Do 18 year olds actually ever get hired as Au Pairs? If so, how can I generally make my chances of being picked more likely?

[RoniatheRobbersDaughter]

Hi!

I've been thinking about au pairing for a few months, but I've noticed that people mainly look for au pair's to be in their mid-20s, with driving experience (which makes sense really).

My one real asset is fluent English (also fluent Polish but no one wants their children to learn it ), my French is mediocre at best. I only reached a grade 4 in flute before quitting and otherwise don't really have many skills (at least, not the type which you get impressive qualifications for).

However I'm really keen and want to make my chances of being picked better, what sort of things do you tend to look out for?

Have you talked to ang agencies for advice?

Can you cook, enjoy playing and organising games, understand how to do laundry, do first aid, tell stories, understand safeguarding? Are you empathetic, can you resolve disputes fairly? Do you understand consoles, pc’s, tech? Animals?

Think practically, you probably have loads of skills. If not, they’re probably within your grasp.

@Herocomplex I can do all those things (exceptt first aid) but not in any way better than the average person.

@NoMorePoliticsPlease I haven't! It seems to me that AuPairWorld.com seems the best option for looking for families? Although I'll have a look at agencies now.

References would make a huge difference to me. So if you're struggling with finding au pair work maybe start with childminding or in a nursery? Do you have all the first aid, DBS check etc? I wouldn't be worried about "skills" per se as if I wanted my children to learn those I'd put them in lessons. Or start with an agency

Are you applying to families rather than waiting for them to contact you? I would do that.... I always chose people who were more proactive. Try and send each family a personalised message that shows that you have actually read their profile and speak good English. If you want to be in London there are more roles that don't need ability to drive as public transport is so good.
Try and write about why you are mature for 18 in your profile.

DD's friend has just acquired a job as an au pair in Spain for the next academic year. She's currently 17y but will be 18 when she starts after the summer. She is English and is pretty fluent in Spanish. She's a bright girl looking at getting minimum three As at A-levels including Spanish. It's for a Spanish family with three children. She has spoken to them via FaceTime etc but not yet met in person. She's doing it for a year out - she has deferred university offers.

I want a Polish au pair!

Most families don’t want extraordinary skills, they just want cheerful, reliable practical help. You’d be amazed how many 18 year olds can’t do household tasks!

Are you English or Polish?

What country are you planning of working in?

Most English families, employ an au pair from a different country.

I’ve never had an up pair, but any friends have had tend to be school leavers who couple it with language courses.

Do some work with kids. The under 20s I knew who managed it (including me!) all had some experience with kids, mostly pgl instructors and similar roles for a season but a few of us had been in more supervisory roles in things like scouts or volunteered in nurseries and things like that. A first aid qualification was something we all had in common too.

Some of it will depend on the country you’re planning to work in. In many places being bilingual will be seen as an asset as it suggests you will pick up the local language quickly.

When I was applying for au pair jobs years ago I got offered loads and I couldn’t drive and was young. One thing is the photos, a couple of people said they’d liked my application because I included nice family oriented photos.

Can you drive? Ride a bike? Are you good at using public transport? Pick places where it suits what you can do. If you can’t drive, capital cities and the Netherlands are good bets.

Do you have babysitting experience? Make clear any time you’ve spent with children. Have you spent longish periods away from home? Make that clear too.

We did. She was as described above, cheerf, reliable and very helpful. Much more so than the slightly older au pair we tried after that- she'd lived away from home and clearly less used to mucking in and being part of a household.

We really wanted some experience with young children, and someone who had hobbies and interests- i.e. a keen sportsperson or similar. Someone with a sense of adventure, but mostly someone chatty, charming and good with young children.

In the UK I think you're not allowed to employ a British au pair- the whole point is it's a cultural exchange. You're also not supposed to employ an au pair from your native country if you're an expat in britain- I.e. a polish family in the UK can employ a Spanish au pair but not a polish one. I guess that's to keep the differentiation between au pairs and nannies more clear and prevent exploitation.

And yes to family orientated photos- when we were looking there were some applicants who looked a bit tipsy in pictures, or photos that has a slightly sexy look to them. Better to project a clean living homely look if possible!!

I've done lots of babysitting and about a month in total of work experience in schools, so that's not an issue.

@DecemberSnow I'm Polish, but raised in the U.K, I'm not planning on au pairing in the UK or Poland, I'm only asking for advice here because you all know what is desirable in an au pair!

@Herocomplex I'm surprised to hear it! My mum was always pretty relaxed in raising me but basic household tasks (e.g. simple meals, using appliances, tidying, etc.) were certainly something that she made clear everyone should know how to do.

@Canyousewcushions I honestly am pretty calm and homely, if anyone asked my friends about me they'd say I project an image of innocence, so no worries there

Everyone's been incredibly helpful so far, thanks!

Do you have a drivers license? If so then the only thing that you can really do is to contact lots of families and make sure that you consider families located outside of major cities (it’s much harder finding an au pair of you live in a backwater so you can’t be as picky).

My sister has an au pair in the US. Highly regulated and all dine through agencies. Hers now is Brazilian but has had German and Austrian. They are contracted to do 45 hours a week and generally must drive. The first had excellent English and a degree and was looking to travel, the second wanted to improve her English and the third barely speaks English, my sister paid for an extensive course but to no avail, she really is too young (20) to be doing it.
But if you are mature (not in years), responsible and love kids you need to get on to an agency. They sort your Visa out etc too.

Make it very clear that you know how to do practical household tasks (eg cook and clean), and that you expect to do that kind of work. Be someone who actually helps, rather than someone who sees the experience as a paid holiday.

You should have loads of matches coming up in easy find on au pair world. I’ve just checked - worldwide there were over 500 people worldwide who are looking for a fluent English speaker who is 18 and male.
I wouldn’t touch an agency with a barge pole. You will get little to no choice with the family you’re placed with.
Most families want someone to stay at least 6 months.
Good luck.

Yes they do get hired.

You need experience with kids, to sound focused on that rather than just travelling.

Other important things:

You need to sound organised, capable and reliable

Good to sound like you will be outgoing, independent and build a social life

I look for people who sound warm and caring

Also good to sound capable with household tasks eg do all own laundry, regularly cook family meals etc

Yes, we've just chosen an 18 year old, but she has au paired already so we had a recommendation from her last host family who had to let her go because the mum was going on maternity leave.

I think the no1. thing is have childcare experience outside your family - regular babysitting, working at a summer camp, nursery or school, basically somewhere you can get a reference from someone you are not related to. That improves your chances a lot.

People will also have concerns if you've not lived outside the family home - if you do lots of chores at home, spell out that you can clean, do laundry, wash up etc.

Be clear if you would like the hosts to be like a second family to you or if you'd like to have a lively social life when you're not on duty - that will help you get hosts that work well with you.