We are all living in quite a new landscape! With the spread of COVID-19, people the world over are adapting and learning how to move forward in their lives – particularly in regard to employment. In our realm of household staffing, we’ve encountered some trends that are worth exploring. So, we’ve rallied the team to offer our insights on the situation. Contained within are some helpful tips, observations, and general anecdotes from our staff. In times like these, it’s crucial that we stay informed and communicate openly with each other. We hope this post will stimulate conversations around these topics and foster an open dialog.

Where’s All the Work?

Perhaps the most recurring question on everyone’s minds is: are families and households still hiring during the pandemic? Our answer is a most resounding: yes, they are… just not in the typical fashion. By this, we mean, don’t have your normal expectations for timelines or courses of action. Everyone is navigating more cautiously through this new landscape, and that includes our clients.

Interviewing Remotely

To eliminate personal contact, the interview process has been largely relegated to the virtual arena, mostly on platforms like Skype, FaceTime, or Zoom. If you’re new to this way of communicating, don’t be discouraged. Our clients are often well-versed in connecting via these platforms and are not expecting all of the subtle nuances that face-to-face meetings can provide. However, a virtual interview does come very close! So, try to use it as an opportunity to display your unique personality and show your smile. These are things that simply cannot be achieved with a simple phone-interview.

If you’ve never used Skype, FaceTime, or Zoom, now is definitely a good time to try them, and get comfortable with them. You want to be ready and well-adjusted to using these platforms, in case the time comes for an important interview. You don’t want such an interview to also be the first time that you’ve ever spoken to someone on one of these video platforms. If you need advice or someone to practice with, don’t hesitate to ask your placement specialist here at Pavillion! We’re happy to get you up to speed and comfortable with interviewing remotely.

How are Jobs Changing?

If you’re currently employed, or already in the hiring process, it’s important to be prepared for changes in circumstances. During situations like these, we are quite literally all in it together. So, it’s important to be understanding of temporary measures that must be taken for the benefit of everyone. In a household employment scenario, this could involve things like:

• Your live-out job is now temporarily live-in, so that your travel to and from the employer’s home is greatly limited.
• Your employer is now providing transportation to and from work at their home each day. Or, a car has been provided for you.
• You are participating in a self-quarantine with the family for 14 days. Or, perhaps you’ve just started your new position, and the family has asked you to self-quarantine in their residence or on their property, before starting your proper role.
• You’ve already interviewed and/or been hired, but now things seem to be “on hold” indefinitely.

These are just some examples of measures that some families and staff are taking to ensure the well-being of everyone involved. If you are unsure about your specific situation, or simply need some guidance, please do not hesitate to reach out to your placement specialist here at Pavillion for advice. One thing we can recommend in nearly all scenarios is practicing transparency and open communication. This ensures that the concerns of all parties are heard and properly explained.

The Way Forward is Together

In these uncertain times, we will no doubt come to rely on each other for help. At Pavillion Agency, we represent the finest personal service staff and stand firmly behind them. If we can offer our expertise in even the slightest way, we are eager to do so! While this situation is unprecedented, it is not insurmountable. Please reach out for help if you need it and offer it to others when you can. Pavillion Agency remains fully operational and open for business, so we will absolutely continue doing our part in the community. Stay safe and stay informed!