Host families should ask plenty of questions during their interviews. This shows investment and curiosity from both parties and will help them make a well-educated decision when the time comes to match officially.
Reliability
Whether it is showing up for the video interview or picking up the kids from school, the family’s home comfort food, ensuring they are always at most 15 minutes late for anything, and always keeping their curfew, hosts want their au pairs to be reliable. It’s the difference between getting what you pay for and being a valuable employee.
Au pairs are expected to work up to 10 hours per day/45 hours a week and assist the host family with household chores in exchange for housing and an au pair wage or stipend. Host families are not looking for au pairs to act as domestic help, language teachers, dog sitters, or cleaners but rather temporary family members who pitch in where needed and are treated as full-time household members. It’s important for host families to clearly define what their expectations are of an au pair, especially regarding child-related duties. This should form the basis of any contract that is subsequently made. That is why host families are screening au pair profiles on various websites.
Communication Skills
When a host family interviews an au pair, they want to know if she can communicate effectively. This is a huge part of the job because au pairs will work closely with their host children. It is important to keep in touch with the kids, ensure they attend school and after-school activities on time, and help them with homework and projects.
Communication skills are also required when talking to the host parents on Skype during the interview process. Host families should be able to understand the au pair’s accent, but they also need to have enough knowledge of the language to ask questions and discuss their expectations.
Host families will also want to hear that the au pair is open to the experience and willing to learn about American culture and customs. It’s important that the au pair can adjust to different eating habits, lifestyle modes, and even climate changes. The host family will also look for a willingness to reciprocate the au pair by showing her that she is appreciated.
Flexibility
Au Pairs live with their host families and can expect to spend up to 45 hours a week (or 10 hours a day) caring for children. This is significantly more than babysitters or nannies work, and as a result, au pairs need to be flexible to meet the needs of their host family’s schedules. For example, if the family has school-age kids that participate in extracurricular activities, an au pair might need to be willing to drive them to and from games, practices, lessons, etc. This can be especially challenging for au pairs who need to be more confident drivers, but it’s something that many au pairs accept as a part of the job.
While au pairs need to be flexible, it’s also essential for them to know what their non-negotiables are. For example, if an au pair isn’t comfortable driving or doing major chores around the house, they should only seek out families requiring these skills.
Abilities
If you want your au pair to be able to participate in community activities and educational opportunities, it’s vital to ensure she has the necessary abilities. This includes a valid driver’s license, the ability to speak and write English, and other physical capacities like lifting or moving children or other household items.
Your au pair will need to be able to care for your children and keep them safe in all situations. This includes being able to handle sibling rivalry, temper tantrums, and other challenges that are typical of childhood. It also means being able to follow your instructions for things such as diapering, feeding, and bathing the kids.
It’s also important to communicate with your au pair about the methods you use for disciplinary action. This is because disciplinary methods vary by culture, so she must understand your rules for behavior and safety. Discussing emergency procedures and medical care that may differ from her country of origin is also a good idea.
Communication
As an au pair, you’ll communicate with your host family in English, so a good language level is a prerequisite for the program. Your English doesn’t have to be perfect, but you should be able to understand your family and find your way around. You’ll also be responsible for communicating with the host children, so it is important to have good communication skills. This may include preparing meals for the kids, drop off/pick up from school, going to activities, or interacting with them through play.
Ensure you interview potential hosts before agreeing to become an au pair. Ask them many questions about what interests you and how you would fit into the family. Video chat interviews are a great option as they give you a feel for the family’s personality.
