Au Pair World

[Ruggles]

I am looking for an Au Pair to start in August and have been using an agency. We are finding it quite difficult to find a good one as we are rural, need a good driver, with quite good English (DD has speech therapy), have dogs, need quite a lot of light housework and have au pair will have separate studio accommodation 50 yards from the house (apparently

I've just registered on Au Pair World and are amazed at how many girls are on there. Does anyone have any tips on how to get the best out of it?

I imagine competition for the good ones is tough. How much should I say on the profile about what we are offering? We thought:

• £80pw
• Use of own car plus £15pw contribution towards their own petrol
• £25pw towards any extra food they want
• £10 per month towards mobile costs

Any other tips?

Thanks.

Sorry, meant to say that apparently the studio thing is off putting to quite a lot girls. !

I have just done what you are doing and I have similar requirements.

I searched only for 25 or older (for car insurance). At first I found it hard because you chat a lot to girls who seem keen as mustard and then just stop replying. I also got loads of messages from people who didn't meet my requirements (clearly stated in my ad). However, after 2 weeks I had got 2 girls both of whom seem good. So I would say persevere but be clear with what you want and reject any who don't meet that.

I think your offer sounds very fair btw.

As an aside, I also registered with Great Au Pair and have found it crap. Loads of candidates who need visas, and a difficult to navigate site. And endless bloody emails!

I second what Mendi said. Set your criteria really carefully and then just browse through the result son easy finder.

What you're offering is very generous. I'd be tempted to be less specific with some of the extras and use them as a way of saying thank you. Will now stand back and wait to be flamed!

Happy hunting

Thanks Ladies
Mendi - how did you manage to establish that an AP was really happy with the rural / appreciated what it actually meant? We've only had one AP a couple of years ago who - she was 19 and very homesick and hated living in the studio. She only lasted a couple of weeks before she left, which was actually a relief as I felt as if I had another child.. I suppose that age does help with all of that.

Am going to up the age on APW and say that the pocket money and benefits are generous and see what happens!

Have you ever used an agency?

I contacted a couple of agencies, and they were very sniffy and told me he combination of wanting over 25 and a driver and "only" paying £80 a week for 20 hours would be difficult as older candidates want more hours and money.

I did find on AP World that wanting over 25 seriously limited the pool - I probably only chatted seriously with 5 girls, of whom 3 dropped off the radar and the other 2 were left.

We are actually semi-rural and I'll have to let you know how it works out when she gets here, but I asked lots of questions about what she will do to make friends in the area, and told her about the AP meet-up page on FB, which she's already joined and started chatting on so hopefully will be ok.

Hi Ruggles,
I agree with Mendi. Agencies tend to offer younger au pairs up to 21 years old. Also the website I use will also do a background check on an au pair so I don't use agencies any more. At this point the only reason I could see for using an agency would be as a time saving exercise.
I always help our au pairs to get to know other au pairs and to sign up for English classes. Finding someone who is a god driver is the hardest thing to find. Try to look out for an au pair who had ther own car in their own country. They are usually great drivers and adapt easily to driving on the other side of the road. Hope this helps:)

Thank you - it all helps so much. I am feeling much more positive about this now.

Scarletlips - which website do you use? Good idea about one who has their own car.

TIA

You can filter easily on GAP so screen out the candidates who need visas. If they contact you then just say thanks but no thanks.

Some visas aren't a problem though - Aussies, Kiwis and Canadians need them but on the plus side speak perfect English already.

Hi Ruggles,
I use kangarooaupair.com They don't have as many au pairs as au pair world but they'll check a reference and do a crb check. I just find this great peace of mind. I hope you find a nice au pair. It really can work out brilliantly of you find the right girl. I'd be lost with out our au pairs!

Hi Ruggles,
I use kangarooaupair.com They don't have as many au pairs as au pair world but they'll check a reference and do a crb check. I just find this great peace of mind. I hope you find a nice au pair. It really can work out brilliantly of you find the right girl. I'd be lost with out our au pair!

Oops! Sorry added this message twice

I always used an agency, I am paranoid that AP from Ap world or great au pair just wouldn't turn up. I am a single parent, no family around, working full time and all my freinds are without children, having no idea how to help even if they want to, hence AP turning up is an essential point for me! With agency you get some kind of guarantee. I tried so many agencies and ended up using one of them which was fantastic and both au pairs they supplied are really good (I also need a driver, though I asked for 23+ - the first one was 26, the second one is 23). If anybody interested I can Pm the agency)

Please PM me the agency mikulkin! I have just found an AP through AP World but I must admit I am paranoid she might change her mind. It's worse than dating, the constant worrying. So I'd love a good agency as back-up.

Mikulkin - would you mind PMing me too! I have spent every night this week on AP World and would love a back up too. My local agency have been great at keeping in touch etc, but haven't found me anyone to interview in 2 weeks. Thanks.

I have recruited two APs from Au Pair World, loads of people on here use the site regularly. It doesn't feel like no shows are that big of a problem. It can still happen with an agency too, with no gaurantee the other people on their books would be suitable.

I woudln't worry so much. I also recruit in April for a September start.

I dn't know if it makes a difference that our au pairs are younger and genuinely looking for a gap year experience before they start university. I think I would be more worried about a no show with an older au pair who maybe would dump it for a higher paying job.

The thing is a 25 year wanting to work with children is likely to have au paired at 18, then moved on to nannying for the last 6/7 years. If they can work for £500 a week net they aren't going to be interested in £80 gross.

Personally I would rather a say 20-22 year old maybe just finished uni and travelling than a older person who just seems lost in the world and is still au pairing at 27.

Could you get a cleaner to do the housework? As housework generally isn't an au pair job apart from the general thing. Ie loading dishwasher after breakfast, helping kids tidy up toys. If you need bathrooms done/ hooving etc then you need a cleaner. An au pair is supposed to be part of the family so should match the family chores, they should be split equally between the adults rather than them doing them all

Do people check references or do CRB checks for their au pairs? And if so how do you carry out the reference check?

Can do it by phone or Skype provided the referee speaks English.

My AP provided the Italian equivalent of a CRB certificate.

Thanks. I was nervous because how do I know she hasn't just got anyone to give her a reference. But think at some point I have to trust her.