You want to go away as an au pair, you’ve already started looking for a host family, but you’re afraid of making a mistake? 🤔 Don’t panic, you have the right to request a videoconference interview for a first meeting with the family from a distance! 💻📱
During this call, introduce yourself, chat with the family about your experience and motivations, and above all don’t hesitate to ask any questions that pop into your head. Even those that might stress you out or that you’re unsure about. Your family will do the same.
To help you, here’s a list of questions you can ask your family:
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
On family organization in general
- What's a typical day like at home? (How parents and children organize their lives)
- What do you do at weekends?
- Will we have to cook for the kids?
- What time do you usually eat, and do you follow a special diet?
- Do the children have any allergies or treatments? Any passions?
- Are you planning to travel with me? If so, where should I sit?
- How are children transported? On foot, by public transport, by car?
- What relationship would you like me to have with the children?
- What do you expect me to do at home? (Tasks and activities)
On family organization in general
- When will I work? Approximate working hours
- Will I have to babysit in the evenings? If so, how many times a week?
- For the vacations, would you like me to come with you or will I be on my own?
- What days and evenings will I have free? And will I be able to go out, take classes or see people at those times?
- If I decide to take a course, when can I do it? Do you contribute to the costs?
- How far away is the largest city?
- Is it accessible by public transport? If not, will I have a car at my disposal?
- Will I have my own bedroom and bathroom?
- How much pocket money do I get?
All these questions will give you a clear idea of the family’s expectations, and if you have any others, don’t hesitate to ask. There’s no such thing as a bad question, and it’s perfectly normal to have questions. Don’t be afraid of appearing intrusive. After all, you’re probably going to join this family and you need to know everything to be sure! 😉
💬 You can also ask the family why they’ve decided to take on an au pair. What if they’ve hosted au pairs before? If so, you can ask the host parents or the agency for their phone number or e-mail address so you can contact them directly. This will enable you to ask them questions and get their feedback.
