Ask Andreas: How do I improve my helper’s skills in cooking and housekeeping?

I’d love to improve my helper’s skills in cooking and housekeeping – do you have any recommendations?

If it is “small things” like how to clean a bathroom to your standards, you could set aside some time to do it together and show her how you want it done. Good helpers want to learn and will readily adapt. However obviously in many cases you may want to send her to a class. This also makes a helper feel valued as an employee.

There are many different places that offer classes. Here are two I would recommend:

–          YWCA has a wide selection of cooking classes and specific domestic helper classes ranging from housekeeping to first aid in their “English speaking members department”. Check out more here.

–          SuperHelper, run by helper expert Marilyn Santiago, runs cooking and housekeeping classes. She also has courses teaching “The Art of Dining and Entertaining”.  You can see more about her services on her website.

On a side note, many helpers are happy to do their own research. Our own helper regularly finds new recipe ideas on the Internet.

For the only guide you’ll ever need on working with a helper, check out Andreas’ fab book ‘Hiring and Managing Domestic Help’ and buy it here.

Andreas Rosboch was born and raised in Sweden by an Italian father and a Swedish mother. He has been an expat for more than ten years and plans to keep it that way. He has spent most of his career in the information technology field, handling everything from brand management to customer support. He is the author of one of our most-recommended books Hiring & Managing Domestic Help – an absolute must-have for Hong Kong mamas (psst- and you can buy it here). He lives in Hong Kong with his wife, two children and dog.