Where to look for an Au Pair online?

[Strix]

I think it have the whole nanny hunt sussed. But, I am about to embark on an au pair for Sept. - Dec., at which time I will be heading off on maternity leave. So, a rather short fixed term contract.

Job is 30.5 hours per week including one mid-week babysiting.

Job comes with gym membership, mobile phone, bus pass (no car), and (very snall) own room.

So... where is the best place to look for such a person?

I want someone young (18 - 20ish). Must be female (DD does dance festivals and they don't let men in the changing rooms back stage).

aupairworld.net

Au pair world, great au pair, gumtree.

If you have a nationality in mind then you could advertise directly in that country.

Strix
Many congrats on the baby. For some reason I found the DIY option with APs just way too time consuming and irritating. It was like a part time job through the websites, although DIY with nannies was for some reason very straightforward. And Gumtree - even though the ad said AU PAIR as clearly as possible, all the applicants seem to want nanny jobs with nanny pay. I would consider an agency for this placement if I were you- we have used Abacus in Brighton, and they've been great so far. Fee is £220 I think for the time frame you want. I reckon that will be the hassel free option but I know your views on agencies....

I am completely miffed. Au Pair world has declined my application as a family and not given me a reason why. I suspect it's because I didn't disclose my phone number and full real address - which I regard as none of their business quite frankly.

Have profile up on GreatAuPair. Think I'll just stick with them.

I have had similar experience on Gumtree with nanny ads: loads of applicants who haven't actually read the ad.

Oh, and I'm not resorting to an agency, obviously.

Thank you for baby congrats.

You can use gumtree to advertise in some E European countries - my mother swears by this. Apparently putting up an ad in English there gets better responses.

hmmm... I never thought of that. See, I learn something new on mumsnet every day.

For this sort of thing, I would seriously urge you to reconsider. I can see not spending two grand on an agency for a nanny but the couple of hundred to save me loads and loads of time weeding out time wasters was so worth it.

There's definitely a Polski gumtree if you'd consider a Polish girl.

Why is recruiting an Au Pair harder than a nanny? It's just a different job / hours really. But most of the issues are the same.

I don't really have any particular nationality in mind. Just has to be EU because I'm not taking on any visa responsibilities.

Maybe it's worth putting an ad in English on a couple of the Polish gumtree sites then and seeing what kind of response you get?

Many many more time wasters in my experience, people not really sure what they want to do after school, think why not test the waters with ap-ing. Not sure which country they want to be in (should I hold out for Oz). Not sure it's enough money. NOt sure they like kids enough. NOt sure they can bear to be far from the BF. Whereas nannies are professionals, so if they reply to your ad it's pretty much a cert...they are in fact looking for a job!!

okay, I get the picture. Although reminds me of a nanny I once had.

okay, whist I have everyone's attention, what would you say is the going rate for an au pair in the outskirts of West London (Twickenham/Whitton/Teddington area) with 30-35 hours of work including the babysitting, and a nice gym membership and mobile and bus pass (but no car) thrown in?

I am thinking £70...

There is no overnight care.

I say advertise £70 but be prepared to up it to £75 for a good candidate to hold them because it's a pretty short time frame and long hours for an au pair, even though you get a nice gum membership.

From what I recall you do quite early starts, don't you?

For 3 months you might get quite a good au pair who is serious about improving their English. It's short time for them to stick out - most people can deal with a Dec end point from Sept, even a teen!

Given the age range you've specified you're likely to get a school leaver. If they're French ask what their plans are, why they aren't going onto (govt subsidised, completely free) further study and when they decided to become an au pair. The likelihood is they either failed their bac or are looking towards one if the grands écoles and need to up their English level. I spent an hour yesterday dissuading one girl from the former category from becoming an au pair. She doesn't like children but she was saying 'oh but Incan say I like them and they won't know...' so I totally agree with Harriet about the general quality/indecision/motivation of au pairs. Works the other way round too - there were some horrific ones when I worked in Paris who weren't doing it for any good reason.

Have had some fab girls from Aupairworld, some awful ones too. I know of a few looking for work Sept-Dec.
Agencies were not any better than doing it myself i must say.Have had dreadful girls from agency to but had to pay loads to,much more galling i find.
For 35hrs you will need to offer £75 usually.Goodluck in your search

I just don't see where people get the stamina to go through all those CVs from AP World. And deal with the timewasters. I would be as pissed getting a rubbish person after all that effort as I would be having spent the money on this particualr agency. But that's just me.

Anyway Strix good luck and have fun!

There have bee a couple of comments about people who aren't really committed to the au pair thing - eaither not sure they really want to or don't actually like children. I think I will guard against this by insisting they have previous au pair experience or are training in the field of education. Have run across a couple of young German girls who fit this profile.

Anyone have any experience with Germans? I am picturing very serious girl with a strict routine. Do you think she could whip my hoodlems into shape?

Strix - congrats on your baby! For such a shot term contract, i would really try and get someone already in the UK who's already (sort of!) adapted to life here and whom you can actually interview F2F rather than recruit someone from abroad and face the angst of not knowing if they will turn up, the potential for homesickness etc. I take it your nanny is still with you til Sept? saw that you were trying to help her find a job earlier? Depending on what circles she mixes in when out and about with your kids, does she meet au pairs? perhaps ask those au pairs is they know any friends who are looking for a job as well. doesn't hurt to advertise locally in colleges, local post office etc.

i might be going down the same route as you as i'm also going on mat leave and thus my nanny will be leaving. would love her to stay but can't quite justify the costs when i'm going to be at home all day! good luck

Oh, I should add that the gym membership is actually a very cool gym membership, if I do say so myself. It includes tennis courts, squash courts, restaurant, playground for kids, wet spa, gym with fab latest equipment, classes, etc. Her membership will cost me about £100 per month.

If this wasn't on offer, I'd probably give her £80-£90 per week.

The gym is however not optional. It is part of the package. And will hopefully attract someone who is interested in sports.

I think I'll advertise at £70, but be prepared to negotiate.

I used to live in Germany - must say they're not strict with their children at all! Very into fostering independence and self sufficiency though, and German children tend to be a little on the wild side compared to the English

Germans are a good bet though I'd say - culturally quite similar to Brits and generally a good standard of education and English.

Your German candidates sound great. Our au pair is Dutch and she is a trained kindergarten teacher with an English boyfriend who wants a nice safe but relatively independent start in the UK and we are very happy with her.

Ours is German and we've gone for another for next year. Dabbled with the idea of a French girl. But the excellent English coupled with the high education levels of these arbitur girls was a winner for me, when you're looking at people with similar levels of childcare experience. I also agree that they are culturally quite similar to the Brits - and for sure the Yanks (I'm one).

Are you a Yank, Harriet?

I didn't realise Germans were know for their education and English skills. That's definately a plus. Anyone know how they compare to the swedes (in this broad sweeping chat of stereotypes)?

Congratulations!

We used au pair world.
We've had 3 German au pairs. All different personalities. Two were excellent, one was OK with the kids but not easy to live with. Their standard of English was excellent, and they all had previous childcare experience. They were not particularly regimented or strict. All of our au pairs have been very fit and went to the gym frequently, but this seems quite unusual since all of their au pair friends that I have met have been very unfit!