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Viva Filipino

Printable · for the video-call interview

Caregiver Interview Questions

Hiring from 8,000 miles away · vivafilipino.com

You'll probably interview by video call, with a relative in the room. The goal isn't to interrogate — it's to find out, kindly, whether this person can do a hard job well, and whether you can employ them properly. Take notes in the margins.

1 · Before the interview — decide these first

  • What the job actually is (companion / personal care / round-the-clock shifts) — written down honestly
  • Salary range set from real numbers, not hope — use the Caregiver Cost Calculator, benefits included
  • Live-in or live-out; days off; who covers days off
  • Who in the family is the caregiver's single point of contact:

2 · Experience — listen for specifics

  • “Tell me about the last person you cared for — what did a normal day look like?” (specifics = real experience)
  • “Why did that arrangement end?” and “May we call that family?” — then actually call the references
  • “Which care tasks are you comfortable with — bathing, toileting, helping someone stand or transfer?” Be direct; discomfort discovered later costs more
  • “Do you have caregiving training — TESDA Caregiving NC II, Red Cross first aid?” (not required to start — see the training guide — but note it)
  • “Are you comfortable keeping a simple daily notebook — meals, BP, sleep, mood — and messaging the family group chat?”

3 · Scenarios — how they think

  • “Tatay refuses to take a bath for the third day. What do you do?” (listen for patience + dignity, not force)
  • “You notice redness on Nanay's heel that doesn't fade. What do you do?” (right answer includes: tell the family that day)
  • “He falls while you're alone with him. Walk me through your first five minutes.” (calm order of actions; calling for help is a good answer, not a failure)
  • “The doctor's instructions and what Nanay wants are different. Whose instruction wins, and who do you tell?”

4 · Employment terms — protect both sides

  • IDs seen and verified (government ID; note the number):
  • SSS / PhilHealth / Pag-IBIG numbers (you'll register as employer and pay the employer share — the payslip generator handles the math)
  • Salary, 13th month, and rest days stated plainly — in writing, even if it's one page
  • Trial period agreed (commonly the first month, full pay)
  • Emergency contact of the caregiver herself:

5 · Red flags — any one deserves a pause

  • No references, or references that can't be reached at all
  • Reluctance to show ID or to be registered with SSS/PhilHealth (proper employment protects her too)
  • A request for a large advance before the first day
  • Answers that blame every previous family — patterns travel
  • Your own parent's instinct after meeting them — ask Nanay privately, and listen

Goes with: care resources & the vetting checklist and the care needs assessment (do that first — it tells you what job you're hiring for).

vivafilipino.com — general information; hiring and employment rules are the Domestic Workers Act's domain, and medical questions belong to the doctor. Free to share and reprint for non-commercial use with this line kept — how to reuse.