Becoming an Au Pair

Things to Consider before becoming an Au Pair
By Ben Waterworth
 
Before you start any job you will always be considering countless different things before you start it. It's always a good idea to do a lot of thinking about your new job as you never know how long your job will last. It could be a quick job that won't last very long or it could always be a very long job that could last you for the rest of your career. With this in mind it's always a good idea to ensure that you think about every possible scenario about your new job so that you will always make sure you are happy in your new position. This is of course the same when it comes to being an Au Pair. You may have the chance to go around the world when you become an Au Pair, but there are a lot more things you will need to consider before you apply for your first job. It is a very daunting thing to leave your home and your family for a large amount of time, so hopefully this guide will be of great assistance to you as you prepare to make your first journey as an Au Pair and work out how much of a career you wish for it to be. So here are some things for you to consider as you plan on becoming an Au Pair.

1. Firstly consider if you have much experience working with children. This may sound pretty obvious but you have no idea how many people apply for an Au Pair position with no experience and just assume that they will get it no matter what! If you don't have any experience working with children, then you should maybe hunt around for some potential jobs in your area that will allow you to work with kids. Even if they are volunteer positions, they will still give you a boost on your resume when you go to apply for an Au Pair position. And you have no idea how positive some host families look upon experience, be it volunteer work or paid. So go out there and find out as much as you can about doing some work in your area!
2. Secondly, start doing a lot of cleaning and household chores where you live right now! Again, this may sound pretty silly, but you will be asked to do some fairly basic household cleaning when you live as an Au Pair and if you aren't used to it and the work it takes, then it is a good idea to start getting used to it as soon as you can because you won't want to suffer the shock of how much effort it actually takes to do some cleaning. Find out what specific tasks that you will generally have to do as an Au Pair then keep cleaning around your house to give yourself plenty of experience! And we think your parents or housemates might appreciate the extra cleanliness of your house as well!
3. Thirdly, make sure you have done all your research as to what working visas you will need in travelling to Australia to work as an Au Pair. Even though you won't specifically be earning too much of a salary as an Au Pair, you will still be technically 'working' so it's important to meet all the legal requirements of working in Australia before you can consider even applying for the position. Do some research online, contact your nearest Australian embassy or make some further enquiries online so that you have all your bases covered in applying for the position of an Au Pair. The last thing you will want is to arrive in Australia to be told that you aren't eligible to work, and with Australia's very strict border protection laws at its airports, this is a very big possibility! Start making those enquiries now, because even if you don't decide to apply for some time, you have at least found out some relevant information for down the track.
4. Fourthly, consider how much stuff you will need to take with you and for how long you will be staying with the host family. You don't want to pack too much that you will have no space left in your bags for potential things you will buy in Australia, but you also don't want to bring so little that you leave a lot of things at home that you will ultimately need for your trip. Work out how long you will be away for and then maybe do some calculations as to what you will need over that period of time you are away. You can also even contact your host family and ask what sort of storage space they have at their house for you, as you can then always take your clothes out of your suitcases and bags and store them in draws and cupboards and then have them washed all the time you are there so that you don't have to bring extra stuff with you.
5. Finally, work out if being an Au Pair is really what you want to do! Have a big think about everything that an Au Pair does and think about other potential issues that you may have in doing the work that is expected of you, because you really don't want to have to be on the other side of the world until you realise that there is some type of issue with the work that will be asked of you. There are lots of people who go into an Au Pair job assuming they have everything under control, only to realise that they are going to struggle with the easier of tasks they are asked to do. If you feel unsure about anything, ask the host family about more information, or negotiate things you want to do and don't want to do. It can all help in making your experience as an Au Pair better for everyone involved.

It's always a lot more to think about when you really consider how much there is to do with an Au Pair job, so making sure that you are well and truly prepared can really make things a lot easier for you when you travel to start your job. Getting ahead of things too can make things a lot easier and it's always best to be readily prepared for anything before you start your job. Seeing the world and getting to stay in another country for free are great perks, so we hope that you think about it long and hard and then come and join us for being an Au Pair!