Finding a suitable domestic help in Bangalore is definitely a challenge.  Even if they are scarce, you will need to do a detailed verification before hiring them. Here are a few pointers that may help you:

1. Check their credibility: This is the most important criteria before hiring anyone since they will have access to your home and family. Talk to their previous employers and understand from them about the person’s behaviour, work quality and ethics. Also check on why the candidate quit working for the previous employer. This will give you a brief idea about the person in question.

2. Keep a copy of the ID proof and do background verification: If you want to domestic help to look after children or elderly people during your absence, this is a must do. Ask for a copy of their driving license, voters ID or ration card and keep a copy safely with you. Various security agencies undertake background verification for a small fee. This will have you worry free at work during the day if your loved ones are at the mercy of the domestic help.

3. Communicate: When you do find a genuine person, don’t just jump the guns and hire them right away. Talk and make your expectations clear, learn about the expertise of the other person and evaluate. For example, if you want your domestic help to cook meat 3 times a week and he/she is skilled in cooking vegetarian food only it doesn’t really serve your purpose. But if the domestic help is used to cooking meat once a week, you could use some training to make them adapt to your family style. You could even have a paid trial period.

4. Salary and perks: Depending on the amount of work you want them to do, arrive on a budget. Ask around to know the current payment trends; you don’t want to be paying less or more that the average domestic help salary. Ask for their expectation and negotiate fairly. Paying beyond their expectation is a definite no no. You could always add a small bonus during festivals, birthdays and anniversaries.