Most bad experiences hiring domestic staff in Pakistan trace back to the same handful of skipped steps, not bad luck. None of them take long, and doing them properly the first time is far cheaper than the alternative.
Before you meet anyone
- Decide the actual arrangement: full-time, part-time or live-in, and be honest with yourself about what your home can support
- Set a realistic budget based on what the role actually pays locally, not the lowest figure you've heard
- Write down the duties you actually need, specifically, before you start looking
Verification that matters
- Original CNIC, photographed or photocopied, and matched to the person in front of you
- Two previous employers, called directly, not just named on a form
- A permanent address and a guarantor you can reach by phone
- A police character certificate, particularly for live-in roles or anyone who will be alone with children
A trial tells you more than an interview ever will
For roles like cooking where skill can't be judged from a conversation, a short paid trial is worth more than any number of reference calls. See our guide to running a trial period fairly.
Put it in writing
A short written agreement covering salary, duties, hours, leave and notice protects both sides and removes most disputes before they start. See what a fair agreement should cover.
Red flags worth walking away from
- A candidate or agency asking you, the employer, for money before anyone starts, that direction is normal; money flowing the other way from a job seeker to you is not
- Reluctance to provide a permanent address or a guarantor
- References that can't be reached, or that sound rehearsed rather than specific
- Pressure to skip verification because someone else "urgently needs" the placement
Where to actually find candidates
Word of mouth and informal networks work, but carry no verification of their own, whatever checking happens is entirely on you. Browsing staff who have listed themselves here gives you a starting pool with a name, role and city already attached; the verification steps above still apply regardless of where you find someone.
Looking for actual staff or work, not just information?
Browse staff who have already listed themselves across Pakistan, or list yourself for free.