Best AuPair Guide

If you’re the rebellious, adventuresome sort who would rather do things her (or his…) own way, then you’ll likely opt for scouting out potential host families on your own. This was the route I took - and although it turned out ok, the added support of an agency would have been nice. Had my host family not turned out to be a good fit, I would have been completely on my own. The only thing I would have had going for me was the fact that I happened to have quite a few friends in Germany who probably would have helped had things fallen through. But - even if you do have contacts in your chosen country, don’t assume that they will be able to fix all your problems if things don’t work out with your family. You may end up in a bit of a bind, and having the security of an agency will benefit you greatly. Believe me, there are better ways to rebel than by risking your safety and sanity in a foreign country.

However, if you do insist on finding and negotiating with a host family yourself, there are a few things to remember. First, there are many online au pair sites where you can begin your search. You can register, usually for free, and look at the profiles of potential families from all over the world. When considering a family, make sure you establish contact with them - study their profiles carefully and ask detailed questions about what their expectations are for an au pair. Second, find out more about them personally. Many families consider themselves laid-back and fun, but if you dig deeply enough, it may become clear that their definitions of those qualities are nothing like yours. Make sure you’re on the same page. Finally, be sure to have an attorney read through and manage your contract with the family you choose. This could be a little tricky, considering it’s an international agreement, but consulting a legal expert in advance will save you time, money, and headache should things go wrong. And remember - most host families turn out fine and it’s likely that your experience will be good - but having a written agreement, especially without a professional agency’s involvement, will help protect you.

In the end, the decision to go with our without an agency is entirely up to you - but as confining as using professionals may seem, their help might just make your time better than it would have been had you done everything yourself. Au pair agencies help in all situations, not only the disastrous ones. Keep this in mind - and remember, that the goal is to maximize your time abroad, while minimizing headache and stress (taking care of children and dealing with a foreign country will be tough enough!).