What is Au Pair World?
Au Pair World is one of the most popular Au Pair matchmaking sites available in multiple languages. Expectedhost familiesand Au Pair can register for free on the AuPairWorld website and create a profile. With a free Au Pair Worlds membership, you can filter, search and read profiles of au pairs or host families. However, full access to the free service is limited to Au Pairs only. They can send direct messages to Au Pair World Host Families free of charge. Email addresses are not disclosed.
However, host families can only communicateBabysittercandidates and access their full contact details in AuPairWorld if they subscribe to the programThe world of au pairs premium membership. Premium Host Family Membership rates vary by country and are available for one, three or twelve months.
Host families may wonder if it is worth buying a premium membership. This is really not an easy question. On the one hand, it could be argued that au pair candidates most likely really want to be an au pair, and not just create an account to see what happens. At least if the candidates have a nice profile. It is much cheaper to become a premium member for a few months than to register with a proper Au Pair agency.
On the other hand, Host Families can search for Au Pairs for free on other websites. Like Facebook or similar social networks. The downside is that potential candidates may not be very committed to the idea of becoming an au pair.
Depending on your personal circumstances and the flexibility of possible start dates, one way or the other may be better for you.
How do you usually make the first contact at AuPairWorld?
On the AuPairWorld website, they call the first message "application". All messages remain in your personal AuPairWorld messaging account. You do not get other members' email addresses unless you ask for it. Depending on how you set up your inbox settings, you may receive email notifications every time someone messages you. Or just every few hours or once a day.
In conclusion, the first contact between host families and au pairs occurs when one sends an application to the other. Very often when applying for an Au Pair orI am looking for an Au Pairin AuPairWorld you need to send and receive many applications. The demand is high because many families and Au Pairs are looking at AuPairWorld and therefore you often don't talk at all. AuPairWorld displays a "response rate" which gives you an idea of how likely the other party is to respond.
Is it easy to communicate through the AuPairWorld website?
If you contact a host family or a potential au pair, AuPairWorld will automatically add a general message, for example, imagine that you are your au pair”.
We highly recommend sending a more personal message to stand out, as the default message can give the impression that you are sending random requests without even reading the profile properly.
As soon as you "apply" for an Au Pair or Host Family, this message will automatically be added to the "Sent" folder, where you can also see if the recipient has opened your message or not. This is of particular interest to host parents, as you can get an idea of how "driven" an au pair candidate is, even if they don't open the message for days/weeks.
Any incoming messages or applications will automatically be visible in your "Inbox". This mailbox system is definitely nice and prevents you from opening messages that you have replied to, saving you a lot of time.
We are pretty sure of one AuPairWorld fact: you are most likely in contact with more than a handful of Au Pair candidates or Host Families, and the AuPairWorld mailbox will help you keep an overview of incoming messages and outgoing You can also add comments to a profile, bookmark profiles, archive messages, and use some filtering features in the messaging system.
Personally, we move conversations "offline" with AuPairWorld after an Au Pair candidate has expressed an interest in our family and if the Au Pair profile seems really interesting to us.
AuPairWorld is a great opportunity to get in touch with many host families or au pair applicants, but since they don't provide an app, the whole messaging process can be a bit cumbersome, especially if you prefer to communicate via your smartphone. Therefore, we recommend continuing the conversation via private email or WhatsApp and Au Pairs are usually happy with this.
How many applications do I have to send to AuPairWorld?
Well, this question is certainly difficult and shows the limits of the Au Pair world: as a Host Family, you set your "minimum requirements" and answer a few questions. As an Au Pair candidate, you choose the country you want to live in, set the earliest possible start month and the longest possible stay. It also answers some questions about certain skills, such as languages, driving skills, childcare experience, and what a host family should be like. Based on this information, Au Pair World matches your profile with that of host families or au pair candidates.
You can spend many, many hours browsing through the profiles of Au Pair candidates or Host Families that Au Pair World suggests as "matches" and only those you really like. Reading many profiles from A to Z is very time consuming, especially since some of them can be very detailed.
Especially for busy host families like ours, we take a time-saving approach:
Just review the essential facts about the matching profiles that Au Pair World suggests. The number of "matched" profiles can be a three-digit number out of several thousand Au Pair profiles registered on AuPairWorld. Some profiles may not appeal to you because you don't like the pictures displayed on the profile or because something else catches your eye that you might not like. Try not to spend too much time shortlisting and rather apply with a more "general" message, but still directed at you, without necessarily reading the entire au pair profile, especially if it is very long.
