Great answers above. In addition,
PAY FOR A SHORT TRIAL SHIFT. Send the candidate out with you or a senior organizer for 2 to 3 hours, paid. Watch how they react when a closet is packed or a home isn't what they're used to. A face that stays neutral under surprise is hard to fake.
ASK ABOUT THEIR PAST CLIENTS. Tell me about the hardest customer or coworker you've worked with, and how you talked about them afterward. Candidates who trash former clients will do it to yours.
CHECK REFERENCES WITH ONE SPECIFIC QUESTION. Ask the reference, Would you trust this person alone in your home, and why? Vague answers are a red flag.
PUT THE STANDARD IN WRITING. A simple rule in the handbook: no opinions about a client's belongings, beliefs, or lifestyle, in the home or on social media. Have them sign it, so the standard is clear from day one.
START NEW HIRES WITH A SENIOR PARTNER. For the first few jobs, never send someone alone. It catches problems before a client does.
Where are you finding most of your candidates right now? That usually decides how much screening you need. rfontaine
