Maid hunting

My Filipino maid of 2 years (since July 04) left us to join her hubby in Spain this August. Before she left, I was on a desperate hunt for a new replacement maid. Here's the guide to how to find a maid in Singapore.

1) Check online for recommendations. - Forums are great places where people voice out their grudges or compliments. e.g. www.singaporemotherhood.com forum - Agency's websites :- where agencies post biodata(s) of maids they have at hand e.g. www.netmaid.com.sg

2) Nothing beats face to face interviews with the maid you are going to employ. Biodata(s) are very misleading but the impression you have with the maid is more trustworthy.







That night I came across this website netmaid.com.sg and found some maids
who may be more ideal for my family. The previous I shortlisted are new and
don;t understand chinese which is not that suitable for my dear kindy MIL.

This was how I came to know Ms Tan ....

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I went down to Good Year 20th Aug 2007 after work. That morning, Ms Tan from
Good Year called me and said she can schedule the maid I've shortlisted for interview.

On reaching there, she tried to contact the maid (Mimi)who was in Indonesia but to no avail.
Then she introduced the biodata of 2 other maids to me and asked me to wait to interview
an Indonesia maid who have completed her contract and wishes to stay on. This maid
has been in Singapore for 12 years and only had 3 employers. She stayed 4 years with
each employer; which is pretty good ... but i scared her off when she heard I have 3 cars
for her to wash.

Sat afternoon Ms Tan called and said that the maid heard wrongly that I have 3 dogs.. (??!!?)
She arranged the next day 4pm for me to interview 2 other maids.

Sun I interviewed Siti and Lina. Siti has been with her employer for 4 years and charges slightly
lower mthly wage as she does not have experience in landed houses.
Lina has 3 former employers and served out 2 years each with the first 2 and a mere 4 months
with the current one. Her contract is higher mthly salary.
Both claims to be glood cooks and love children. Lina has a prettier face and Siti looks more mature.
Well, I interviewed Lina over the phone on Sat and this face to face interview is concentrated on Siti.
My criteria are : trustworthy and understand chinese.
Therefore Siti seems to fit the bill more.


So why did I chose Lina in the end then?????


When I entered the office, the maid on my left. Siti, was sitting expressionly and remained sitted until Ms Tan asked
her to move a chair. There were 5 other maids on my right and 2 of them stand up and asked me to sit down on
a chair. 1 of which was Lina.

I didnt want a baby faced maid who is more than likely to gain lotsa sympathy from my parents-in-law.. its like that when you
spend a lot of time together ... then its difficult to extract the maid away from them. Even a cool minded person like me is
really quite sad when my current maid is leaving. Since both are willing to work for me and

I went back after a phone conversation with Ahda and was already quite firmed to sign Siti on.

Siti was being invited by some other family when I went back and Ms Tan took the chance to
sell Lina to me. She says that Lina will fulfill my criteria more as she has worked for a bungalow before.
I do have my reservations why her bungalow employer did not renew her contract but the boss said

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Its been 1 year and 2 mths ever since I wrote the above entry. MLS has taken very well to Lina since then. I don't have any regrets taking on Lina, she's a good cook albeit quit talkative; she's on the handphone more than 3 hours each day and often till midnite. But she does get up faithfully at 7am each day.

So I'll say I have quite a good experience with maids so far. Lina's contract will end sept this year .. but since her only daughter's vacation starts in july, I'm letting her go back in july .. by then big headache .. hope to schedule an overseas trip in july so I don't have to handle the household chores the 3 men in my family turn their nose too. *grumbles*