Simply copy in a paragraph and adjust it to the correct person, and if other changes need to be made, do so as well. This is likely to be a more random search, and as a result, you'll be sending more apps than usual. However, we believe that this approach can save time and increase the number of contacts. In a way, you can "pass the buck" to the other side and express general interest, then let the other side decide if they are interested as well and take it on board.
What is our experience using Au Pair World when looking for an Au Pair?
When looking for an Au Pair, we take a more random approach as mentioned above. One of the reasons is that we are a German family living in the UK and we are usually looking for a German au pair who can speak German with our children. Many of the German au pair candidates we contact do not choose us because they want to live with an English-speaking family. This is completely understandable because they will learn English faster if they speak it all day.
But there are still many German au pair candidates who can imagine living with us and of course accept the fact that it will take a little longer for them to master English. Some may see the advantage that at least we won't have to deal with the communication problems that can occur in English-speaking families. Very often, problems between au pairs and their host families seem to stem from a lack of communication. If the Au Pair's English language skills are not perfect, she may be a bit shy to tell the Host Family that something is wrong with her.
How many Au Pairs do we contact at Au Pair World?
To search for an Au Pair in 2017, we sent more than 60 applications to German Au Pair candidates. As described above, most of the time I quickly went through his profile looking for the following:
- Candidate's photo: Some people already leave mixed feelings about the candidate: For example, if I don't see a single photo with a child, only photos with friends, pets or an adult family. Personally, I also think that black and white photo shoots with heavy makeup are inappropriate for Au Pair applications.
- Planned length of stay
- child care experience
- A copy of the "Why do you want to be an Au Pair?" section.
As described above, I generally send a standard message where most of the initial text is the same for each application. Out of 60+ applications, I received positive feedback from about 15 applicants in a week. I have to admit that at the same time I only received 3 applications from Au Pair candidates who liked our AuPairWorld profile…
A few more applications poured in from other Au Pair job vacancies, such as Facebook groups and the Forum for Germans Living in London. This small number of applications from au pair candidates already shows that as a German family we are not the most popular family among German applicants.
We ask Au Pair candidates who have responded to our application to complete a self-assessment before arranging a Skype interview. We spoke via Skype with the seven au pair candidates who sent us a self-assessment. That's a lot for Skype interviews, but we wanted to make sure we picked the right person. In the end, we narrowed down the number of candidates to three, and my favorite didn't actually go through AuPairWorld.
For those whom we unfortunately had to turn down, even though we like them and would have hired them if we hadn't found this great candidate, we offered to ask for help finding a good host family among friends and colleagues.
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FAQs
Why do you want to be an au pair answer? ›
Establish Warm and Strong Relationships. One of the biggest motivations why a young person wants to become an au pair is because they want to establish good relationships with families. It also gives them a safe place to stay as a student or a backpacker who wants to travel to a new country.
How do you pass an au pair interview? ›- Keep the different time zones in mind. ...
- Read the Au Pair's / Host Family's profile and write down some questions. ...
- Make a good first impression. ...
- Discuss the regulations and the contract. ...
- Show interest in your potential Au Pair / Host Family. ...
- Be Yourself!
Your profile texts should contain a short description of yourself and your motivation for becoming an au pair. Do not forget to include information about your hobbies and interests. In writing your texts, try to answer the following questions: What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Why was my profile not accepted on AuPairWorld? ›Missing information in your profile
For each registered user, we need to have correct and complete data, including for example your address and telephone number. Only then will your profile be shown on the AuPairWorld website. If this information is missing, then your search can't get started.
I am an active and creative person who is always motivated and helpful. Even in all kinds of situations I am patient and cordially. Two of my strengths are that I am open-minded and adaptable. That is another reason why I would be a good au pair I can accustom myself very fast in new situations.
What qualities are most important to you in the aupair nanny that you hire? ›Strong Manners. Eye contact, handshakes, and pleasantries are just some of the things you'll want your nanny or au pair to have. Not only so that your interactions with them are pleasant, but also because they'll be spending all day with your kids.
