Au Pair Positions
- "Au pair" is essentially a fancy name for babysitter. If you have babysitting experience and enjoy working with children this can be an ideal way to live inexpensively in a foreign country and experience the culture.
- Au pair positions give you an opportunity to live in a foreign location with free room & board and spending money
- Au pair positions tend to be predominantly filled by women. Men are occasionally hired, particularly when the children are male, but not usually.
- Most positions involve working about 30 hours a week (5 hours a day/ 6 days a week) and focus on child care.
- Au pairs are sometimes asked to do light housework, cooking or other duties
- Read any agreement carefully before you sign it.
- Make sure you know what is expected of you including the housing arrangements you will receive.
- You must be reliable, enjoy children, patient and creative.
- There are numerous agencies that will match you with potential families; be sure to investigate the agency through the Better Business Bureau and through references before you sign.
Try these listings for Au Pair opportunities:
- The International Au Pair Association (IAPA)
An association of agencies involved in locating and placing au pairs worldwide. This website allows you to research au pair agencies in 44 countries.
- Childcare International
Positions available in Europe, Canada, and Australia. Contracts range from 3 months (summer only) to one year.
- International Cultural Exchange Programs Scholarship Foundation (ICEP)
ICEP has an Au-Pair in Turkey program which welcomes females between 18-29 to stay between 3 and 12 months. The host family must provide a private room for the au-pair and pay a minimum of Euro 200 a month pocket money, depending on the au pair's working hours.
- Eupair
Eaupair is an online matching service to register and search by country for au pair work.
- Hera Holding
This website gives you the answers to FAQ’s about Nannies: What is a Nanny? What does a nanny do? What salary and benefits can a nanny can expect?
- Payaway.
This directory has links to over 80 sites offering au pair and nanny jobs abroad