FAQ

  1. Why do I have to pay a fee? Other agencies have offered to place me for free?
    As the old saying goes, "If something is free, you probably get what you pay for." If an agency does not charge you, you are not a client of that agency. Agencies who don't charge you only have the family as a client, NOT you. We consider both the families AND the au pairs to be our clients and do our best to take care of both parties. I have heard of au pairs who have contacted families and have not had to pay an agency. What is the advantage of going through an agency when I can find families on the Internet by using automatic website-based searches? That would be fine if you are lucky and find a nice family on your own. But what if the family turns out to be one who exploits au pairs and is really looking for cheap domestic help? Who can you turn to? A good agency will immediately take care of such a problem and place you in a new family. Also, a good agency will screen potential families before accepting them into the au pair program. We also provide a human touch and personal contact to candidates and families that the Internet cannot offer.
  2. Who is it for?
    Au-pair places are usually for young, single people aged 18-27 without children.
  3. What does it entail?
    As an au pair you are part of the family and are expected to work up to 30 hours a week assisting with taking care of the children and doing some light housework. In exchange, you are entitled to free board and lodging (in your own room), weekly pocket money and at least one day off. You should also have the opportunity to attend language school. The exact requirements will vary from one family to another but the above can serve you as a general rule. It is recommended that you discuss all the details (duties, working hours, free time, amount of pocket money, "rules of the house" etc) with the family and confirm the arrangements on paper. But most of all good relations and a happy atmosphere will depend on both sides' good will, flexibility and willingness to cooperate.
  4. How long is it for?
    Usually, it is for a period of at least six months, although often families prefer to have their au-pairs staying with them for a whole year or academic year (beginning of September until the end of July). Only in exceptional cases are there opportunities to work for only a few weeks, eg in the summer holidays.
  5. What about language skills?
    You have to have basic French or German or others (depend which country you want to go) language skills before you arrive - you are expected to be able to hold a simple conversation with both adults and children.
  6. How soon can I leave for the Europe?
    Send in your Internet pre-application today! Ideally we need between two and three months to process your full application and to prepare you for your year. If you want to go sooner, we will work as fast as we can to accommodate you.
  7. Can I choose where I want to live in the Europe?
    You can specify a preferred destination in the Europe and we will do our best to place you in that region. Our top priority, however, is always to place you with the family that suits you best. So we cannot guarantee you placement in a specific area.
  8. Can I apply with a friend?
    Of course you can! Some au pairs think it is a lot of fun to go through the au pair application process with a friend. We also will try to place you in the same region. Because our first concern is a good host family match for you, though, we cannot guarantee that it will be possible for you and your friend to be placed near one another.
  9. Can guys apply?
    Of course, young men are welcome to apply to become an au pairs. Some host families in the Europe prefer to have a male au pair. As is the case with female applicants, the more child care experience you have the better your chances will be of us finding a host family.
  10. Can I change my host family if we don’t get along?
    Our first concern is that you and your host family have a successful year together. Sometimes it takes time to get to know and understand your host family. In some rare cases when there is a true personality conflict between an au pair and host family, we will work with you and the host family to find the best solution for both sides.
  11. What if I get homesick?
    It is only natural to feel homesick at the beginning of your stay in Europe, but for those with enough maturity, this passes quickly. If you have serious doubts about being able to live away from home and friends for an extended period of time, wait until you are more comfortable with the idea. [!--empirenews.page--]
  12. I would like to go to Europe as an Au Pair, but the only experience I have is babysitting. Should I still apply?
    Certainly, the more experience you have, the better your chances of placement are. However, there are other qualities that are also important for placement, such as maturity, responsibility, an interest in cultural enrichment and a sincere desire to work with children. If you feel you have some of these qualities, please submit your application. We will do our best to find you an appropriate family.
  13. I do not speak the language of my target country should I apply?

    Yes, we can usually match you with a family who speaks English, German or French. You will find that you will pick up the language quite quickly in a total immersion situation such as living with a host family as an au pair. There is no better way to learn a language than to go to a country where it is spoken. If you don't speak English, German or French, it would be difficult. So you should spend as much time as possible sharpening your skills before your departure to the Europe.
  14. I do not have my driver’s license yet. Can I still apply?

    You may still apply, but it is necessary that you have a valid driver's license before you can start to work as an au pair in Europe. If you do not have a valid license, you will need to take your test as soon as possible. For safety reasons it is essential you are an experienced, responsible driver and will feel comfortable driving in Europe.
  15. Do I have the opportunity to study?

    As part of the au pair program regulations all au pairs must enroll in a post-secondary study program during their year in Europe. This is a great way for you to meet other au pairs as well as European of your own age.
  16. Why do I have to apply through an agency in my own country to become an au pair?
    Every country has specific visa requirements which are constantly changing. An au pair agency in your own country can assist you with current visa regulations and can inform you which countries they send au pairs to or receive au pairs from.
  17. How much can I expect to be paid working as an au pair?

    The amount varies depending on the country in which you are working. The agency that employed you should be able to provide you with guidelines regarding wages and working conditions. e.g. France: 67 € per thirty hour week The "carte orange" must be provided for transportation to French courses. Germany: 250 € per month England: Between 45 and 60 pounds per week. Italy: Au Pair: 62 € per week Au Pair Plus: 78 € per week Switzerland: 400 to 455 € a month for 30 hours per week 300 € tuition allowance (1/2 tuition) 200 € Travel allowance Ireland: 60 - 80 € per week
  18. How to write a "Dear Family" letter?

    The letter is supposed to give the family a good idea of who you are - it takes the place of your personal interview with the employer so it is very important that there's plenty of information in it. The letter should include: - your name, age and country of origin - where you live (say something the area you live in, population, etc.) - number of brothers and sisters - family background (occupations of parents, brothers and sisters) - your education - your experience of caring for children, cooking and housekeeping - details of your interests and hobbies, likes and dislikes, whether you smoke or not - something about your personality (you are writing to your future employer, be positive!) The letter should be written in English by yourself. Please don't ask anybody to write it for you, it should show YOUR personality and language skills!