Au pairs come from different countries and cultures, so getting used to your lifestyle may take some time. Be patient and provide training and support as needed. During the interview, ask about their experience working with children and their experience teaching English. Look for answers demonstrating their ability to remain calm, empathetic and effective when managing children’s emotions.
Look for an Au Pair Agency
The first place to start is with an au pair agency. These reputable companies help on how to find an au pair. They specialize in connecting au pairs with host families and help them through the entire process, from shortlisting to interviewing to hiring. They also help ensure that au pairs meet all program requirements, such as monthly check-ins and au pair cluster meetings. Some agencies specialize in certain countries or age groups and have extensive databases to choose from. Others provide full services, such as language training and travel insurance. Some even have a local representative to assist with issues during the year. Another perk of using an agency is that many offer a referral bonus for new host families. It can save you a registration fee and help you find an au pair faster!
Post a Job on Social Media
Millions of au pairs, nannies, personal assistants, senior care providers, tutors, and housekeepers have found jobs online. Create your free profile today to hire the care you need or find your desired position. Au pairs are foreign young people traveling to a new country on special visas to work with a host family in exchange for childcare services. They must also participate in a cultural exchange program and take classes. These classes are a great way to help au pairs improve their English skills and learn about American culture.
Setting clear expectations with your au pair at the program’s start is important. It will prevent problems down the road. It is also helpful to remember that au pairs are responsible for expenses such as food, transportation and a safe living environment.
Ask for Recommendations
If you have friends who hosted Au Pairs in the past, ask them to recommend candidates to you. They may mention the candidate’s ability to cook nutritious meals or set up a good bedtime routine that ensures children’s calm, relaxing sleep environment. They might also tell you about the candidate’s discipline techniques, such as positive reinforcement and redirection. Host families complete a household guide during their application process and have access to it during Au Pair Training School, where they use it as a workbook for the program orientation with their local representative. The household guide should be available to both the host and au pair for review during weekly check-in meetings to address any issues quickly. When interviewing potential au pairs, ask how they would handle a child’s misbehavior. Look for answers that include strategies like positive reinforcement, redirection and logical consequences. Also, consider how the candidate would take a child falling ill or experiencing an emergency.
Host families must access the student’s Household Guide to complete the host application and in-home interview. The local rep must review the guide and provide feedback to ensure it follows program rules and reflects household expectations. The household guide should be accessible during the weekly host/au pair check-in meeting with your local representative. It is important to maintain open communication and address any issues quickly. Additionally, the household guide should be readily available during any mediation process with ETC if a problem arises that requires neutral third-party support. You should always have the most current version of the household guide.
Post a Job on Online Classifieds
Au pairs receive housing, meals, and a weekly or monthly stipend in exchange for childcare services. They also have the opportunity to explore a new culture and gain international experience. When hiring au pair candidates, a well-written job description will help you narrow down the best fit and filter out those who need to meet your requirements. To save time and improve the quality of your hiring decisions, try leveraging pre-employment skills testing tools. As au pairs may be in charge of planning children’s extracurricular activities, school drop-offs and pick-ups, doing laundry, making meals, and more, effective time management is crucial. In addition, they need to be able to handle emergencies like choking or allergic reactions. To ensure your au pair can manage these tasks, consider assessing their time management skills.
Post a Job on Au Pair Networks
Au pairs are young adults who live with a host family to gain work experience in the United States. They provide child care and light household duties in exchange for room, board, and a small amount of pocket money. They are expected to attend classes and meet the educational requirements for their program. Au pairs typically live within a specific region and have a minimum stay of a few months. Host families should ensure that their au pair understands them clearly and communicates effectively. Look for candidates who can explain things well in writing and express themselves clearly in a face-to-face interview. Candidates should also have good time management skills. They must manage multiple tasks simultaneously, such as making meals for the kids, cleaning, cooking, laundry, completing school drop-offs and pick-ups, and more. Au pairs should be familiar with basic first aid and CPR, as they may have to deal with emergencies such as choking or allergic reactions. They should also be able to handle stress and frustration.
