotiate working hours, offered salary, duties etc. showing that they are ready to adapt to the requirements of the employer.

 

• Availability (a good candidate is always reachable over the phone or e-mail. If they cannot answer immediately, they will call back or write an email later).

 

• A good candidate is always ready to provide references from former employers. Even if a candidate does not have written references, he/she will be willing to contact their previous employers or their representatives (family office, personal assistant, house or estate manager, etc) and will ask for written references or will provide their professional contact details.

 

• There is nothing impossible for a good candidate. If something is not working out, a good candidate will not look for excuses, they will look for solutions!

There are definitely other qualities, which will demonstrate whether a candidate is good, or not. 
 
Morgan & Mallet International always collaborates with the best and most professional candidates since we deal with HNW and UHNW clients.

Therefore, please feel free to contact us and our experienced recruitment consultants will help you in selecting and searching the best household staff.
 

Your lifestyle begins with Morgan & Mallet International.