Help and tips to become an au pair

[nannynewo]

Hello,

I am currently a student and have one more year left of university. I still have no idea what I would like to do after Uni (definitely working with children). I was going to do a PGCE straight away but am starting to think this really isn't for me anymore. Am a little stumped so feel I would like to travel a little (not so much travel, but work abroad) and feel I would love to be an au pair. What is the best way to go about it? Websites etc...? I am from the UK so does anyone know any nice places to become an au pair? I would be happy to consider summer au pair work or something more long term so am very flexible. I almost became an au pair this year however my parents weren't so happy as it was near madrid and they had heard it wasn't very safe there (they could be completely wrong?!) so does anyone know any nice, safe places. Perhaps more cultural but where a lot of people hire au pairs so I am not completely alone?

Sorry I am rambling now but want to get as much advice as possible.

Thanks!

I think your parents were misinformed. Madrid is as safe as Paris, London or Rome...

What languages do you speak? That should be the basis for your decision, I think

Go on Aupairworld. You will have your choice of jobs. Madrid and its surrounds are very safe (I used to live there) - not sure how/why your parents can have formed the view that it's not safe there?! Maybe they just don't want you to go because they will miss you?

I think your AP idea sounds a good one. I have a friend who lives in France and has employed English APs through APWorld for years - always worked out well for all parties. Good luck!

Thank you!

R.E madrid - a family member went out with their family once and had a bad experience with regards to his daughter (nothing major but it put them off and also my dad!), I have heard it is safe! Ultimately anything I chose should be my own decision but I would hate to be hundreds of miles away knowing my parents aren't completely happy with it!
Will check out AP world. I mainly speak English but do know quite a bit of french and I love the french culture so that may be an idea. I have just been very interested in recent years because it gives you the opportunity to try out different cultures with quite a bit of spare time but pocket money too and I work well with children.

I'm currently working about 20km north of Madrid, and I've found it to be safe so far! (here's hoping that continues).

I found my family on APWorld, as others have suggested. They're nice, but my main advice would be to really talk with the family before deciding to go, to make sure there are no surprises when you get there, and so you know exactly what is expected of you- and what you expect from them!

It's definitely an experience, and it's really interesting to try another culture (current highlight is the siesta, eating really late is something i'm not so fond of! That and gazpacho, cold soup is just wrong in my view)

My host family know a few other APs, so that was lucky! I would have thought Spanish cities such as Bilbao etc would be nice places to go, and any medium sized cities in France as well. i found there to be lots more Spanish families than French ones, but I think there are quite a few German families too!

WhatICallAUsername Thanks so much for your lovely post. I am really gutted I didn't do it this summer now. Was so very close to doing it and the awesome thing was that it was two neighbours who were really good friends so I was going to go out with my friend and they required the same hours of childcare.

Being stuck in rainy Britain thinking what I could have been doing it really depressing!

Your tips are brilliant and I have checked out APWorld and have seen loads and loads of families, just need to wait for the next summer recruiting to begin!

People look for APs all year round, not just in summer. Would you only be looking for a summer job? Because if not, you can go any time!

I would look for one at any time but am entering my final year of University so won't be able to go until next summer :)

I would say concentrate on your final year and start looking after exams in June. People recruit all the time and you can get a position very quickly.

I should be finished around May (this year I finished May 2nd) so shall probably start searching around Christmas. Just wanted to hear some stories and dos/ don'ts etc.. As well as successful sites to find a nice family in advance. I have a lot of free time between now and mid Sept so thought I would use this time to research into it.

Ah bless you nannynewo! Going with a friend does sound awesome- maybe you could try and do it with her next year? Having someone to 'share' childcare with helps massively (I met up with another AP every few days with the kids- feel lost without her now she's gone home!)

Really good idea to start looking early, I literally started looking a month before (lots of friends were doing it and I jumped on the bandwagon!) and think I rushed my decision a bit!

The weather is nicer here- but be prepared for the heat! It took me a few weeks to really acclimatise, and I still struggle at night (I'm almost looking forward to British weather can you believe it?!)

Good luck in your last year, I'm about to go into my 2nd and don't want to start the real hard work! I'm planning to be an AP next summer too, before starting my year abroad, but probably for only a month rather than 7 weeks like I'm doing atm, as I want to see my family a bit more next summer!