To ask how you would feel if someone asked you this?

[Maid2Interview]

I have a cleaning business, and I'm about to hire a few cleaners. I was thinking of doing the interview in their own homes, instead of in a coffee shop? I've read that the franchise Maid2clean does this. To be honest, I'm scared they're going to think I'm weird or something like that. But on the other hand, I can see why interviewing them in their home would be beneficial, to sort of see how clean they are? What do you think?

You could interview them in your own home in order to model the standards that you expect.

It'd be so far over the line, you wouldn't be able to see the line! The line would be a dot to you!!

I had a mum who wanted to do this with one of my my first nanny jobs. She was a total nutjob though.

Don't judge a cleaner on their home.
I'd suggest you meet, maybe in a clients house? Then you could give them the idea of what the job would involve, and even give them a trial run for half an hour?

Well unless you turn up unannounced they are going to clean up.

Intrusive and crosses a line. Just because other companies do it doesn't make it best practice or right.

Dh is a good tradesman and I can tell you our home does not reflect the work he does for customers!

Was just about to say interview them in your own home, along with a close inspection tour, so they know your standards, but pp beat me to it.

Only scanned thread. Maybe you could give the option? Interview at home, or away, as such.

Although folks would then probably feel it would reflect badly if they chose the coffee shop option ...

@BrokenWing My Dad was a plumber. (DH is a builder) My mum would often trot out the line that the house in town most likely to have dripping taps was the plumbers house.

Your post just reminded me :)

No. Don’t.

Why don't you invite them to your home to interview them? Not fancy it? Too intrusive?

I don't think invading job applicants privacy is in any way acceptable. Sorry OP.

I was interviewed in my house for a cleaning job, not with Maids2clean. This was quite a few years ago now. Didn't bother me, although I did make sure the house was tidy beforehand, so I don't think it would give you a true reflection on how the person was at cleaning as every person you interviewed would do this.

Ever heard the expression... 'never buy a mechanics car' might be the same principle for cleaners

A trial shift would be better I think where they come with you or someone you trust 😀

I won't be doing it, will just stick to doing the interview at Costa.

Do people do that? I must say I find that a bit odd too.

I won't be doing it, will just stick to doing the interview at Costa.

Do people do that? I must say I find that a bit odd too

I interview candidates for senior roles in Costa (Starbucks more accurately) it's absolutely fine. Depends on the candidate obviously!
I also have more clients meetings in a coffee shop than in my office, and really, that's me who is being interviewed then.

I don't think it would give you a true reflection on how the person was at cleaning as every person you interviewed would do this.

Plus it's completely unfair as some applicants have a lot more money than others. A newbuilt is easy to clean and look immaculate, someone struggling in cheap shared accommodation or a cheap rental won't present so well, even if they try to clean as well as they can.

You could interview them in your own home in order to model the standards that you expect.

^^This 😀 ‘cos no way would I let you into my home.

I think it’s quite disrespectful to interview clients in Costa. Crockery crashing in the background , kids screeching...
It comes across as a bit fly by night, like you haven’t got access to a decent premises of your own.

I think it’s quite disrespectful to interview clients in Costa. Crockery crashing in the background , kids screeching...

I don't know about your local cafes, but the ones around my office have no kids screeching and the staff seem not to need crashing crockery in the background

With some people, a formal set up in a designated meeting room is best. For many others, a chat around a cup of coffee works much better.
Works for me!
I wouldn't do it with candidates too junior, you need to see how they behave in a formal environment.

Hi there, I am a Maid2Clean franchisee and want to clear up some misconceptions. The home visit of the interview process is a very important one and is vital to the vetting process of the cleaners joining my business. Only after a successful application and telephone interview do we meet suitable cleaners at their home. We do this so that we are 100% certain that the residential address the cleaner has provided is actually their home address. This is in addition to taking a copy of a suitable form of proof of address (e.g. a recent bank statement or utility bill). A document like this doesn't prove residence of the address but only that they have use of the address. Physically verifying the cleaners residence is important to me, and my clients, as it increases the cleaners transparency, accountability and traceability should any issues arise. Keep in mind that having a cleaner i.e. a stranger come into your home, a private and intimate space, usually unsupervised requires a lot of trust and honesty. I believe having a professional agency, such as a Maid2Clean franchisee like mine, carry out these checks (as well as other ID checks and right to work checks) offers special value that would are unlikely to get when hiring directly.

As for the points on assessing the cleaners abilities based on their own housekeeping, this isn't a good indicator as there's a difference doing your own unpaid cleaning versus getting paid to do it.

This is not cleaning related but home interview related.

When I used to volunteer, meeting people in their own homes, I was firstly interviewed in my home, this was to see how I was having strangers in my home, if I was comfortable and also trustworthy.

Cleaning people's homes means being in their private space. On top of all those legal thugs mentioned above, I think it's not unreasonable to do this. To ask at least, but maybe suggest a café also.

God no! You're interviewing people for a low paid job with flexible hours. Some of them will have bloody awful home lives and this will stress them out, while giving little indication of their abilities.

YABU

At best you will see someone’s home that is clean and tidy for the visit. That might be purely because you are coming round to inspect or it could be that they keep it that way all the time. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Neither option has any bearing on how well they clean (they might not have been the person who cleaned their house for the interview) nor on their integrity/timekeeping/general capability for the job.

I once went for a job with Maid2Clean and they wanted to come to my house and I said no because it’s hardly Kim and Aggie style clean, but obviously if I was getting paid to clean someone’s house then I would do a good job of it!

Years ago I had a friend that worked as a cleaner and she got interviewed in her house and she said it was because she was going to have the keys to rich peoples houses and so they wanted to check where she lived incase of anything untoward, I don’t know if they told her that or she just thought this!