Interviews end — the handoff is where hires stall
From interview to offer: hiring an MDW in Singapore is the process between “we like her” and a real next step with a licensed employment agency (EA). How many people to meet sits in How Many Maids to Interview Before Deciding. What to ask the EA before you sign sits in What to Ask a Maid Agency Before You Sign. This page owns the handoff.
General guidance only. MOM: mom.gov.sg. SmartMaid.com.sg is a marketplace for search and shortlist. Licensed EAs place helpers and process Work Pass steps.
Neighbouring hubs:
- How many maids to interview
- Reference checks employers can request
- When to walk away from a mismatch
- What to ask a maid agency before you sign
- How to choose a maid agency
- How Smart Maid differs from a maid agency
- First-time employer hire guide
- Work Permit application checklist
- Search maids
- This article: interview → offer handoff
Step 1 — Decide with a written scorecard (same criteria for every candidate)
Before you “feel ready to offer,” score the last interviews on the same brief: duties, language, rest-day fit, childcare/elderly/pets if relevant, and gut-check on communication. Do not rank by nationality stereotypes. Cap favourites; pick one primary and one backup.
Step 2 — Reconfirm availability through the licensed EA
Marketplace favourites can go cold. Ask the EA (not only the chat thread) to confirm she is still available for your start window. Soft reference checks if appropriate: Reference Checks Employers Can Request. Walk-away signals: When to Walk Away From a Mismatch.
Step 3 — Align offer themes before anyone hears “yes”
Align with your co-employer and EA on process themes only (no $ figures on this page):
- Rest-day pattern discussion process
- Duty scope for the first month
- Probable start path (transfer vs overseas) and who owns Work Pass next steps
- Replacement / guarantee questions you will still ask before signing (What to Ask a Maid Agency Before You Sign)
Salary and total-cost framing lives in Maid Salary and Total Cost in Singapore — keep numbers off this handoff page.
Step 4 — Make the handoff explicit
Tell the EA in one message: primary candidate, backup, preferred start window, and that you want their placement next-step checklist. Favouriting on SmartMaid is not an offer. Placement starts when the licensed EA and you commit to process (How Smart Maid Singapore Differs From a Maid Agency).
Step 5 — After “yes,” switch tracks
- Run pre-sign EA questions (What to Ask a Maid Agency Before You Sign)
- Open the Work Pass stage map / checklist (MOM Work Pass Steps: Employer Overview (Singapore), Work Permit Application for Domestic Helpers: Employer Checklist)
- Stop interviewing other candidates unless the primary falls through
MOM rules
Offers and employment of MDWs run through licensed EA + MOM rules.
Checklist
- Scorecard decision (primary + backup)
- EA confirmed availability
- Offer themes aligned (rest day, duties, path) — no $ on this page
- Explicit handoff message to EA
- Pre-sign + WP tracks queued (#3 / #19)
- No nationality ranking;
Scripts
To EA: We are ready to proceed with [name/ref] as primary (backup [name/ref]). Please confirm availability and send the placement next-step list. SmartMaid shortlist is complete on our side.
To co-employer: Interviewing stops once we hand primary to the EA — unless she becomes unavailable.
Bottom line
Close the interview loop with a clear EA handoff, then move to sign questions and Work Pass steps. Browse on SmartMaid; place through a licensed EA under MOM rules.
