Congratulations! Your Au Pair profile is available and you are now on the hunt for the perfect Host Family! Choosing a Host Family is one of the most important decisions you will make in your Au Pair journey. The right match can mean feeling at home in a new country, building lifelong relationships, and having an amazing cultural exchange experience.
Reviewing Host Families and interviewing can sound daunting but don’t worry Go Au Pair is here to help you ever step of the way. The good news is you have more power in choosing a Host Family than you might think. Keep reading to find out how to choose the right Host Family and red flags to avoid.
How Go Au Pair Helps & the Matching Process
Go Au Pair and your International Representative are available every step of the way to help Au Pairs find their perfect Host Family. We start by working with potential Host Families on approving them as a fit for the Au Pair program and their Host Family profile.
Host Family Approval
Potential Host Families start their process by answering some initial questions to see if they are a goof fit for the Au Pair program. Just as you are required to meet certain criteria to become an Au Pair, Host Families are required to do the same. These are part of the regulations set up by the U.S. Department of State.
Host Families must:
- Provide a suitable private bedroom for an Au Pair.
- Prove they can meet the financial responsibility of hosting an Au Pair. For example: paying stipend, education contribution, and providing room and board.
- Give their Au Pair one complete weekend off each month.
- Provide a minimum of 2 weeks paid vacation to their Au Pair.
- Include their Au Pair when possible in family activities for cultural exchange.
- Be U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents and be fluent in English.
After a family has been able to show they meet the minimum requirements they complete a Host Family Profile similar to your Au Pair Profile to get full approval to join the U.S. Au Pair Program.
The Host Family Profile includes:
- Family information about Host Parents and Host Kids
- Family lifestyle
- Au Pair expectations, including work hours
- Host Family’s location and description of city and neighborhood
- Description of a “Day in the Life” for their family
- Why they chose Au Pair child care
- “Dear Au Pair” letter
- Household rules
- Driving expectations and Au Pair car access
- Photos of the family, their home, and Au Pair bedroom and bathroom
- Descriptions of family pets if any
- Au Pair education school options
- And more!
Once a Host Family completes their profile Go Au Pair reviews all information, does background checks on adults in the home, and contacts the Host Family’s non-family character references. Host Families are also required to have an in home interview with their Local Area Representative.
Go Au Pair takes the selection of Host Families very seriously. We strive to do the best we can to ensure each Host Family is a good fit for the Au Pair program and their home is safe for an Au Pair. Read more on our Become an Au Pair page.
Searching for a Family
When Go Au Pair approves your profile and makes it available to Host Families every family looking for an Au Pair will be able to see your profile. We don’t limit the amount of Au Pairs a Host Family can review or be talking to.
Host Families are able to use our Search Au Pairs tool to find Au Pairs that meet their expectations. Host Families can find you by using the search filters including:
- Nationality
- Age
- Child care experience
- Languages spoken
- Driving abilities
- English Skills
- And more!
It’s important to stay in touch with your International Representative if any of your skills change so your profile can be the most up to date and as searchable as possible.
At Go Au Pair headquarters our Placement Coordinators and Matching Specialists also search Au Pairs using the same filters as Host Families, to recommend your profile to every Host Family that you could be a potential match for. We contact families to let them know when we recommend your profile so they don’t miss the opportunity for a great match.
If a family is interested in you they will share their profile with you and contact you to set up interviews.
Mutual Match
Go Au Pair uses a special Mutual Match process that other agencies don’t. This process let’s Au Pairs deny a Host Family at any stage of reviewing the family’s profile or when interviewing. This gives YOU the power to choose the right fit for you! You need to interview over the phone or through video conferencing with a Host Family at least twice before agreeing to match with them.
If a Host Family likes you and thinks you are a good fit they will Extend an Offer to you. You will receive an email from Go Au Pair which includes your International Representative. You can choose to accept or deny the Host Family.
Start by Knowing What You Want
Before you start reviewing Host Families and scheduling interviews, start by getting a clear view of your own needs, goals, and priorities. This will help you navigate each step of the matching process.
