When it comes to hiring for your ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) household, finding the right team of domestic staff goes beyond reviewing polished resumes and well-written cover letters.
While proven experience and expertise in UHNW homes is essential, the dynamics of each private household must be considered. In other words, each UHNW home is unique and a one-size-fits-all approach to hiring isn’t the best way to find the right match.
So, how do you know which candidate is the best one for your home?
Understanding Candidates Beyond the Page
Our team of recruiters understands that your UHNW home deserves the best of the best. That’s why we place such high importance on our personalized approach to placing staff in homes across the country. Each recruiter looks beyond what’s on the page and truly looks at who the people are behind it.
Looking Beyond What’s Written
A resume showcases years of experience, service at other UHNW homes, specialized training or skills, and references. However, it won’t capture the candidate’s discretion, passion for their field, emotional maturity or intelligence, or their personality.
These are all qualities that play a huge role in UHNW homes, when domestic staff may be required to navigate security details, complex family structures, paparazzi, demanding schedules, pressure or setbacks, and more.
Resumes and cover letters also don’t tell you how the person interacts in person or how the candidate makes you feel during a conversation, and they don’t give you a glimpse as to how they will treat other staff or colleagues, your family, guests, or clients.
Understanding the UHNW Lifestyle
Working in your UHNW home is different than other domestic staffing roles. Many times, UHNW families or individuals travel regularly to other homes or properties, business meetings, or vacations, may entertain high-profile guests or celebrities, or have a higher level of security or privacy needs. Candidates must be comfortable with these things. They must also be able to demonstrate a true commitment to maintaining utmost confidentiality and the ability to adapt to changing environments with ease.
In addition, your UHNW home may require staff to sign a non-disclosure agreement. This should be discussed and explained during the interview process, so the employee understands exactly what it entails and what rules must be followed.
Looking at Personality
Your UHNW home functions well when staff blend well into the culture and lifestyle of the home and the people inside of it. When looking to hire a new staff member, consider the candidate’s adaptability, flexibility, and loyalty.
This is best done through in-depth interviews – sometimes two or three – an in-home trial for several days, and thorough background checks and reference checks. While you’re interviewing your candidate, some questions to consider are:
- How clearly do they communicate?
- Do they appear polite?
- Are they professional in their appearance and tone?
- Do they listen well?
- Are they demonstrating genuine interest or curiosity in the role?
- Are they easily distracted?
All of these things will provide a glimpse into the candidate’s personality and may help you predict how well they will work in your home. So, take note in order to ensure the most appropriate match.
We Can Help
At Household Staffing, we dive deep into getting to know our candidates and our clients, so we can place the right employee in the right home – the first time. We recognize that UHNW homes like yours aren’t just looking to fill a role; they are looking for a long-term commitment and stability.
A resume and cover letter are the beginning step to finding the right candidate, but truly finding the right match who will want to grow with your home requires a deeper dive into who they are, not just what experience they have.
Are you ready to grow the staff for your UHNW home? With three decades in the staffing industry and specific expertise working with UHNW homes, we are dedicated to finding candidates that are best suited for you.
Contact us today to get started. We look forward to assisting you in building a strong household team.
