Many Host Parents have fears about hosting a Rematch Au Pair. They worry that the Au Pair was let go from their previous placement because they weren’t a good childcare provider.
In this interview, Host Dad Tom shares his experience interviewing & hosting a Rematch Au Pair. He had many of the same fears as other parents. But soon, he realized they’d “hit the Au Pair jackpot” in selecting Jolin.
Tom’s Fears About Hosting a Rematch Au Pair
“Jolin… was on her second Rematch,” Tom says. “For a Host Family, that could be a deterrent.”
Tom explains that his first fears about hosting a Rematch Au Pair were along the lines of, “Do we really want someone that two other families have rejected?” This is a common thought process for most parents.
But the truth is, not every Au Pair and Host Family make a good match the first time.
“You have to look into the reasons why a family has decided to go with a different Au Pair, or vice versa,” Tom says, and that’s exactly what he and his wife did. “In Jolin’s case, there were very specific reasons why it didn’t work out, and we were skeptical.”
It’s normal for parents to feel skepticism about a Rematch Au Pair. This is actually a good thing. It means you’re more likely to analyze whether the candidate is a good fit for your family.
“We were a little nervous… Are we getting the whole story? Is there some kind of underlying issue that everyone was afraid to mention?”
This is why Go Au Pair’s Placement Coordinators (PCs) and Local Area Representatives (LARs) are available to help Host Families decide. You can always check with your PC or LAR if you want to find out more about an Au Pair’s previous placement.
It turns out, Jolin was not “rejected” by her two previous Host Families, and her placements didn’t end because she was a “bad” Au Pair.
“At the end of the day, it really was a matter of her driving.”
Tom says they spoke openly about the difficulties Jolin had experienced and what she hoped to get out of her next placement.
“[We knew] if driving is the issue… then it’s not an issue. And it wasn’t.”
“We hit the Au Pair Jackpot if you ask me.”
Tom and his family couldn’t be happier with their decision to host Jolin as their Au Pair. Not only have they had a wonderful experience, but Tom also encourages other Host Families to consider Rematch Au Pairs when interviewing candidates.
“I would tell families not to get too intimidated by the fact that a person was Rematched,” he says. “The fact that they’re still eligible to remain in the program, people should have faith that yes, they’re still good Au pairs, they just didn’t match up with the family for one reason or another.”
Just like not every match is ideal, there is also a good match out there for every Host Family and Au Pair. Considering Rematch Au Pairs gives them the chance to find the right Host Family for them. If an Au Pair cannot Rematch within a couple of weeks, they often have to return home.
“I don’t necessarily think you should label them as ‘damaged goods,'” Tom says. “Because with us, we got the best Au Pair I think anyone in the world could get, and she was somebody who was reassigned twice in three months.”
Why do Au Pairs Rematch?
As Tom mentioned in his interview, Au Pairs most often Rematch because something didn’t work out with their previous Host Family.
The most common reasons Au Pair give notice are:
- The family left them out or only saw the Au Pair as an employee.
- The family asked the Au Pair to do things that go against State Department regulations.
- They felt isolated or had excessive restrictions placed on them by the Host Family.
- The Au Pair felt unsupported by the Host Parents, especially if they are struggling to bond with the kids.
Considering a Rematch Au Pair?
You can talk to your PC about why the Au Pair went into Rematch. By the time a Rematch Au Pair is available online, the PC has full statements from both the Au Pair and the Host Family about why they chose to end the placement.
Go Au Pair has a rigorous Rematch process. Unless there are unsafe conditions for either party, this process includes encouraging mediation and conflict resolution between the Au Pair & Host Family before ending the placement.
Families can also request to speak with the Au Pair’s previous LAR, who often knows the Au Pair on a more personal level.
Both the LAR & PC will gladly give the parents their honest opinion on the potential match. Even if the Au Pair is a great candidate, if the LAR & PC feel the match might not work out, they’ll let you know why in advance.
Check Out Our Rematch Candidates Today!
You might find a good match in a Rematch Au Pair. It feels good to know you’ve helped someone who might’ve been sent home otherwise.
They may have experienced difficulties in a previous placement. For this reason, Rematch Au Pairs often have a better idea of what they can and can’t live with. They may be more open and honest when interviewing because they hope to avoid the same situation again.
It can sometimes be easier to find your ideal match in a Rematch than with a first-time Au Pair.
