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Au Pair recruitment. Can you please bear with me while I just SCREEEEAAAAMMMMM

61 replies

squiffy · 24/06/2008 10:30

I had forgotten how soul destroying it all is. There I was, chatting to my fab live-out nanny about the upcoming holidays and like a fool I suggested that, if she wanted, I would get an AP in to give her a hand as she has a lot more work....

What was I thinking of?

I have tried all those fab recommendations that people have made on here for agencies (am too late of course) and am now trawling through those websites (we all know them - 400,000 AP's world-wide but none of them manage to achieve the holy trinity of right to work in UK, willingness to work outside of London, and the vaguest interest in actually doing an AP role for an AP salary).

I now have an inbox full of people who said they can drive, but can't; said they don't smoke, but do; who hope very much that I don't mind their (very tidy) boyfriend coming along, and who are definately definately keen but can they please arrive on 6th July and leave on 2nd August....

I have managed to hold it together until just now, when I opened another application and - for the third time this morning - came across that marvellous English phrase "I wanna..."

Straw. Back. Camel, I know, but aaaarggggghhhhh.

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squiffy · 06/07/2008 13:25

ingles - thank you so much for your offer. Fortunately we are not in a desperate situation because we already have our full-time nanny - our plan was to bring in an au-pair to give the nanny a breather because she otherwise has long days without a break during the school holidays, but we can get by without an AP. I just suspect the ironing pile will be a mountain by the time school restarts!

Saying that, if your AP does want some extra work or wants to extend her stay then do cat me as we might be able to sort something out. We live half-way between Canterbury & Faversham (Boughton). If you think your AP might like to do this then I can send you the link to our profile to forward to her.

Jura, you have cheered me up no-end. How daft are they? I sometimes wonder if we were as funny when we were that age...

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ingles2 · 05/07/2008 09:46

Squiffy I don't know if this is any help to you but my AP is here over August looking after the animals whilst we are in France. She might be able to do some hours for you if you are stuck...I can't remember whereabouts in Kent you are though..

jura · 05/07/2008 09:26

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jura · 05/07/2008 09:26

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squiffy · 04/07/2008 14:41

I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

Me: "We are on holiday in France soon and will get back on 19th so a starting date of 19th rather than the 18th would be best"

DPAP (daft potential AP) "I have to start work by the 18th if I am to get full accreditation from uni for work experience"

Me: "Well, you could come on the 18th if you absolutely have to, and just stay overnight with my parents until the 19th when we can collect you from there. They live 10km from my house and can collect you from the airport"

DPAP "I feel somehow uncomfortable with this situation so I think it would be better, if we both look for someone else."

{is it me? emoticon}

AAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH

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lindseyfox · 30/06/2008 14:58

maybe contact the local college and ask if any of the 16-19yr old childcare students are looking for a summer job, maybe as live in for £60 a week, would give them some experience and pocket money, you may find a uni student teacher willing to live in for around £100 a week, worth considering these options.

squiffy · 30/06/2008 08:49

so Jura, when do you think you find out if your Swedish AP has any friends who also didn't get in decided against uni and want to come be Au Pairs in the UK instead?

German potential AP has stood me up. Radio silence for 5 days now, so back to drawing board..... hi ho hi ho it's off to slit wrists I go...

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QuintessentialShadows · 27/06/2008 18:22

Jura, pleased to hear it!

(She probably didnt get in... same thing with my last Norwegian au pair!)

jura · 26/06/2008 20:53

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AtheneNoctua · 25/06/2008 16:22

I mean a secnd job.

MrsRecycle · 25/06/2008 16:05

I thought you already did

AtheneNoctua · 25/06/2008 16:05

Oh MrsR, what a fab idea. I can send DH out to work then.

MrsRecycle · 25/06/2008 16:02

oh I recognise that pattern Squiffy - 10% response rate. I'm so glad I'm out of that loop now. But when I was searching, I used to explicitely state in my profile that 1) I was not in the Centre of London; 2) I could only pay Au Pair rates and not Nanny rates; 3) that we need someone who has experience of babies. But I guess you've probably done this anyway.

I did hear that there are some aupair websites that are a front for men looking for other women to fulfil their needs and get paid for it (if you get my drift) and sometimes, when I see that some APs have had over 100 families apply to them, I begin to believe this rumour. It does make you wonder doesn't it?

AtheneNoctua · 25/06/2008 16:01

^^

I'll have you all know that the hunky male aupairs have been contacting me. No idea why!

Anna8888 · 25/06/2008 15:54

Can't you be really upfront about the location?

My sister was (10km from the nearest boulangerie, no public transport and nowhere to go for 20km). She got an Australian who was really keen to see rural France (with fixed hours ).

squiffy · 25/06/2008 15:49

Thanks ladies for adding suggestions and don't get me wrong, there are hundreds that apply (but I must admit, no Kazhaks yet..).

Once you remove those who can't get a visa or can't stay for 3 months or who won't do housework, or who specify that they want to live in a city, or who don't eat meat, or who don't want to be in a house with pets, or who don't want to work with under 2 yr olds, or who want more than $200.... then you get down to maybe 50 (around 40 last week when I tried). So you email them....

And maybe 10 respond. Then they all go cold when they realise (as is pointed out in big bold caps in details about job) that it really really is the country and not the end of zone 4. And then you are back at square 1

could be time to shoot the dog and go vegan I guess.

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MrsRecycle · 25/06/2008 15:49

hi to you QS as well!

jura · 25/06/2008 15:32

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catepilarr · 25/06/2008 15:24

i personally think that the aps get either confused of put off by the hours as it says 3hrs a day, help out at weekend and total 25 hours. which gives the impression that unless they have a trip planned they will be working all the week through. but i am still amazed you dont get applications as there seems to be a milion of girls wanting summer jobs.
dont know where you advertise, i can recommend gumtree.com, greataupair.com, aupairworld.net and nannyjob.co.uk good luck

Kewcumber · 25/06/2008 15:22

I would say kazkah au pairs would probably pretty unfussy too - but not many of them around!

Hi QS.

QuintessentialShadows · 25/06/2008 15:14

oh! MrsR hi to you too!

QuintessentialShadows · 25/06/2008 15:13

Squiffy. Tell the Aupairs you will provide a bike. Less than £200 in Halfords, free travel for AP, and you get to keep the bike for the next one!
Have you thought about polish au pairs? Without being ethinically impaired, I favour the polish au pair. No nonsens attitude, admirable work ethics, and they are not scared of blood, poo and puke. (I learnt this when the Norovirus was ravaging SW15 two years ago, and both my kids got it twice, and au pair ended up sleeping on the floor next to ONE sick child and helped him puke throughout the night, while I was with the other. She then got it, but smiled through gritted teeth and said, "I am ok really.")

Waves at Jura, KC and owl

Kewcumber · 25/06/2008 14:58

not really a lady now so no qualms there.

MrsRecycle · 25/06/2008 14:57

we wouldn't be ladies after hiring him

Anna8888 · 25/06/2008 14:55