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September 2, 2025 · 4 min read
Interviews are both required by the U.S. Department of State and serve as your chance to get to know au pair candidates and determine if they fit your family’s needs.
Below you can review a sample interview structure and topics. Cultural Care host families have access to our Au Pair Interview Guide and Driving Interview Guide for sample interview questions to guide the process.
Interview multiple candidates
Have multiple interviews with the same candidate. We recommend at least 3 calls to get to know each other further. This could be a combination of audio and video calls.
Seek support from your Matching Specialist
Chatting with candidates right in the app is the most efficient way to start talking! Once you begin chatting, we suggest scheduling a video call in the app as the next step.
When it’s time to interview your au pair, you are both likely to be excited and nervous—so remember to take it slowly.
Remember to be mindful of the time difference. We recommend calling any time between 9am and 10pm in their time zone.
Keep in mind that English isn’t their first language, so it’s normal for them to make mistakes! Use simple, clear language for better communication.
What personality types might fit well with our family?
When do we want our au pair to arrive?
What is our childcare schedule like?
What specific childcare or related experience should our au pair have?
Are there specific cultures or personalities that may generally fit well with our family?
What level of English would suit us best?
What type of driving experience should they have, if any?
Would we like them to have any specific hobbies or interests that match our own?
Are there certain skills that will be important for our family, like swimming, cooking, crafting, sports, etc.?
When they can travel to the U.S.
Childcare experience
Vaccine status (keep in mind that some vaccines aren’t required in all parts of the world)
Hobbies, interests and skills
Current health status
Your family (number and ages of children, pets, etc.)
Your children (personalities, preferences, activities)
Your household schedules
Your home, city, general area, and climate
Your occupations, hobbies and interests
Tell me about a typical day for you. What do you do in your time off?
Driving abilities, including frequency and weather conditions- If driving is a top priority for your family, dig deep in the first interview.
What were the ages of the children under your care?
What were your specific responsibilities? (Refer to one job in particular.)
What was the most difficult part of that job? What did you like most about that job?
What do you like most about taking care of children? What do you think children need most from a caregiver?
How would you discipline a child that misbehaves, or comfort a child who is upset?
What additional responsibilities are you comfortable taking on as an au pair? Would you prepare some meals for the kids, laundry, picking up their bedrooms, taking them to activities, etc.
What would your ideal host family be like?
If you disagreed with something your host parents did, how would you handle it?
Are you okay with our family’s schedule?
Review your household rules and ask if they have any questions (for example, car usage, curfews, overnight guests, etc.)
What do you hope to accomplish personally while you’re in the USA? How can we help you achieve those goals?
After interviewing a candidate, you can inform your matching specialist and let them know if you have any questions.
If you decide not to move forward with an applicant, let them know as soon as possible.
And if they are a great fit, you can request to match with them right in the app!
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