Au Pairing in Paris

[LPDS]

Can anyone help. My daughter wants to be an Au Pair in Paris during her gap year before going off to university . She is doing modern languages and wants to improve her French. Can anyone recommend or suggest a good Au Pair agency to go with for Paris or France? Does anyone have any recommendations about this any pitfalls or views. Would be really greatful to hear your thoughts.

Is that even possible anymore? Does she have an EU passport? Otherwise is she not very limited in how much time she can spend in France?

Yes is possible. My daughter has a second passport so is an EU citizen as well as a British citizen but you can also get Au Pair visas in any event. Do you have any views / recommendations of agencies?

My dd wants to do the same except in a southern French city. I haven’t started researching yet as I’m still sorting the older one out with her gap year in the Netherlands.

Younger dd is going to France on a reccy at Easter with her dad to have a look around and hopefully make some contacts.

https://www.lerepertoiredegaspard.com

These guys are a good bet.

The can gain a childcare qualification with them.

After-school childcare for a family and working in the morning.

It works with the apprentice system I think

There's a few Facebook groups, DD found her job through one whose name I can't remember !

I did that when I was in my 20s. It was one of the best years of my life. I went on to do a french and Italian degree (and I’d suggest doing languages with something else from my experience, not just languages). Obviously the agency I used is long gone! Try to make sure she picks a family in central Paris, the first family that I worked for over a summer was in the suburbs just outside and it was quite boring there, although the family was lovely. My second, long term family was central Paris, which was much better.

I wouldn't go through an agency, it's too weighted towards the host parents. Get her to go on au pair world, look what's on offer there (there will be loads of options) and contact some hosts - some will be lovely, others will try and get too much work out of her. So, she needs to get clear clarification on exactly what they expect from her in terms of hours, ask them to send a picture of the room and you can google the address and find out a bit more about the area before committing.

She'll have much more choice of family that way.

I'd also steer clear of someone needing a driver - driving in Paris is horrendous!

I second @underneaththeash - absolutely avoid having her have to drive in Paris.

It might be worth her contacting some Parisian schools directly saying she's looking for a au-air job.

I would recommend starting with Ecole Alsacienne ( same group as rugby school) or Ecole Jeannine Manuelle

DD has been au pair for last 7 months pre MFL degree starts in Oct Lots of amazing experiences in Marseille but Increasingly host family taking advantage of her and treating her like a cheap nanny. Today after she served an ultimatum on host family she was ‘sacked’; probably best possible outcome.

We did lots of due diligence even travelled to Marseille six months in advance so DD could meet three potential families. It all sounded good in theory - studio flat in same block as their smallish flat. Kids dropped by parents at school at 0815 then DD collects 1630 and had them till parents return plus all day Wednesday.

Reality is Host family always returned stressed from work and made no time for including her just complaining and often returning late. DD is used to hard work as has done many 12 hr plus waitressing shifts.

Also not at all inclusive, first three months she was invited to eat just one meal a week with them. Since then not included in a single meal. Parents return from work at 8.30/9pm Mon- Thursday and 11pm on Friday but often later - their date night…

On the plus side DD has learnt lots, got a C1 French qualification and She also volunteers three times a week for a refugee charity. On balance she decided fed up of being treated like rubbish. says she’ll find a shared house plus restaurant job for remaining three months. Apparently possible if not strictly legal on an au pair visa.

I’d still say go for an au pair position but be super aware placements don’t always work out. DD had had several friends leave families. Do make sure there is an exit strategy- ultimatum served knowing it might mean leaving. DD’s being allowed the room for two weeks more but is stopping work immediately- their choice.