- Welcome
- What is an au pair?
- Why AuPairCare
- Program Options
- Program Costs
- Host Family Info
- Au Pair Profiles
- Testimonials
- FAQ's
- Info Center
- Reference Form
- Refer A Friend
Helpful Tips
Tips For Interviewing Au Pairs
The interview process is your opportunity to choose the best au pair candidate to match the needs and lifestyle of your family. Not every au pair candidate will be right for your family. AuPairCare has taken careful steps to recruit and screen our au pair candidates, but the final selection of an au pair is your responsibility and it is an important decision you should take very seriously.
The following suggestions and guidelines are designed to assist you with interviewing au pair candidates.
Before You Call
Before calling, please give some thought to what the au pair should know about your family. Remember that while you have a detailed application in front of you, the au pair knows nothing about your family except what you tell them over the phone. Also consider what additional information your family needs to know about the au pair.
Topics To Cover
During your fist call, describe the following:
- Your family (ages, children's ages, pets, etc.)
- Your city, general area and climate
- Your occupation(s), hobbies, and regular activities
- What kind of schedule and responsibilities the au pair would be likely to have
During this initial conversation, you might want to confirm some aspects of the au pair's application that are important, such as:
- When she/he can come to the U.S.
- Childcare experience
- Hobbies or interests which match yours
- Driving ability and experience
Making the First Call
When you speak with an applicant for the first time, remember that the candidate is probably nervous and excited. Speak slowly and tell the candidate who you are, where you live in the United States, and that you have read their application.
Be specific and realistic when describing your family circumstances and where you live. It is better to speak honestly with each other several times before matching so that both parties have realistic expectations of each other.
Scheduling the Second Call
At the end of the initial conversation, if you are still interested and the applicant seems interested as well, you should arrange a time to call back the following day. If you decide that you are not interested in the au pair, you are not obligated to make a second call. The au pair will know that you are not interested if she does not hear back from you after the first call. Likewise, if the au pair is not interested, she can inform you when you place the second call.
Making the Second Call
The following are some suggestions and questions to consider during your second call. Allow the applicant time to think and formulate a response, especially if English is not her/his first language.
- Always trust your "gut" feeling when interviewing on the telephone. Keep track of your internal reactions to the applicant's responses. After the call, try to identify whether any negative reactions on your part were due to a cultural difference, a language difficulty, or a real personality difference. The first two are acceptable; the last might be an indication of a potential mismatch.
- Ask open-ended questions. Once you have covered all the basic topics, start asking open-ended questions which will allow the candidate to speak freely. An example of this would be, "You once cared for a two year old boy, tell me about him.
- Elicit the au pair's feeling towards children. Ask her/him to tell you something about her/his family and friends. Does she/he describe them lovingly, humorously? Has she/he had long-term friendships? What does she/he enjoy doing with her/his friends? How she/he responds to these questions could indicate her/his ability to make a commitment and to bond and integrate into your family.
- Elicit the au pair’s ability to bond and have relationships. Ask her/him to tell you something about her/his family and friends. Does she/he describe them lovingly, humorously? Has she/he had long-term friendships? What does she/he enjoy doing with her friends? How she/he responds to these questions could indicate her/his ability to make a commitment and to bond and integrate into your family.
- Is the au pair disciplined? Is she/he comfortable trying new things? Ask her/him to describe activities and pursuits she/he enjoys. Has she/he studied a musical instrument or pursued another particularly challenging hobby or sport? This could indicate such things as self-discipline and the ability to rely on oneself, not others, for stimulation.
- Ask the au pair to describe herself/himself. Is she/he a morning person? Is she/he easy-going and flexible?
- Ask what motivated her/her to become an au pair. Is she/he looking for excitement? Does she/he love children? Is she/he curious about the United States and its people? If the motivation is strong and positive, her/his experience as an au pair probably will be too.
Many families find it helpful to exchange emails with a candidate during the interview process. Email may provide the au pair with a more detailed understanding of your family. Email, however, should never replace the two required telephone conversations. Keep in mind that some au pairs may not have email readily accessible.
Deciding On a Match
It is your responsibility to review the candidates and interview them carefully. Do not rush your decision. During this process, you may want to speak with one of our Matching Experts who are available to provide you with personalized support to help you make the right au pair match for your family. We recommend that you make a final selection only after you have carefully weighed your own circumstances and expectations with those of the candidates you have interviewed. We recommend that you speak with the applicant's family and references before making a decision.
Making a Match
Ask the applicant clearly if she/ he would like to come to your family and, if so, which arrival date would be best. Once it is clearly understood that the match is firm, request the match in Family Room. You will then receive a confirmation email regarding the match. AuPairCare will handle all of the administrative details to arrange the au pair's visa, travel, and orientation. In addition, you will receive a Welcome Packet, an invoice, and your au pair's travel confirmation two weeks prior to the au pair's arrival.
