⏱ Reading time: 9 min.
How to prepare for the Au Pair interview?
To make the interview process easier, we have compiled some great tips which we want to share with you:
1. Keep the different time zones in mind
Consider that your future Au Pair or Host Family might be thousands of kilometers away and have a different time zone. Find the time that fits both of you and that allows you to have a chat for about 30 minutes - 1 hour. It is also very important to be punctual so we recommend setting a reminder or an alarm.
2. Read the Au Pair’s / Host Family’s profile and write down some questions
While looking for a
perfect match you might go through a lot of profiles. It is very important to read carefully the Host Family/AuPair's profile; it is especially crucial for the Au Pair to make sure that she/he meets both the parents (if the family has two parents) and the Host Kids during the Skype call, in order for she/he to see that they are a real and well-intentioned family and to avoid being victim of a scam.
In order to be clear on “who is who” we recommend taking notes and using them during the interview. You can also write your doubts about the
profile or prove the information published on it.
Some important questions to ask are:
-
How much childcare experience does the Au Pair have?
-
Has the Host Family had Au Pairs before?
-
What will be the Au Pair duties?
-
What motivated the family/Au Pair to be part of this cultural exchange program?
-
Are the Au Pair/Host Family vegetarian/vegan?
-
Do both Parents work full time?
-
Does the Au Pair/Host Family have any hobbies?
-
What are the Au Pair’s plans for the future?
3. Arrange a video call
It is extremely important to have at least 3 video calls with the Host Family/Au Pair you’re interested in. Video calls are invaluable for many reasons:
-
Video calls serve as a means for both the Au Pair and the Host Family to verify the authenticity of the person they are connecting with. Scammers almost never agree to meet through a live video-call, because it will reveal their identity. If a user refuses to meet you through the video interview, he/she is not a reliable person for further cooperation. Click here to read more tips and stay safe during your stay.
-
During a video call you will have the opportunity to discuss and finalize all the points of the contract before the beginning of the stay, ensuring clarity and mutual agreement. It is important to take time to discuss into detail your contract to avoid misunderstandings.
-
It is beneficial for both the Au Pair and the Host Family to discuss about the Au Pair's future routine over a video call. Many Host Families provide the Au Pair with a weekly schedule, which helps to plan effectively and gives the Au Pair clear guidelines.
-
A good idea to connect with your Host Family, is to ask to meet your future host kids. This will make it easier for the children to trust the Au Pair once he/she joins the family. At the same time, the Au Pair will have a better understanding of the children's personalities and will have a smoother start with the Host Family.
-
Au Pairs can request to see their future room. Beyond practical matters, video calls facilitate the establishment of a relationship based on trust between Au Pairs and Host Families, which is essential for a successful and harmonious au pair stay.
4. Make a good first impression
During the interview both parts will get to know each other a bit more. Nevertheless, the first impression is essential. Make sure you have found a quiet place with good internet connection before starting the interview. If you are a Host Family, try calling from home so the Au Pair can see a bit of where you live. If you are an Au Pair be sure to chat with the children. If possible ask to have a look at your future
Au Pair room.
If you are looking for a longer list of questions to your potential Au Pair / Host Family, keep reading!
5. Discuss the regulations and the contract
Discuss the regulations and the
Au Pair contract which should be done as soon as possible. Agree on the
number of working hours per week,
holidays and the amount of
pocket money. Remember that in some countries it is regulated and in any case it should be respected. If it is necessary, discuss the documents you might need and the amount of time it would take to get a
visa for the host country.
6. Show interest in your potential Au Pair / Host Family
Show your interest and excitement when talking for the first time with your potential Au Pair or Host Family. Let them know that you have read the
profile carefully and would like to get to know them better. Ask questions about their lifestyle and hobbies and be sure to share yours as well.
The Au Pair program is all about the win-win cooperation between the Au Pair and the Host Family. How does it work?
Find out
If you are an Au Pair show that you have a genuine interest in getting to know the culture and the language of your host country. If you are a Host Family prove that you want a cultural exchange and someone who takes great care of your kids and not a cleaning person.
7. Be Yourself!
Show the Host Family or Au Pair who you really are. Be clear on your priorities and expectations. If you are an Au pair it is especially important not to lie about your experience in childcare, driving, cooking or any other duty that you are
required to do. Try not to worry a lot about the
language. It is normal to be nervous if you are speaking in another language.
