Beginning the new year often means turning over a new leaf. Whether it’s making health changes, prioritizing your work-life balance, or adding staff to help in your home, taking some time at the start of 2026 to think ahead is valuable.
When it comes to hiring an experienced candidate for your home, there are some key things to keep in mind – especially in today’s competitive job landscape. Here’s what domestic staffing professionals are looking for this year.
What Domestic Professionals Are Looking For
Competitive Compensation
This isn’t anything new. However, candidates are increasingly looking for better pay and full benefits including paid overtime, paid time off, paid holidays, and medical benefits. Experienced domestic staffing professionals also look for set schedules and don’t want duties added to their job descriptions without warning.
At the time of hire, create a clear work agreement that details all job duties, benefits, privacy clauses, and any other important information related to the home. This will help minimize any confusion later and ensure both you and your employees know what to expect.
Opportunities for Career Development
Professionals are looking for employers that invest in their growth. Providing professional development opportunities such as the option for training, certifications, or other classes that help them strengthen their skills are a huge bonus for job seekers today.
For example, if you’re looking to hire a nanny, consider adding paid time off for them to complete classes in early childhood education, nutrition, or sleep training. Showing that you value their specialized skills builds trust and also makes them a better, more knowledgeable long-term employee for your home.
Respect
Just like any workplace, employees value professionalism and respect. Building a strong professional relationship with your team of staff starts from day one. Making sure all job duties and expectations are clear is essential, respecting work-life boundaries, and providing an open door for communication is also important.
Honoring Boundaries
Candidates appreciate work schedules that respect personal time. This is especially true for live-in domestic roles. Be sure you communicate that you understand that your employee has a life outside of work and that you want to make sure they fill their cup with things they enjoy doing. Respect their boundaries and provide opportunities for them to rest and recharge.
Privacy and Discretion
Especially in ultra-high-net-worth roles, privacy and discretion are crucial. You might require your staff to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) or may have information included on confidentiality in your work agreement that they need to adhere to. In the same way, candidates expect employers to honor their privacy too.
Communicate with them about what privacy expectations they have at the beginning of their employment.
Purpose-Driven Roles
Many professional domestic employees are looking for roles that go beyond day-to-day duties. They are looking for positions that fulfill a passion or purpose in their life. For example, a private chef that has invested years of training or culinary school, likely has a passion for food, hospitality, and wellness.
A nanny who has completed additional training or certification related to childhood education or newborn care probably has a deep love for nurturing children and passion for seeing them grow. Candidates today are seeking positions that are meaningful and align with their personal values.
Staying Competitive
Homes across the country are looking for talented and committed staffing professionals that love their work. Skilled workers know they can be selective and negotiate better terms for in-home positions, and that means as an employer, you should be prepared to offer the best of the best.
Providing jobs where individuals feel valued and fairly compensated will help attract and retain top notch employees who are willing to stay for the long-term.
Why Household Staffing
For more than 30 years, our team has specialized in helping homes, estates, and family offices across the country build teams of qualified staff that are trustworthy, compatible for your lifestyle, and give you the peace of mind you need. Start 2026 off right and contact us to start the hiring process today.
