Two quick au pair recruitment questions please!

[Rubirosa]

Firstly, how far in advance do you start looking for an au pair?

Secondly, what would you do if a seemingly nice au pair says they can't provide a reference?

We started looking in March and our au pair joined us in June.
I'd probably still push for a recommendation of some sort - possibly a letter from someone she's worked with (looking after kids) before or from a school-teacher or lecturer. It will prove she is serious if she actively seeks something.

I wouldn't touch anyone who couldn't produce SOME kind of reference - you are talking about having someone living in your home and looking after your kids! If someone claims to have babysat, been an au-pair before or had any form of employment I would really want to know why they can't get a reference from them.

I second sunnydelight's comment. In my last round of recruitment I came across a lot of au pairs who said they couldn't give a reference yet claimed to have experience with children.

I always ask for the paperwork in advance:
1 reference from a childcare setting - babysitting, nursery placement, summer activity camp.
1 reference/papers from their school/college/university with reference to their level of English.
Offical police check obtained from their home town/local state
Doctors certificate of overall well-being

Only then do I consider them. Most au pairs who are serious will either have all of this ready in advance of their search or will be able to get it all together within about 10 days. If they can't or don't want to, they are not the right au pair for me.

We recruit our September hires in late March/April. My au pairs have advised me that in their experience the girls who have a genuine interest look early...in any case, it suits me to get it 'done and dusted'.

No reference, no hire. We hire school leavers who don't have an extensive employment history but even they've had someone we can speak to, certainly a teacher at their school, etc.

If you're talking about someone who's been out of school for a while who can't provide any sort of reference then I would walk away. Someone else suitable will turn up.

just a thought - perhaps some aupairs dont realize how important references in british culture are. i dont think outside of the english speaking world they are common. /i am not saying you should hire aupairs without references by any means/