Good luck finding your perfect match!
Searching for a perfect Au Pair may take some time. You need to browse through all the candidates meeting your search criteria, send messages, schedule interviews and finally get in direct touch with the applicants. Even if you exchanged quite a lot messages before, the person you are going to meet during the video interview will be brand new to you and to your family. Sounds quite overwhelming? AuPair.com will help you prepare for this challenge.
You need to speak with your Au Pair about her / his general child care experience and expectations toward your family to assess the applicant’s approach to the Au Pair program. But before you start this subject, try to break the ice with some small-talk - ask general questions about the Au Pair’s life, interests and daily activities. This way you will be able to assess her / his personality and maturity, which are not less important than the child care experience. If you are going to interview more than one candidate, take notes! In the long run, they are going to help you a lot.
Below you can find a list of the most important questions to ask your Au Pair during the interview:
-
Why do you want to be an Au Pair?
-
Have you ever been abroad?
-
Have you ever been away from home for a long time?
-
What are you interested in?
-
What do you do in your free time?
-
What’s your family life like?
-
Do you have siblings?
-
Do you have child care experience?
-
What do you like most about taking care of children?
-
What do you think is the role of an Au Pair in children’s life?
-
How would you keep the children occupied? Do you have some activities in mind?
-
Can you help children with their homework?
-
Can you teach the children English / your native language?
-
What are you going to do when the children are disobedient?
-
Do you have a driving license? If yes, are you an experience driver?
-
What salary the Au Pair expects?
-
What the Au Pair’s expectations for the Au Pair room?
-
How long would you like to stay?
-
When would you like to arrive?
-
How are you going to spend your Au Pair holiday? Are you going to visit your homeland or travel?
-
Would you like to spend the holiday with us? If yes, do you want to care for children during this time?
-
Are you vegetarian / vegan? Do you follow any special diet?
-
Do you have any allergies / diseases?
-
Do you have a partner? Are you prepared for a long-distance relationship?
-
Do you smoke? Do you have any other addiction?
Looking forward to meeting your Au Pair?
Let us get you started. Choose preferred nationality of your future Au Pair:
... or see all »
Interview with the Host Family may be a pretty stressing situation, but try to be as natural and honest as possible - trust is the very foundation of every successful relationship! Furthermore, you are going to spend with these people the next few months, you need to know if you are going to feel with them comfortable. There is no better way to get to know that than meeting during multiple video interviews.
Before you pick up the call, make sure to go through the family’s profile and write down all the questions that come to your mind. Don’t let the stress block you, don’t worry about proper grammar, try to express your thoughts in the simplest way. Ask about the children and the family’s routine, about the rules in the family’s house and their daily life. It will help you a lot to decide if the Host Family is the perfect match for you.
Below you can find more examples of questions for Au Pair to ask Host Families:
-
Why do you want to host an Au Pair? What’s your exact motivation?
-
What do you expect from me as an Au Pair?
-
Have you hosted an Au Pair ever before?
-
Could you tell my what my daily schedule would look like?
-
How many children do you have?
-
What are the children’s names?
-
How old are the children?
-
What are your children like?
-
Do your children get well along with new people? Are they easily adaptative?
-
What do your children do in their free time?
-
Do your children attend any activities after school?
-
Do I need to drive the children to school and extra activities?
-
What languages are the children learning?
-
Do you discipline your children when they are disobedient? If yes, how?
-
What do you do for a living?
-
What are your working hours?
-
Where do you work?
-
Could I call you when you are at work in case of emergency?
-
Do you like to travel?
-
What is your daily routine?
-
What do you do during the weekends?
-
Are there any activities you do together as a family?
-
Do you think you are an active family? Do you like sports?
-
Are there any important rules in your household?
-
Does your family follow any special diet?
-
Do the children have any allergies?
-
Is there any language school nearby?
-
What is the weather like? What should I pack?
-
Is the public transport accessible?
-
Will I have access to the family car in my free time?
-
Could my friends come over?
-
Do you have Wifi? Will I have access to Internet?
-
Will I have access to computer? Should I take my own device?
-
Do you know some other Au Pairs in the neighbourhood?
-
Could you show me my room?
Login
