The person you chose will become your Au Pair, and will probably have a different cultural background than yours, in some cases a very different one. You have to try to be open-minded and understand the Au Pair’s culture. That way you will also learn about the Au Pair’s country.
Of course the main goal of the Au Pair is to learn the language and get to know the culture of the host country - your country. Try to help the Au Pair with cultural differences and be patient when teaching your culture or way of living.
Our contest
We all know that the Au Pair program could be an amazing opportunity to discover new cultures, gain a temporary family member and find an affordable childcare solution. Hosting an Au Pair can be fascinating too: it lets you discover the new perspectives that the new family member brings into your house. Hosting an almost unknown person from a different country is a great step forward for every family - there is simply no better way to show your children diversity and widen their horizon.
Share your story about your experience as a Host Family with us. We will read all of them and publish the best ones. If your story gets published, we’ll send you an access code to a Babbel’s language course for any language of your choice or get you a free Premium Membership on AuPair.com! Have fun writing!
Try to learn things from the Au Pair’s culture like a typical dish from their homeland, music etc. It is a good way to make the Au Pair feel more at home and also to expand your personal knowledge.
Try to be respectful, maybe your religion is different from the Au Pair's. Some Au Pairs can be very devoted, so try to understand them and be open-minded about people having different beliefs.
Remember that an Au Pair is not an employee, but someone who will be part of your family for a long time. The more you learn from each other, the better both your and the Au Pair’s experience will be.
Screening the Au Pairs
Finding an Au Pair that matches what you’re looking for might be more difficult than it seems. There are some things you should keep in mind when you’re screening the Au Pairs’ profiles.
Have a look at the profiles of your prospective Au Pairs and try to get to know them a bit. Check the descriptions - this might be the most important part for you. Au Pairs with short and dull descriptions won’t tell you anything about their personality, so try to look for more complete descriptions.
It is important that you pay attention to things like the Au Pair’s experience with kids. An Au Pair who has taken care of their little siblings or cousins can be a good candidate, given that the Au Pair has already worked with kids. While checking the profiles, you can make notes of all the things you would like to clarify during the video-interview with your prospective Au Pair.
Another thing to consider is whether the Au Pair has hobbies or likes sports. Knowing about the Au Pair’s hobbies will give you a better picture of the things your kids would like of the Au Pair. For example, an Au Pair who likes playing soccer might be a good candidate if your kids like playing soccer, too, and so on. And even if your kids are not big fans of the outdoors, maybe a sporty Au Pair will get them interested in some kind of physical activity!
Depending on where you live, it is important for the Au Pair to have a driver's license. Some Au Pairs are used to living in the city, and taking the bus or the subway for them comes as naturally as breathing. However, sometimes having a driving license can make things easier. Au Pairs who can drive are a plus in your Au Pair search.
Also take a look at the answer rate. There are three circles on the Au Pair’s profile. One of the circles contains a number with a percentage. This indicates the answer rate of the Au Pair. If the answer rate is high, it’s a good sign of the Au Pair’s commitment.
Lastly, Au Pairs who have already been abroad are used to living far from home, so you don’t have to worry about the Au Pair getting homesick or sad while living with you. Also, Au Pairs who are currently learning the language of your country are showing their interest for your culture and language, so they are more likely to fit in the family and country.
Nonetheless, always remember to arrange a video-call with your Au Pair to get to know them better and decide if the first impression based on their profile was adequate. If you could talk for hours that’s a good match. You won’t get bored of each other!
How long does it take to find an Au Pair?
It depends on several factors. Make sure your profile is full and interesting for other users. Make sure that you meet the Host Family requirements set by the Au Pair program. Be active and contact about 10-15 Au Pairs per day. If you follow the three tips above you can find a suitable match within one to four weeks. Check out our Host Family guide for more advice and ideas on how to find an Au Pair faster.