How long does it take to get approved to be an au pair? ›We need at least 2-3 months to process your full application, find you a host family, and prepare you for your year. The speed of the process is dependent on how actively you complete your Au Pair Profile, engage in the matching process, and make travel preparations.
How many times should you interview an au pair? ›How many interviews does it take to find the right match? In a recent Cultural Care Au Pair parent poll, 47% of respondents said that they interviewed between three and five au pair candidates before making their final selection.
What is a high salary for au pair? ›| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | |
|---|---|---|
| Top Earners | $63,500 | $5,291 |
| 75th Percentile | $46,000 | $3,833 |
| Average | $41,707 | $3,475 |
| 25th Percentile | $26,500 | $2,208 |
Au pairs are live-in childcare providers. They travel from their home countries around the world to live with and provide childcare for families in the United States. This is part of what makes au pairs unique: In addition to providing childcare, they also create immersive cultural experiences for their host families.
How do I describe myself on aupair? ›
I would describe myself as an open-minded, hard-working, easy going, dedicated and responsible person. Sometimes I might be shy and a little reserved at first, but that is not something that bothers at all, I am very flexible. For me, safety, health and happiness of children are most important.
How do you introduce yourself as an aupair? ›Personal introduction
Make a brief introduction about you, talk about your interests, hobbies, what you like to do, but do not specify your contact details.
- Best Overall: Au Pair in America.
- Best Budget: Expert AuPair.
- Best Customer Service: Au Pair International.
- Best for Support: Agent Au Pair.
- Best Searchable Database: Go Au Pair.
- Best for Special Needs Families: PROaupair.
- Best International: EurAuPair.
- Best Matching Process: Au Pair 4 Me.
They're a standout skillset that helps you grab the attention of hiring managers, and they're a crucial part of a strong resume, CV and cover letter. Being an au pair can set you up for a range of different jobs and opportunities after your return home—maybe they're childcare-related, maybe they're not!
What is the most important part of the au pair's job? ›The main responsibility of an au pair is helping to take care of the children in the host family. In addition, au pairs help with everyday household tasks such as setting the table for dinner, emptying the dishwasher or occasionally helping to take care of a family pet.
What questions should an au pair ask the family? ›- How is daily life organised in the family?
- What tasks and activities will you be responsible for?
- What habits and hobbies does the family have?
- What do they do on their weekends?
- What are the children like?
However, many are looking for an Au-Pair from Spain, France or Italy. Additionally, Au-Pairs from Sweden, Denmark, Australia and Finland are also among the top 10. Other popular Au-Pairs are from Switzerland, Norway, Belgium and Iceland.
Can a 40 year old be an au pair? ›How old can / should an au pair be? Most au pairs are between 18 and 30 years old. But some countries have slightly different age requirements for au pairs. Therefore an au pair should always check the specific regulations for the host country before finalising arrangements for an au pair stay.
Can an au pair have a second job? ›No, the program is designed for an au pair to live with and care for one family's children. Au pairs are not permitted to have employment outside of their host family.
Is an au pair cheaper than a nanny? ›Au Pair vs Nanny Cost
On average, annual live in nanny cost is between $26,000-$35,000, while the cost of a standard Au Pair for a year is under $20,300. Most live in nannies for hire would not consider working up to 45 hours per week for that price!
What is the 2 year rule for au pair? ›
This requirement is part of U.S. law, in the Immigration and Nationality Act, Section 212(e). If you cannot return home for two years, you must apply for a waiver. The Department of Homeland Security must approve your waiver before you can change status in the United States or receive a visa in certain categories.
Can you be an au pair without experience? ›Although there are many au pair jobs available which don't require previous childcare experience, there are also serveral positions for which you will need previous references. Many new au pairs are faced with the problem of gaining childcare experience before getting their ideal au pairing job.
How much money do you need to be an au pair? ›| Au Pair | Extraordinaire | |
|---|---|---|
| Match Processing Fee | $475 | $475 |
| Annual Program Fee | $9,725 | $10,650 |
| Minimum Weekly Stipend* Paid weekly | $195.75* | $250.00* $300.00 (for all matches starting 9/1/2023) |
Be between the ages of 18 and 26 years old. Be a non-US citizen and live in a country serviced by GreatAuPair. Love children and have at least 1,200 hours of experience caring for them. Have at least 600 hours of caring for children under the age of two (if the au pair will be working with kids under the age of two)
Is 27 too old to be an au pair? ›There's no right age to become an au pair, but most agencies and/or families will look for someone under 30 years old, so you're still on time. How do I pick an au pair agency?
