Living and Working as an Au Pair

As a Recruitment Assistant for an agency which places Au Pairs around the world, I often get questions from applicants about what it's like to be an Au Pair. There are some recurring questions I get so here is a short list of the frequently asked questions and my answers:

What does ‘Au Pair' mean?
Au Pair means literally ‘on par' or ‘equal', which is exactly what you will be - an equal member of your host family.

What does an Au Pair do?
You will take part in the day-to-day routine of your host family, and experience life in a new country. An Au Pair lives in their own room inside the host family house, and in many instances this will include having your own TV, your own cellphone, the use of a car and the chance to accompany the host family on exotic holidays.

In exchange for providing childcare and some light housework you receive free board and accommodation, and a weekly pay cheque. Jobs vary between families but will usually include childcare during the week with some occasional evening or weekend babysitting duties.

By being an Au Pair with a host family, you will experience more than you could simply as a visitor to a foreign country. You will experience another culture's holidays, birthdays, family celebrations, dinners out, and watching kids' sporting events with the family!

What's it like to be an Au Pair?
You might have mixed feelings about becoming an Au Pair: you might feel both nervous and excited. It's normal to be nervous about something you haven't done before, but don't let that stop you from taking up an opportunity of a lifetime! Becoming an Au Pair is an amazing experience in that you get to meet nice people, become part of another family, and find out what it's like to live in another person's world and culture. These are incredible experiences you will never forget! It also opens up opportunities to travel, and see parts of the world that are beautiful and exciting. Here are some testimonials from Au Pairs describing their experiences:

I had an amazing time in Italy! Giovanna Tomaselli and her family were so welcoming I didn't want to leave... The mountains of Italy are so beautiful, I'm so happy I was sent there and got to meet such nice people. The parents of Giovanna, Bepi and Fernanda, really tried hard to learn new English words, to teach me Italian words and to make me feel like part of their family so it was a brilliant experience. Grandma's Italian dinners were great and I miss them! And the Coffee! Giovanna and Nicola were the nicest people I've ever met and inspire me in their way to balance work with their family life. They are excellent parents. Leonardo was a really sweet, adorable and generous little boy, and for a 7 year old he was extremely intelligent- a very bright boy who never complained about having to work at his English during his summer holidays! He was very easy to teach, very playful and also chatty so it was a pleasure to be around him. I was treated as if I was on holidays- we visited nearby towns and cities, I had loads of free time to myself and never felt pressurised, bored or lonely at all because the whole family were so welcoming and we were always kept busy. I would highly recommend the Tomaselli-Cecconato family to you as they are truly a generous, kind, polite, mannerly, welcoming family and I only have good words to speak of my experience with them! Thank you for setting me up with such a great family I am forever grateful to you and to them for giving me such happy memories of Italy. - R. Donelan from Ireland

I can say that I am part of my host family and I think that that's great! There is plenty about my culture that I share with my family. I teach the children a folk song from my country and I prepare a typical meal from my country. My family is also anxious to share aspects of American culture with me. - Anonymous from Poland

I'd like to thank you for a wonderful year I couldspent with my great host family from New Jersey. I had so much fun out there. I've met such nice people. My host parents were the nicest people I've ever known and the girls, Christine and Stephanie, the cutest. They treated me as their third daughter, I could always count on them. I didn't travel a lot during the year because I preferred to spend this time out there in New Jersey. Although I was in Boston, Washington, Philadelphia and almost every weekend I spent in NYC. We all had such a great time. I was really sad when I was leaving, I felt like I'm leaving a part of me there. But my host mom told me very nice words. She said that I'd be always a part of their family, They'll keep me in their hearts forever because I'm special for them. She added also that she knows that one day I'll visit them and that I'm always more than welcome in their home. That was so sweet! I forgot to write but they made me a welcome and goodbye party, wasn't that cute?! Now I'm in Poland with my family, also very happy. But if someone asks me if you like to go back there once again, I'd certainly say YES. - Anonymous from Poland

