Au Pair Family Interview always stepping on pitfalls? 8 Core Tips + 3 Pitfall Avoidance Guides from Gerlach to help you find the perfect au pair!
Do you want to find an au pair who can help your child practice foreign languages and grow up with you, but you don't know how to show your family's strengths during the interview? Or are you worried that you might not get along with your au pair after the “perfect package”? As an au pair program provider for many years, Glacier will share with you its experience of serving hundreds of families - from interview preparation to follow-up, so that you can easily find an au pair of the same frequency!
First, before the interview: do 2 things, lay the foundation for success
Interviews are not ad hoc, and preparing in advance can make you more comfortable:
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Environmental preparation: conveying family temperature with details
For the video interview, choose a neat living room or the child's activity area (e.g., set up the child's picture books and toys), with no clutter in the background; debug the equipment 10 minutes in advance to make sure that the sound is clear; for offline interviews, prepare a cup of lukewarm water and a small snack (e.g., a snack with hometown specialties, which will lead to the topic of cultural exchange in the meantime).
Courtesy TipsFor example, the Zhang family in Shanghai, whom we have served, showed their children's “wall of growth” (filled with drawings and awards) during the interview, which instantly gave the au pair the impression that the family valued their children, which was a big plus for the au pair!
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Mindset preparation: remembering the “two-way street”
Don't put yourself in the position of an “evaluator”, the au pair is also selecting the right family. Keeping an equal and sincere mindset allows you to show your family's strengths and listen to each other's needs - after all, you'll be spending time with them in the future, and the match is more important than the “perfect” one.
Second, in the interview: 8 core skills to make the au pair choose you at a glance家
How to naturally show your family's strengths during an interview? Each of these 8 tips comes from real-life case summaries from Court Leahy:
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Show the family's daily life without “filtering”.”
Mistakes: Saying “the baby never cries” and “the house is always tidy” (so false!). ;
The right thing to do: e.g. “The child is 3 years old and occasionally cries when he grabs a toy, but we guide him to say ‘I want to play” instead of crying“ ”On weekends we clean the house together, and the child wipes the table! "Realistic details attract patient au pairs who are willing to participate in the family life.
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Highlighting the sincerity of cross-cultural communication
Most au pairs are eager to learn about Chinese culture, so you can say, “We'll cook our hometown dishes (e.g., dumplings/braised pork) once a week and would like to teach you how to make them; and we're planning a trip to Xi'an to see the Terracotta Army during the holidays; would you like to join us?” Specific plans are more persuasive than a vague “I like cultural exchanges”.
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Specific ways to clarify language support
Au pair want to improve your Chinese? Don't just say, “We can help you learn Chinese,” say, “Every day after dinner for half an hour, we'll chat with you in Chinese or watch Chinese cartoons together; if you need to take the HSK, we can help you find tutoring materials.”
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Sharing the “small blessings” of family activities”
For example, “On weekends we often go biking at a nearby park, and the kids love to chase butterflies; we go on vacation to the beach every summer, and last year we built a ‘castle’ on the beach - these are everyday joys we want to share.” Specific scenes can make au pairs feel the warmth of the family.
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Emphasizing “exclusive support” for au pairs”
What au pairs need most when they first arrive in China is help in adapting: “If you want to enroll in a language class, we can recommend it to you; if you want to go out with your friends on the weekend, we can tell you the route; if you have any problems, feel free to talk to us.” Let the other person feel “taken care of” rather than “hired”.
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Communicating Family Values, Speaking in Scenes
Don't just say, “We value mutual support,” but say, “Last week when the kids were sick, Dad took off work to take care of them, Mom took care of the cooking, and the whole family shared the burden - that's the way we do it in our family, and we work together to solve any problems we encounter. ” Real stories are more moving than slogans.
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Active listening to understand each other's needs
The interview is not a “one-man show”, ask the person: “Why do you want to come to China as an au pair?” “What kind of support would you like to receive from your family?” For example, if the au pair says, “I want to learn Chinese calligraphy,” you can respond, “We have calligraphy tools at home, and Dad can teach you basic strokes! --This kind of interaction can quickly improve the match.
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Maintain positive interactions with more praise and less lecturing
For example, if the au pair mentions that she has “taken care of a neighbor's child before,” you can say, “You sound like you have a lot of patience, and the child will love you!” Smile, make eye contact, nod your head at the right time - these details can make the interview atmosphere more relaxed.
Third, the Court Laixi exclusive pit avoidance guide: 3 of the most easy to make mistakes, must be avoided!
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Don't exaggerate.
For example, “We have a huge garden” (in reality, only a small balcony) will disappoint the au pair;
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Don't ignore the core needs of au pairs
If the au pair explicitly says “I would like to have 2 days of free time per week”, don't be ambiguous and just say “No problem, we will confirm the time in advance”;
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Don't jump to conclusions.
After the interview, give both parties 24 hours to think about it, and Courtesy will help you organize the interview notes and compare the needs of both parties - after all, choosing an au pair is a long-term decision, so it's better to take it slow and steady.
IV. After the interview: 2 steps to follow up and lock in the ideal au pair
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timely feedback
On the day of the interview, the au pair is thanked through the Court Leahy counselor: “It was great talking to you today, we need a little time to talk, can I get back to you tomorrow?” It is both polite and leaves room for manoeuvre;
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Confirmation of details
If both parties are satisfied, Gallagher will help you and your au pair to confirm the details, such as working hours, scope of duties (e.g. if you need help with homework, simple household chores), monthly allowance, etc., so as to protect both parties' rights and interests by means of a standardized agreement.
Conclusion: “Your Au Pair Partner” in your Au Pair Journey!”
Finding an au pair is not about “finding a nanny”, it is about finding a cross-cultural “big friend” for your child. We not only help you to select quality au pairs (from 10+ countries, with strict background checks), but also provide interview guidance and advice on how to get along with them - from “choosing an au pair” to “getting along with them”. From "choosing an au pair" to "getting along well", we will help you to minimize the detours.
👉 Click on [Court Laixi Au Pair Program] to consult with a consultant for personalized advice; you can also check out our summer school and younger study abroad programs, which allow children to grow up fully in a cross-cultural environment!