Au Pairing: Everything You Need to Know

For many people, living abroad seems like an impossible dream. Many people don't think they can go on a long trip outside their own country because they don't speak the language, have no work experience, or can't afford to pay for a big trip. Though there are a lot of chances to study and teach English abroad, not everyone can take advantage of them. Fortunately, there are other ways to do things.

For people who aren't students, becoming an au pair might be a good option. If you don't like the idea of finding your accommodation in a new country, becoming an au pair might be a good option. It's a great option that many people don't think about with responsibilities ranging from babysitting to simply speaking your language, many benefits, and a lot less money than an average trip abroad. A look at what it's like to be an au pair and how to start your foreign adventure. In this article, we'll try to cover most of all you need to know about Au Pairing. Let’s get started.

What Is an Au Pair?

Or who is an au pair? An au pair is usually a young person from another country who works in a family's home to help look after kids and do light housework. Still, the job can be very different depending on the requirements and wants of the family. The French word "au pair" means "on par." It stems from the concept that an au pair is more like a family member than a housekeeper. When someone works as an au pair, they're typically seen as giving back to their host family by taking care of their children or doing chores around their house in exchange for a room, food, pocket money and the chance to live in a different country.

Duties And Responsibilities

The responsibilities and duties can vary from family to family. Most people want their au pair to look after and play with their kids while teaching them a new language. But there are many options, and anyone who wants to be an au pair should know what the host families wish to. Some families ask the au pair to do simple housework like laundry or dishwashing. There are different types of au pairs, and some of them will cook dinner or look after pets. Others will drive the car to pick up the kids from school.

Most au pairs work 25-hours a week, but this can change based on where you live and what the family needs. It might start with the au pair getting the kids up and ready for school. Then, most of the day is yours to do what you want. When the kids come home from school, you might go back to work until the kids fall asleep.

All au pairs must have at least one day off during the week, usually on Sunday. Some countries have very clear rules about how lengthy au pairs could indeed work each day and what tasks they can be asked to do. For so many people, these things would be decided between both the au pair and the family based on their needs and wants.

Requirements And Qualifications

There are no basic rules for being an au pair but having previous childcare understanding and references from friends or work will make it easier to find a good family. If you speak English, German, or other popular languages, you're more likely to quickly get a job as an au pair. Au pairs typically will have the opportunity to participate in a language course, to learn the native language of the host country. Most families looking for an au pair want to improve their kids' foreign language skills. If you can speak and know the language of your host family, not only will you be able to communicate with parents and kids, but you can also make the most out of your time off. If you want to work in Paris, you should still try even if you don't speak French or German.

Host Families, Pay and Benefits Of Becoming an Au Pair

You should learn as much as you could indeed about the people you're going to live with before buying a plane ticket and packing your things. Host families come in all sorts of life and will be very different from country to country. People that can afford to house and pay an au pair are usually wealthy, but that doesn't mean you'll spend your time in another country relaxing by a pool at a palatial mansion. There are a lot of families who live in big houses with private chefs and rooftop pools, and there are also a lot of families who live in small apartments in small cities.

Most families will give the au pair a private room and linens, meals, internet access, laundry perks, and maybe a few other things as part of the job. It can be challenging for some au pairs to pay for things like transit passes and gym memberships. Other au pairs might have to pay for these things on their own or end up living without them.

Pocket money is given in addition to the room and board that the family provides. The sum might vary from family to family and from country to country, but it is usually enough to pay for things like sightseeing, weekend trips, and shopping. For example, an au pair in Madrid, Spain, would get somewhere around 60 and 100 euros a week, 25 to 35 hours of work each week. The minimum pocket money sum may vary from country to country, but the family you're working for will decide how much you get paid.

While your monthly pocket money will cover all your expenses, the amount of free time most au pairs have each day gives you the chance to earn extra money by giving private English lessons or babysitting more often. Without food or rent, even a small amount of extra money will keep you from going broke while you're there.

Conclusion

There are several benefits to becoming an au pair, but it's also essential to think about what isn't. There will be a cost to and from your new home. You'll have to pay for that yourself. Health insurance isn't always included, but there are many reliable and affordable options for international coverage that are both dependable and affordable. Moreover, there is option to skip high au pair agencies fees by searching for a host family yourself. We provide a simple introduction on how it works.