Asking the right au pair interview questions is a crucial step to getting the right au pair. Getting the best match is rewarding to parents as they can have peace of mind while at work knowing their little one is in safe hands.
The main areas to focus on are:
- Personality
- Attitude towards children
- Experience and safety with children
- Helping with House chores
You want someone who is proactive and can think on her feet.
Sample Au pair Interview Questions
Below are the list of au pair interview questions I usually ask a potential au pair/mother help:
Personality and Character
- Please tell me more about yourself and your family?
- Have you been an aupair before?
- Why do you want to become an au pair?
- How would your closest friends describe you?
- Do you practice any religion? If so what is it?
- Do you smoke, have you ever smoked?
Experience with Children
- What do you enjoy most about working with children?
- How do you handle a crying baby/child? How do you feel at the time?
- Have you ever been in an emergency situation? How did you handle it?
- What do you think is your primary responsibility to a child of my daughter’s age?
- When you last cared for a baby or toddler, what types of activities did you engage the child in?
- How do you discipline a child?
General questions
- Have you been to the UK before? When?
- Do you have any friends or family in London or UK?
- What types of things do you like to do in your free time?
- Do you intend to take English classes when you come to the UK?
House Hold Related Questions
- What types of household chores are expected of you in your home?
- What types of household chores would you expect to do in our home?
- Do you have a specific diet or open to trying out different food?
- What do you expect from us as a family when you come?
- How long do you intend to be an au pair with us?
- How much do you expect for pocket money?
*Questions I consider important are highlighted
Determine What Is Important to You
It may seem like a lot of questions but I believe it is important to ask. The manner in which the potential au pair also answers will show how much she wants this and if she is a good match for you and your little one.
Of course you do not have to ask every single question, determine what is important to you and focus on those areas.
I usually send the questions to them by email as most of them are better with writing in English than with speaking. Later on I aim to do a Skype calls with them to see if the chemistry is there.
Do make sure you give her a chance to ask you her own questions. If her questions are only around her living arrangement, pocket money and if you live in a city but not about your little one then that’s a red flag.
Try to interview more than one au pair so you have a basis for comparing. Above all follow your instincts. It is usually right.
Free report!
Not sure what to expect of your au pair? Check out this free report where I share some guidelines you can send to your au pair before she arrives to set your expectations.
Click Here to Download or click on the image.
This can save you a lot of issues when she arrives.
So what other au pair interview questions do you know or use? Please share in the comment section. Thanks
