How To Become An Au Pair

'Au Pair' is used to describe a young person who lives on equal basis with a host family in a foreign country. The au pair performs routine jobs such as childcare and housework while staying as a guest to the host family. She receives a small allowance as compensation for the jobs she performs.

Most of the times the au pair is a female who has been accepted by the host family as an external family member. Both the au pair and the family are expected to live harmoniously with one another.

Nature of Work.

The primary role for an au pair is childcare and some housekeeping duties. Housekeeping duties may include making children's beds, washing and ironing clothes and cooking dinner. Babysitting may also be performed by a nanny occasionally but it needs to be clearly stipulated in the contract.

Au Pair Earnings.

The earnings for au pairs vary according to the country and the city which they are located. Pay is usually based on the number of hours an au pair is required to work and the number of children in the family. For minimal duties of about five hours in the evening beginning when the children arrive from school and ending at about 9 pm when the children go to sleep the pay can average about $140 per week. Food and accommodation are provided. Weekends can be tricky as the family usually requires an extra helping hand but at the same time you want to relax. You should be flexible and agree when asked to work on occasional weekends because when you want time off your host family is most likely to agree. Of course, you will be paid extra. The contracts usually last one year though of course every family is different and may have its own contract specifications.

Caution.


Since an au pair may involve working across countries or cities you should establish the family's history as your safety is of the utmost priority. You certainly do not want to be a victim of human trafficking. The family that is employing you is usually expected to pay for your airfare and travel insurance. This helps save on a lot costs and hassles. The bad side is that you would not have met the host family beforehand and hence you may know very little about them and so in most cases it is a gamble. You could try to contact the family's previous au pairs to get an accurate reputation of the family. You can search for the authenticity of the job offer from the local business bureau or employment agency.

Education and Training

The requirements vary from family to family. For instance, some families prefer that their au pairs have a four-year degree in order to assist the children with the homework. Some may have no problem with a high school graduate provided she can perform her childcare and housekeeping roles. However, the more the documented experience, the more your pay. You should at least try to get a child care credential or certification in order to substantially improve your employability and earnings.