How to Be an Au Pair Abroad
An au pair is a young person -- typically a woman -- who provides 30 to 45 hours of child care in exchange for room, board and a small stipend. An au pair for a family abroad is essentially treated as a member of the family, not as a nanny or a domestic servant. The position is an opportunity for you to strengthen foreign language skills, broaden your horizons and experience a new culture. If you have child-care experience, the first step to becoming an au pair is to find a reputable placement agency.
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Instructions
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Gather references who will attest to your experience in child care. If you have worked in a day-care center or as a babysitter for a family, request a reference letter detailing your personal strengths.
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Find a reputable au pair agency. Agencies that are members of the International Au Pair Association are considered reputable. Agencies screen potential families and potential au pairs to ensure a good match and safety. Although most au pair arrangements work out, reputable agencies help mediate those that don't.
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Complete an application, and get a passport and necessary visas. Enlist the agency's help in completing paperwork.
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With the agency's help, draft a contract detailing your earnings, rights and responsibilities. The contract should detail how many hours you will work per week, the kind of work and how much you will earn. Determine who will pay your school fees, which can cost thousands per year.
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Tips & Warnings
Buy a gift from your home country for your new family
Buy American movies for the children. Watching such movies will help them improve their English.
Contact your placement agency if a host family makes unreasonable demands.
References
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