How long does it take to match with a host family as an au pair? ›The entire process from the time you submit your application to when you arrive in your host family's home can take as little as 6-10 weeks - or longer depending on how many families are looking for an au pair with your specific qualifications.
Do au pairs pay Social Security? ›Au pair wages are not usually subject to social security and Medicare taxes because of the au pair's status as a J-1 nonimmigrant and as a nonresident alien.
What is the lowest salary in AU? ›What Is the Minimum Wage in Australia? Australia's minimum wage for an adult is currently $21.38 per hour (before tax), or $812.60 for a 38-hour week. An adult is defined as being over the age of 21.
How many hours should an au pair work? ›According to our basic idea of au pairing an au pair should never work more than 30 hours per week. In most host countries official au pair working hours include time spent babysitting.
What are the rules for au pair? ›Eligibility: Must be 18-to-26-years-old, proficient in spoken English and must complete at least six hours of academic credit or its equivalent at an accredited U.S. post-secondary educational institution. Work hours: Childcare is limited to no more than 10 hours per day, and to a maximum of 45 hours per week.
How do you introduce yourself in a unique example? ›
- Use a name tag. ...
- Share a unique fact about yourself. ...
- Express yourself through your clothing. ...
- Use a custom-made business card. ...
- Consider your surroundings. ...
- Uncover similarities. ...
- Identify a mutual friend or acquaintance. ...
- Offer your help.
Black and white create the highest contrast possible, so it is considered one of the best color schemes to use on a resume. You can choose a pale background and intensive dark lettering. Just keep in mind that your resume may be printed in black and white, so don't use pale on pale.
What colors are attractive for resume? ›A black, white, and blue color scheme will appear modern, trustworthy, and grab the reader's attention without being distracting. Beyond blue, other good choices include green, red, and orange. Whichever colors you choose, make sure there's good contrast so that your resume is easy to read.
What Colours are attractive for resume? ›- Blue. Blue has a number of connotations that are useful in a professional setting, such as honesty, trust, and responsibility. ...
- Red. Red is often used to symbolize power, passion, and action, which are all great qualities in an employee. ...
- Orange. ...
- Yellow. ...
- Green. ...
- Purple. ...
- Gold. ...
- Grey.
Au Pair Meaning / Definition
Au Pairs become part of the family, and not just a hired hand, through caring for the children and cooking for them, cleaning up after them, helping them with homework, taking them to and from school and other activities, and so much more.
Do Au Pairs Cook? Yes, au pairs can cook. However, this is not their primary focus. They're there to provide child care, not to be a cook.
Can au pairs do grocery shopping? ›Vacuuming common areas. Grocery shopping. If doing own laundry and there are clothes in the dryer, helping to fold them.
What is the goal of being an au pair? ›The main objective behind an au pair stay is a mutual cultural exchange which benefits both parties: The au pair brings a new culture, a foreign language and a whiff of the big wide world into the host family.
How would you describe yourself as an au pair? ›I would describe myself as an open-minded, hard-working, easy going, dedicated and responsible person. Sometimes I might be shy and a little reserved at first, but that is not something that bothers at all, I am very flexible. For me, safety, health and happiness of children are most important.
Why I'm qualified for this position? ›When answering this interview question, focus on the skills and qualities you possess that most closely align with the needs and requirements of the role. For example: Hard or soft skills, like software expertise, or excellent customer service skills. Qualities like dedication, determination and perseverance.
Why should we hire you with no experience? ›
I am looking forward to opportunities where I can learn and grow. As I am a fresher, I don't have any experience. But I am willing to work for you in any kind of situation. I have the ability to work with your organization and I can show my ability working with your organization.
Why should we hire you examples? ›“I should be hired for this role because of my relevant skills, experience, and passion for the industry. I've researched the company and can add value to its growth. My positive attitude, work ethics, and long-term goals align with the job requirements, making me a committed and valuable asset to the company.”
What makes you stand out from other candidates? ›These can be professional skills, areas of expertise, personal qualities, or any relevant experience. Also, consider any impressive accomplishments from your past or career goals that speak to your commitment to the field. Think of ways to out-do the other candidates.