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Finding your au pair
Once your host family profile is completed, you’ll be able to search for au pair candidates to find the best match for your family’s needs and personality!
Customized search
Your search results are customized based on your profile. The more information you add to your profile, the more customized your matches will be! You’ll only see candidates that are compatible with the number and ages of your children, have any necessary infant or special needs qualification, and want to travel during your arrival window. You can further refine your search by filtering other criteria, such as interests, language, or driving experience.
Mechanics of matching
As you review candidates, you can “favorite” au pair profiles to review later or initiate a chat with that au pair. Keep in mind that au pairs can’t search for families or initiate chats, so be sure to reach out first. Host families can chat with up to five potential au pair matches at a time, while au pairs can chat with up to three. Throughout the matching process, either party can initiate a video or audio call or end the chat.
Interviewing candidates
Consider what is most important for your family’s needs and personality to shape what questions you ask in au pair interviews. Cultural Care also provides an interview guide with a list of questions that you may find helpful. You’ll need to have at least one call prior to requesting to host an au pair, though we recommend having at least three. This is a great way to have your au pair meet your entire household, answer all their questions, and feel comfortable with your family. Deliberating over whether this is the right au pair for you? Go with your gut – and consider focusing on personality matches.
Making it official
When you find your ideal match, you or your au pair can request to match right in the app, where you’ll indicate your mutually agreed upon arrival date. To do this, there are some requirements that you need to have completed – these to-dos are detailed below. Once both parties have accepted the match, complete the rest of the items on your in-app to-do list. And be sure to keep in touch with your au pair regularly ahead of their arrival to strengthen your connection!
Important to-dos
Don’t let your to-do list stand in the way of requesting to host an au pair! Here are helpful tips and requirements that you’ll need to prioritize.
Screening & Enrollment call – this is a requirement before you can request to host an au pair, so scheduling this call with our Matching team is a great first step when you start your search. Clarify your family’s needs with your Matching Specialist, and they’ll give you all the tips & tricks to make your search seamless. This is also where you form a plan on how you wish to work with your Matching Specialist to find your au pair.
Home interview & room check – your Local Childcare Consultant will need to come over to review program regulations, tour your home, and approve your au pair’s bedroom. Please note that all members of the household must be present. Your LCC will also need to take some photos of the au pair bedroom to document that it meets Department of State requirements. The home interview & room check is a requirement before you can request to host an au pair, so we recommend scheduling as soon as possible.
Host family preparation – we’ve created some self-paced preparation courses to help set you up for success. Topics range from matching to preparing for your au pair’s arrival and tips for navigating cultural exchange and communication. Completing the first two courses (Welcome & Matching) is required before you can request to host an au pair, so be sure to start those early. You’ll need to complete all courses two weeks before welcoming your au pair.
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