Hiring an Au Pair can be one of the most significant decisions you will make for your family. Searching profiles, reviewing applications, and interviewing candidates via email and video chat can take time and energy.
It is important to ask lots of questions and to be honest. This will help you find the best match for your family.
Be Specific
If you invite an au pair into your home for a year, finding someone who’ll fit with the family’s personality is essential. That’s why spending time on the interview process is critical and ensuring you get a good feel for the candidates.
It’s also essential to consider what you want from an au pair: Do you want them to be independent individuals who only work during the hours they’re supposed to? Or do you want them to be more integrated family members and participate in children’s activities outside their work hours?
During the video interviews, you’ll have the chance to speak to your top candidates and ask them any questions you have. This is the best way to get a feel for the candidate’s personality and see if you click. It’s also an excellent opportunity for the candidate to learn about your family and expectations. This will help them decide if they’re interested in your family and will help you avoid potential scams.
Be Honest
Having an honest conversation about your expectations with the host family is one of the most important things you can do during the au pair search. You will need to talk about your family’s schedule, rules for the children, neighbourhood expectations, and any other details that you think are important for an au pair to know.
After narrowing down your search, arranging video interviews with the au pairs who interest you is a good idea. This will allow you to talk with the candidate at length, getting to know them better and seeing if their personality aligns well with yours.
Remember that hiring an au pair isn’t a decision you can make half-heartedly! It’s more than just childcare; it’s a new life you’re signing up for. If your “non-negotiables” aren’t being met by a host family, don’t be afraid to trust your gut and move on. They’ll appreciate your honesty and respect that you are firm about what you want from them. A little honesty now can save a lot of frustration later!
Be Flexible
The best au pairs agencies, such as Go Au Pair, understand that only some host families will have the exact needs. That’s why it is so vital for families to think carefully about their own “must-haves” and not be afraid to compromise on the less important things to them.
Some examples of this might be agreeing to consider travel time as on-duty hours or letting an au pair take breaks for personal time. In addition, if you are not accustomed to using a particular method of discipline with your children, it is essential to discuss that in advance. Hence, your au pair has the proper training she needs to implement disciplinary action.
Building a good relationship will require both the au pair and host family to be flexible daily, but it is very worth the effort when you find a match that will become part of your extended family. Invest the time in reviewing profiles, interviewing via email and video chat, and be prepared to make some concessions during the process.
Be Respectful
For some host families, a quality au pair is as much about their personality as their childcare skills. They want an au pair that they can feel comfortable leaving alone in their home, taking on holidays, and who will fit into the family like a new sibling.
That’s why it’s essential to be respectful when interviewing au pairs and ensuring they understand the expectations of the role. This will help to prevent any misunderstandings in the future. This includes setting clear house rules, how you expect your children to behave, and what hours they go to bed.
It’s also a good idea to give potential au pairs a chance to talk about their experiences with previous host families and to ask questions. This will help you get a feel for whether or not their personalities align with your own and help you make the best decision for your family.
Be Prepared
It is a good idea to be prepared to find your au pair. This includes being familiar with the requirements of your program and having a clear understanding of what your family’s specific needs are. Knowing things like your child-rearing philosophies, house rules, expectations for chores, and pocket money can help you filter out candidates who might not be a good fit.
It can also be helpful to prepare a list of questions to ask au pairs during video chat interviews and plan the schedule for your au pair’s first few days with the family. For example, some families use this time to have the au pair complete a childcare questionnaire for each of their children, conduct a neighbourhood tour, and take her to a grocery store selling foods from her home country.
While the search can be time-consuming and frustrating, remember that this is a year-long commitment, and finding someone who is a good match for your family is essential. The right au pair can be an excellent addition to your household and help create lasting memories for your children.