Ask yourself:
- What age group of children do I enjoy caring for the most?
- Do I prefer a busy household or a quieter one?
- How independent do I want to be?
- What are my non-negotiables? (work hours, weekends off, curfew, use of car)
There is no right answer to these questions it’s about what will work for you. Knowing what you want up front helps you spot good matches and avoid ones where you will be unhappy. Don’t be afraid to express your goals and needs for your Au Pair program to families, this ensures no misunderstandings before a Host Family chooses you.
Look Beyond the Profile
Before agreeing to interview make sure you carefully review each Host Family Profile and do some research. A Host Family Profile will often show the best version of themselves, which is normal. But don’t choose to interview with a Host Family solely based on cute photos, a beautiful house, and list of benefits.
Pay attention to the details:
- Do they clearly describe your duties?
- Are work hours specific or vague?
- Do they describe information about their children and their personalities?
- Read their “Dear Au Pair” letter
If a Host Family clearly details information about their Family and their expectations in their profile this usually means clear and honest communication during your interview and placement.
🚩 Profile red flags could include:
- Lack of clarity on duties
- Details about children and family are scarce
- Work hours look strange
- No interest in cultural exchange
Interviewing with Families Like a Pro
As mentioned before you will need to interview with a Host Family by phone or video conferencing at least twice before agreeing to match with them. You don’t have to interview just twice, the more you interview and have conversations with a family the better understanding you will have of them and if they are they are the right fit for you.
Ask the right questions and don’t be shy
The interview is not just for the Host Family but for you too. Remember you have the power to choose your Host Family and don’t be afraid to ask important questions.
Important questions to ask:
- What does a typical workday look like?
- How do you handle schedule changes?
- What are your expectations for child care related household cleaning?
- What are your driving expectations?
- Have you had Au Pairs before and are you still in contact with them?
- What are your household rules for curfew, visitors, and car use?
- What does your family like to do for fun?
- What is it like in your neighborhood/community?
Pay attention to the vibe
Trust your instincts and go with your gut feeling. If something feels off try to ask more questions to get a better understanding. Don’t feel bad about denying a family after an interview.
Another great way to get to know the family is by asking to meet the children. This will give you a good idea of their personalities and what the vibe is like in their family dynamic.
🚩 Interview red flags could include:
- Do they listen when you speak?
- Do they interrupt you?
- Do they respect your boundaries and expectations?
- Dismissiveness of your goals for the program
- Lack of interest in cultural exchange
- Avoidance of program regulations including duties and work hours
- Do they seem annoyed by your questions and avoid answering them?
If you don’t have a good feeling about a family and you see signs of red flags, especially signs of program regulation violations, make sure you inform your International Representative.
Think About Life Outside of Work
The Au Pair program in the U.S. is first and foremost a cultural exchange program. As an Au Pair you likely have a list of cultural experiences you want to achieve. When selecting a family take this in to consideration and express to them YOUR goals for your time in the U.S.
Things to consider:
- Location – city vs. small town
- Access to public transportation
- Opportunities to meet other Au Pairs
- Education classes
- How involved you will be in family life outside of your work hours
🚩 If a family shows no interest in your cultural exchange goals they will likely not be a good fit for you and the spirit of the Au Pair program.
A supportive Host Family will be interested in your goals and will be a plus for fulfilling life outside of the home.
Remember: This is a Mutual Match
Again trust your instincts and remember you are not “lucky to be chosen” You are offering childcare, cultural exchange, responsibility, and commitment to your Host Family. A good Host Family will understand that and will treat you as part of the family, not just an employee.
Don’t forget it’s okay to:
- Say no
- Take your time
- Choose what’s best for you
🚩 If a family is acting like they are “doing you a favor” by matching with you this is a sign they do not value what you have to offer them as an Au Pair.
The Right Host Family for YOU!
The right Host Family won’t always be perfect but they will be respectful, communicative, and genuinely excited to welcome you into their home. Don’t get discouraged if it’s taking time to find your Host Family. When you find the right match, it’s worth the wait.
Haven’t signed up or completed your Au Pair profile yet? Click below to start the Au Pair process.