What if I'm nervous or scared?
It's natural to feel a bit nervous about something you haven't done before, but often those experiences that make us nervous turn into the most fulfilling and exciting times of our life that we can look back on with happiness and pride that we did not let fear overcome us.
We carefully screen any families that list their vacancies with us, so you don't need to worry - you will be safe and secure with your chosen family. We also offer support to all our Au Pairs during their entire placement - if you have any questions, no matter how small or silly you might think they are - just get in touch! We check our emails daily so we will be able to respond to anything urgent very quickly. We also arrange Au Pair and Nanny coffee groups that meet regularly so you will be able to meet new people and make friends.

When is the best time to be an Au Pair?
You are eligible for a Working Holiday visa between the ages of 18-30 years old, so between those ages would certainly be the easiest and best time to go. Once you've come to the end of your visa in one country, you are eligible to apply for a visa to another. Once you turn 30 years of age, that opportunity is gone - living and working overseas becomes subject to full immigration visas which can be costly and time-consuming. So don't miss this opportunity while it's on offer to you! Travelling and experiencing the world can be done at any age but it's true that it is easier to go during a relatively responsibility-free time of our life, before we move on to the next exciting stages of life, including a career, marriage and children.

How much will I get paid?
Your pay would vary depending on whether you have qualifications and child care experience - you could expect to get at least the equivalent of NZD$150 for minimal qualifications and experience. This can go up to around NZD$350 - $400 with more qualifications and experience. Remember that your board and accommodation is all free, so your outgoing expenses will be small to nil - this money can be saved for further travel, or shopping, or whatever you like!

What countries can I be an Au Pair in?
This depends on what country you are currently a citizen of. You would need to be eligible for a Working Holiday Visa or Student Visa in the country you wish to travel to and work in. For instance, New Zealand has reciprocal Working Holiday visa agreements with many countries around the world, including Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong (special administrative region), Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Peru, Singapore, Sweden, Thailand, UK, USA and Uruguay.
If you are not a New Zealand citizen, get in touch with your country's embassy or Foreign Affairs department - they will be able to advise you on what countries you can get a visa for easily.

The agency I work for, New Zealand Nannies International has partners in the UK, Europe, USA and Canada, so by registering with us (which is free!) you can have access to great jobs in all these countries. Plus we will help you with your visa application!

I want to travel with my friend/boyfriend. Is this possible while I work as an Au Pair?
Yes, this is definitely still possible! An Au Pair is a live-in position, and while the family is unlikely to be able to accommodate your friend or boyfriend in their home as well as you, there are many ways to travel and work as an Au Pair and still share your experiences with your friend or boyfriend.

If your friend would also like to become an Au Pair, why not apply for jobs in the same area? This way you will have a friend close by and on your days off you can hang out, meet for coffee, go shopping, explore the area, the possibilities are endless.
The same goes for travelling with your boyfriend! Some families take on male Au Pairs, though it is less common than hiring a female Au Pair. If this is not the job your boyfriend is looking for, he could easily find a job and a flat in a similar area of town, doing any of the many "typical O.E." jobs; administration, bartending, working in tourism, customer service, construction... and again, you can spend plenty of time exploring and adventuring together on your days off.

How can I become an Au Pair?
Just register with New Zealand Nannies International by clicking this link and let us know where in the world you would like to travel to!

Being an Au Pair is a wonderful experience and a great way to travel. It is an opportunity to have the adventure of a lifetime, make new friends around the world, and experience life in a new culture and country first-hand. Au Pairing is the ideal way to experience a foreign culture from the inside, perhaps improve your skills in another language, improve yourself and obtain self-confidence. It is also a great addition to your CV!
If you have questions which aren't answered in this article, you can feel free to contact the NZ Nannies International team. Drop us a line through our Contact Us page.

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