of this experience? Are you sure you would like to become an Au Pair and find a Host Family online? Below you can see a step-by-step guide that will help you become a part of the Au Pair experience. Let's look into each step in detail.
As an Au Pair you can use the AuPair.com platform for free: send messages, browse profiles and get many other benefits after the registration. To stand out among the participants, you need to create an interesting profile.
Fill in the information about you, add some
pictures or even
videos to make your profile look more personal. Add certificates and recommendations that prove your experience. Consider writing a
Host Family letter to share your expectations and motivation in becoming an Au Pair with your future Host Family. You can also decide which information you would like to make public or private.
AuPair.com is the best place to find a Host Family - just register, create an account, upload some pictures and chase your dreams!
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Your profile plays an important role in finding the right Host Family matching your interests and expectations. Read more information about the
Au Pair profile and pay attention to details while filling in the information.
Once you are signed in as an Au Pair, you can start searching for Host Families in different countries. The platform gives you the opportunity to browse families that match your preferences and destinations. In addition to AuPair.com's suggestions, you can add other families to your Favorites. This way you will have a selected list of users you are interested in. Each added family will receive a notification.
You can also
send free requests to Host Families of your choice. They will receive your application and can accept or deny your profile. Did you know? If you reach 100% in your activity level you can see which Host Families are Premium. So don't wait any longer and reply to your unread messages in your inbox!
After shortlisting the most suitable families, it is really important to talk to them to get to know each other better. During the interview both parties will share their expectations and talk about the important details of the cooperation. You will be able to see which family suits you best. In addition to this, a live video-call will protect you from possible
scam attempts. Since scammers are afraid to reveal their identity, they usually refuse to join video-calls.
Before making a decision, meet up during the video-interview. Keep the time zone in mind, make some notes first,... What else?
Find out!
Make a list of important questions you would like to discuss with your prospective Host Family. Some of them might be:
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Have you hosted an Au Pair before?
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What do you expect from your Au Pair? What are the Au Pair responsibilities?
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What does your weekly routine look like?
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Why are you willing to host an Au Pair?
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How would you describe the area you live in?
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Do the kids go to kindergarden or school? Do they have further regular activities?
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What are the kids like? Do they have special needs or allergies?
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Do you have any hobbies or regular family activities?
If you like a certain family during the talk and you both feel this could be a good match, organize another call and discuss more specific details about
accommodation, boarding,
pocket money, required documents,
insurance,
visa requirements if any, transportation and other important parts of the Au Pair experience.
We’ve also gathered other
interview tips that will help you organize a more productive conversation.
The Au Pair contract is a formal document stating all important details discussed between you and your future Host Family. It can help you avoid many possible misunderstandings and
problems during the stay. Download the template of the
Au Pair contract and edit it together with your Host Family according to your needs and the host country’s laws. Sign the contract and keep it with you. It is one of the
visa requirements, though you might also need it for other formalities.
Also, discuss with your future Host Family whether you will need any additional documents abroad for registration, opening a bank account or other procedures.
There are many important things you need to consider
before going abroad: clarifying formalities with the host country’s embassy if you need a visa, gathering all the documents you need for registration in the host country, making sure your insurance coverage is sufficient, packing the suitcase, booking the tickets. If the Host Family is willing to help you with the travel costs, we recommend writing it down in the
Au Pair contract and define the installments that will be added to your monthly
pocket money during the year. Nevertheless, it is not a responsibility of the Host Family to cover travel expenses.
Before your departure, we advise you to make sure that:
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you know your Host Family's phone number and address
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your Host Family knows all your contact details (including mobile and landline number)
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Your Host Family knows your arrival details and you have agreed whether they will wait for you at the airport or bus station or you will have to take a taxi or bus to get to their house
Once you have arrived it's time to get to know your Host Family and the place where you will be living. Normally, it will take some time for the children to adapt to a new person, so don't worry if they seem distant at the beginning.
In order to make your adaptation easier, we recommend you to discuss the following terms with the Host Family at the very beginning of your stay:
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Weekly schedule: What should be done and when?
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Rules in the household
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Use of Internet and telephone
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Language course: When can you attend the courses to improve your language knowledge?
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Financial questions, bank account
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Emergency issues: Are there neighbors, grandparents or other people you can contact in case of emergency? Make sure you have the parents' mobile numbers with you and also know the emergency numbers of your host country.
Don’t forget that the
Au Pair program gives you a unique opportunity to stay abroad for some time and gain new experiences. Explore the country and local culture,
meet new people and make sure you enjoy this experience to the max.
Read more about different aspects of the Au Pair program in our Au Pair
A to Z WIKI and visit the
FAQ if you have other questions.
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