Wondering which questions to ask during your au pair interview? Stick around to find out!
Deciding to become an au pair is a big deal! Choosing to live and work abroad is a big step, but deciding to live with a host family is an even bigger one.
The choice to move across the world to a completely foreign place with a family you’ve never met is sort of crazy when you think about it. But if you ask the right questions during your au pair interview with the families, it can help you make the perfect choice for you.
Just because a family looks great on paper does not mean that they will be once you interview with them. Or sometimes on paper the family doesn’t look so great, but your interview goes fantastic. You really just never know until you take the time to ask lots of questions during your au pair interview.
Whether or not you’re using a company such as Au Pair World or finding your host family yourself, these questions to ask during your au pair interview are important to any potential au pair looking to live and work abroad.
Questions To Ask During Your Au Pair Interview
Some may find the idea of interviewing with potential host families daunting, but I personally loved it! I had a great time reading through host families profiles and imagining whether or not this or that family could be my perfect match.
Tip: Do not be afraid to ask all of the questions you have! The more the merrier in this case, as you will be moving across the world to live and work there, so it’s better to have a thorough conversation about questions while you’re still at home, rather than waiting until you’re already in the host families house to find out you don’t agree with xyz duty or rule.
While asking questions to your potential host families are important, I personally think there are some questions that you need to ask yourself first. Before you even start the process of becoming an au pair or choosing which au pair company is right for you, ask yourself these questions first.
Questions To Ask Yourself
- Why do you want to become an au pair?
- What is your childcare experience?
- Do you truly enjoy working with children, or is this just a way for you to travel?
- Have you lived away from home before?
- Have you traveled out of your home country before?
- Can you drive? (Some families require this)
- Can you live in somebody else’s home for 6 months to a year?
- Are you comfortable changing a diaper?
Tips for your interview. Thoroughly read each families profile and write down things that stand out, whether that be questions about hobbies or interests, so that way you come into the interview feeling prepared. Remember, be professional, honest, and friendly. You’re not only trying to find a job but also a place to live and relax.
Au Pair Interview Questions To Ask Host Parents
- Have you hosted an au pair before?
- What duties are you looking for your au pair to complete?
- What is a typical day in your life look like?
- What do you do for a living?
- What are your work hours?
- Why do you want to host an au pair?
- Does anyone in your household have allergies?
- Will I be expected to work overtime, and if so, how will payment work?
- How long in between my arrival to the country and starting work?
- Would you expect me to accompany you on vacations?
- If you speak a different language, then would the host family like the au pair to speak their native language with the kids?
- What hours will I be expected to work weekly?
- Do you need the au pair to drive?
- If your children have school breaks, how will that affect my hours and pay?
Au Pair Interview Questions About The Children
- What do the children like to do in their free time?
- What activities are your children interested in?
- What are their personalities like?
- How do you handle situations when your children won’t listen?
- What does “punishment” look like for your family?
- What’s the most challenging part of your children?
- What’s a typical day in your children’s lives like?
- Do your children participate in any extracurricular activities?
House Rules Questions
- Do you expect to give the au pair a curfew?
- What house rules do you expect me to follow?
- Am I permitted to invite friends or family for a visit?
- Can I use the common areas, or stay in my room?
- Will I be invited to eat meals with the family, or eat on my own?
Neighborhood Questions
- Are there other au pairs or nannies in the area?
- What child centered activities are around?
- Are there parks nearby?
- How far is it to the closet public transit?
- What is your neighborhood like?
I realize that I’ve listed quite a few questions up above, and while you don’t need to overwhelm yourself or your host family by asking everything in the initial interview, you should definitely be asking a fair few of these questions so you can get an idea if this host family is right for you. Maybe save some questions for your follow up interview if you decide to schedule one. You can also just see how the conversation flows and fit in questions that fit with the discussion.
I also recommend meeting the kids virtually before deciding whether or not to take a job.
Hopefully these questions to ask during your au pair interview help you out, and good luck on your interviews! If you need further resources, I have an article on the ultimate guide to becoming an au pair that can help you decide whether or not becoming an au pair is right for you.
