As a domestic staffing agency, we often hear a lot of the same descriptions from our clients when it comes to what they’re looking for.
They might say:
- “We want someone energetic”
- “Attention to detail and someone highly organized is key”
- “Bilingual is required”
- “ROTA experience essential”
- “The role requires someone highly motivated and experienced”
We recognize that some of these terms are the standard vocabulary when families describe their ideal household employee – whether it’s a nanny, private chef, estate manager, or another type of employee.
More Than “Want”
With more than three decades in this industry and thousands of successful placements – these statements don’t always mean the same thing. What one home or family office considers organized might be another’s definition of micromanaging. What one client’s idea of energetic might be something completely different from another client.
That’s why our personalized approach is so important. We take the time to get to know you and your specific household or family office requirements. We learn the ‘why’ behind your requirements and explore what you’re really looking for when it comes to your candidate search.
Example: Bilingual
When clients tell us they need a bilingual employee, we will help you define what your goals are with this requirement. For example, do you want to hire a nanny that will fully immerse the children with a second language? Or, do you need the nanny to communicate with other household staff or other extended family members?
We will help you determine if full cultural immersion is needed, what role the second language will play in the home, and how this will fit into the position itself to ensure we find the right candidate who can meet your home or family office goals.
Example: Energy Level
Matching energy styles to your family or family office is crucial. Yet, the term ‘energetic’ is often one of the most confusing or misunderstood term in our industry.
For example, some families might use this word when they really just want to describe an individual being able to keep up with a busy toddler, while others might want someone that is willing to take kids on outdoor adventures, or a personal assistant who can complete their job duties while maintaining an active travel schedule in between various time zones.
When we discuss this requirement with our clients, we explore your home or family office environment, lifestyles of the family or family office team, and then work hard to determine which type of candidate matches that energy level. We aim to maintain harmony by getting to know you.
Example: Organization
“Staying organized” is a very broad term. For example, some individuals have a place for everything in their home or family office with labels and/or spreadsheets on where they’re located. For others, toys might be sorted systematically, artwork is filed away properly in cabinets, and kitchen utensils are categorized.
Other families or family office teams simply want someone who won’t create more chaos or clutter and simply want someone who can clean up after activities, maintain systems that are already in place, and keep everything where it already is.
Then, there are clients who fall somewhere in between—they want help establishing better systems but don’t need someone who wants to transform their home by decluttering it all.
During our consultation process, we help you determine whether you want your new employee to actively improve your family’s organization or simply maintain the systems that are already working well for you. This distinction is crucial for finding candidates whose experience and passion for organization align with your expectations.
Example: Schedule Flexibility
Many clients require their employees to work set hours but also need them to be flexible for occasional overnight or weekend work. Our experienced team of recruiters will work with you to clarify your actual schedule demands.
Do you need someone available for overnight care during business travel? Are you looking for flexibility with irregular hours? Or do you need an employee someone who is able to take on longer shifts several times per week with just a short amount of notice? Understanding these specifics helps us identify candidates whose experience truly matches your needs.
Our Unique Approach
Our success in placing a variety of domestic staffing professionals comes from moving beyond generic requirements to understand your family or family office’s unique needs.
When our clients use one of these common terms, we will ask more follow-up questions and use those as points for deeper discussions about scenarios and expectations. We also encourage you to think about deal-breakers versus nice-to-haves, helping prioritize which qualities are essential versus what might just be preferred.
We’ve learned that the most successful long-term placements happen when there’s genuine alignment between your employee’s natural working style and the client’s true needs. By taking time to understand what you really want behind these buzzwords, we’re better able to present candidates that are best suited for you, which saves time and hassle.
Ready to start the hiring process? Contact us today to get started. We look forward to helping you find the ideal match!
