how long should i stay?
The average au pair contract is for one year. If everything goes well and you love the family too much to leave, you will likely be able to stay longer. Of course, if you’ve had your fill of the au pair life and are ready to head out, once you’ve fulfilled your contract, you are free to go.
But what if you aren’t sure about a whole year and want to stay less? This is possible too, it might just be a bit more difficult. Families put a lot of time and money into hiring an au pair, and they usually want to get as much as possible out of their investment. That said, there are families out there who need au pairs for shorter periods of time. These arrangements are often in the summer when families on extended vacations need someone to look after the children. This works out well for college students or anyone else who wants go overseas for the summer or for winter break. It’s also perfect for people wanting to try out au pair work without the lengthy commitment.
Families are constantly looking for reliable childcare for various lengths of time, so remember that if the one year commitment is too much, there are other ways. It just may take a bit longer and a little more effort to find your custom-fit job, but the high demand for au pairs makes it likely that you’ll find what you’re looking for.
May 5th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Generally au pairs are paid a small amount of money and their room and board. They are expected to provide child care but are not restricted to you and our family.