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Find an Au Pair

Finding an Au Pair for your family

Once you register, you’ll gain access to view hundreds of Au Pair profiles. Below are the most commonly screened traits that families look for in Au Pair candidates, and an example Au Pair listing to help you understand what you’ll see inside our Host Family community, which is where to find an Au Pair. We do whatever we can to make your Au Pair search as painless as possible. When looking for an Au Pair, here are some of the main traits you’ll see in our Au Pair listings.

Childcare Experience

Personality Traits

Driving Experience

Infant Qualified

Our Au Pair Selection Process

Many of our clients want to know how we find the Au Pairs on our site. At Go Au Pair, we take the selection of our Au Pairs very seriously. Our thorough Au Pair Selection Process is designed to ensure that all interested caregivers meet the Department of State requirements before joining our Au Pair Program.

We go above and beyond to match our Host Families with dedicated Au Pairs who meet their unique needs. Our goal is to find Au Pairs that provide families with peace of mind knowing that their children are in the care of responsible, reliable, and experienced caregivers.

The steps for how to find an Au Pair can feel overwhelming, but Go Au Pair does the hard work for you. When screening Au Pairs, we require:

  • AP successful placement questionnaire
  • Personal letter to the Host Family
  • In-person interview with an IR
  • Photo collage
  • At least 2 child care references (from non-family members)
  • At least 1 personal character reference
  • Physician’s health report
  • Criminal background check
  • Personality profile
  • Psychometric test
  • Under 2 verification form (if the Au Pair is infant-qualified)
  • Completing 32 hours of multimedia child care training and passing all tests
  • Driver’s license copy (if applicable)
  • High school diploma/secondary school completion

 

We want every family and every caregiver to have a great experience together, which is why we conduct an extensive screening and selection process. Let’s look at the process in more detail.

6 Steps to a Successful Placement With Your Au Pair

Step 1

Identifying Your Needs

how to search for an au pairIdentifying your needs when trying to find an Au Pair lays the foundation for a successful and harmonious relationship. An au pair serves as a valuable addition to a family, providing support and care for children while offering cultural exchange. By clearly defining your requirements, you can ensure that you find an au pair who aligns with your family’s values, lifestyle, and childcare expectations.

When identifying your needs, consider factors such as the desired level of experience, personality, language proficiency, specific skills (e.g., cooking, tutoring), and the number of hours or days of assistance required. By being thorough in your assessment, you can find an au pair who not only meets your practical needs but also forms a genuine connection with your family and offers a nurturing and supportive environment for your children. Completing the Host Family Profile and Successful Placement Questionnaire helps families realize and prioritize their needs both for child care and personally.

Step 2

Search & Identify Your Favorites
 

can i pick my au pair?Now that you know what your family’s requirements are, it’s time to start the search for someone who meets those needs. You can quickly filter your results by age, nationality, language skills, experience, and availability. Review the au pair profiles thoroughly, paying attention to their personal descriptions, childcare experience, and any additional skills or qualifications they possess. Take note of candidates who seem to align well with your family’s needs and values.

As you come across potential favorites, add them to your shortlist. This allows you to keep track of the au pairs you find most promising. As you browse through your top au pair profiles, take note of specific qualities or experiences that stand out to you, such as a strong educational background, experience with specific age groups, or relevant certifications. By carefully selecting up to 20 favorites, you can ensure a manageable number of candidates to further evaluate and eventually initiate conversations with, moving you closer to finding the ideal au pair for your family.

Step 3

Evaluate & Rank Your Top Candidates
 

choosing an au pairAfter creating your list of favorites, it’s time to narrow it down to an A-list of your top 5-10 candidates. When evaluating and ranking your top Au Pairs, it is essential to consider what’s most important to you. Begin by reviewing each au pair’s profile in more detail, paying attention to their experience, qualifications, and any specific skills that align with your family’s needs. Take note of their previous childcare roles, the age groups they have worked with, and any relevant certifications or training they have obtained.

Consider their personality compatibility and how well they may integrate into your family’s lifestyle. Evaluate their personal interests, hobbies, and values to gauge if they would be a good fit for your family dynamics. Additionally, read reviews and testimonials about the Au Pair’s previous child care experience. This feedback can offer valuable perspectives on the au pair’s reliability, responsibility, and ability to establish a positive rapport with children.

Once you have gathered this information, rank the Au Pairs based on your preferences and priorities. Trust your instincts and choose the au pairs who you believe would best meet your family’s needs and create a harmonious environment for your children.

Step 4

Communicate & Schedule Interviews

au pair interview questionsNow it’s time to start getting to know your potential Au Pairs. When it comes to communicating and scheduling interviews with your top candidates, it’s important to establish clear and efficient communication channels. Start by sending personalized messages or emails to each candidate, expressing your interest in their profile and inviting them for an interview. You can share your Family Profile with the au pair so they can learn about you. We recommend sharing your profile prior to the interview to ensure au pairs are interested in matching. 

To keep you from getting overwhelmed, we recommend starting with 3-5 interviews. Provide options for interview dates and times, taking into consideration time zone differences if applicable. Offer flexibility to accommodate the au pair’s schedule as well. It’s advisable to suggest multiple time slots to increase the likelihood of finding a mutually convenient time for the interview.

When scheduling the interviews, use video call platforms such as Skype, Zoom, or FaceTime for a more interactive and personal conversation. Video interviews allow you to observe the candidate’s non-verbal cues and assess their communication skills and overall demeanor.

Once you’ve initiated contact with an Au Pair, they will have the option to politely decline to match with your family and be removed from your favorites. This useful feature enables both the Host Family and Au Pair to focus on finding their ideal match. You’ll be notified via email if an Au Pair declines to work with your family, so you won’t wonder why they’re no longer visible inside the community.

Step 5

Conduct Interviews

how to interview an au pair candidateInterviews will help you narrow down the perfect person for the job based on your needs. We recommend conducting at least two interviews. We also provide recommended interview questions to help you make the right choice.  

During the interviews, ask open-ended questions about their childcare experiences, their approach to handling different situations, and their expectations of the au pair role. Discuss logistical details such as hours, responsibilities, and any specific requirements or concerns you may have. Take notes and compare their responses with your initial criteria to evaluate their suitability.

After the interviews, give yourself time to reflect on each candidate’s strengths and weaknesses. Consider how well they addressed your concerns, their level of enthusiasm, and the connection you felt during the conversation. Use these insights to further narrow down your choices and make an informed decision.

By establishing effective communication and conducting thorough interviews, you can ensure a smoother and more successful selection process, ultimately finding the au pair who is the best match for your family.

Step 6

Find a Mutual Match

matching with an au pairCongrats, it’s time to invite your Au Pair to join your family! Once you feel you’ve found your perfect match, promptly extend an offer with the selected au pair and express your interest in having them join your family. 

A member of our team will help facilitate the matching process and confirm the Au Pair accepts. In order to mutually match, your Family Profile, photos, detailed duties, and benefits are provided to the au pair. The au pair must accept the offer and once accepted, the Go Au Pair team will help finalize the next steps. These include agreeing to the contract, completing relevant documents, arranging travel plans, and more.

Only families with approved Family Profiles can complete these steps and find an Au Pair. If you’re ready to get started, register and complete your profile today!

au pair riding trike with kid

It starts with your free registration.

Sign up for free and start searching for your family’s newest member today.

About Our Au Pair Agency

Go Au Pair is one of the best Au Pair agencies in the United States, providing quality child care for over 30 years. Beginning as a nanny company in 1984, we soon expanded to include Au Pairs. We were one of the original Au Pair Program sponsors designated by the department of State in 1989.

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