You can find a job as an Au Pair on your own by using an Au Pair specific search website. Finding a job on your own means you do not need to pay any agency fees and you get to make the decisions that are best for you. These free websites allow you to create your own profile, search for a host family abroad, and pick the ones you want to connect with. To help you find work abroad, this post lists the 9 websites that you can use to find an Au Pair job.
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FAQs About Finding an Au Pair Job
How do Au Pair search websites work?
Each website generally works the same: You create your own profile, search through the profiles of host families, then make it known you are interested in working with them. Host families can view your profile and reach out to you as well. You will need to do all the work, including interviewing the family and finding the correct work VISA.
What is the best website to find an Au Pair job?
It depends on what you are looking for, but I reccommend using Au Pair World. I used Au Pair World to find my host family. They are organized, trusted, vet their host families, and there are a lot of host families on their website. However, you need to remember that they are not an agency so they are not part of the process and have no effect on your Au Pair experience.
How much does it cost to create a profile?
All of the websites on this list offer free registration for Au Pairs. Some are completely free and others will require certain plans or subscriptions to access certain parts of the process, such as messaging families.
What are the requirements to become an Au Pair?
Usually, Au Pairs are ages 18-30 who have no dependents of their own and have prior childcare experience. However, to work as an Au Pair, you just need to make sure you meet the proper VISA requirements of the country you want to work in.
How do you know if a host family is legitimate?
Some websites will vet/verify the host families, which provides a base level of safety, but it is not foolproof. Overall, it is up to you to do your own research and make sure the families you are talking to are legitimate.
You can do this by making sure their profiles provide detailed and accurate information and have photos of the family. You can ask them for past Au Pair references who you can reach out to. You should also interact with them multiple times over FaceTime. During this time you should not only discuss the job but get a tour of the house and meet the children.
Should you find an Au Pair job on your own or use a placement agency?
Most people prefer to go on their own because you don’t need to pay a fee, even though it means putting in the work yourself. Ultimately you get to make the final decisions about the family you will work for and the location you will be working in. Agencies provide lots of support but it can be costly and many of them place you with a family instead of you making the final choice on your own.
I’ve created a profile and found a family. What do I do next?
Once you find a family, the next step is to message them and begin getting to know them. You should then have multiple WhatsApp conversations and FaceTime interviews to discuss your expectations and meet the parents and children face to face. After getting all the details and creating your Au Pair contract with your family, the next step is applying for the necessary VISA and purchasing your plane ticket to head abroad!
Websites to Find an Au Pair Job Abroad
1. Au Pair World
Fee: Free for Au Pairs.
Host Family Locations: Worldwide.
Are Host Families Vetted: Yes.
Notes: I have used this website to find Au Pair jobs and highly recommend it. You can create a profile and message host families for free. Host families do have to pay a membership to create an account.
2. Au Pair.com
Fee: A basic plan is free for Au Pairs.
Host Family Locations: Worldwide.
Are Host Families Vetted: Yes.
Notes: A host family must be a premium member to contact you. If you want to contact a family, you must purchase a membership. One month is $49.90 and 3 months is $89.90.
3. Find Au Pair
Fee: Free for Au Pairs.
Host Family Locations: Worldwide.
Are Host Families Vetted: They check accounts before allowing families to be members.
Notes: You can send a notification that you are interested in a family, but you can not contact them, they must send you a message first.
4. Great Au Pair
Fee: Free.
Host Family Locations: Worldwide.
Are Host Families Vetted: They screen every profile.
Notes: You can send a notification that you are interested in a family but you can not contact them. They must send you a message first, unless you pay for a subscriptions, which ranges from $27-$45/month.
5. Nanny Job.uk
Fee: Free for Nannies/Au Pairs.
Host Family Locations: Mainly in the UK and Europe.
Are Host Families Vetted: Unknown.
Notes: This website is reviewed positively by users and mentions that an agent works with you to find a family once registered.
6. Au Pair Butrfly
Fee: Free plan to find families yourself.
Host Family Locations: France, Australia, Spain, New Zealand, Ireland, Belgique, Germany, and Luxembourg.
Are Host Families Vetted: Yes.
Notes: It’s €49 if you want a certified profile, and €345 for the assistance package.
7. New Au Pair
Fee: Free.
Host Family Locations: Worldwide.
Are Host Families Vetted: No, they do not scan profiles.
Notes: Families do have to be registered to see your profile.
8. Au Pair One
Fee: Free.
Host Family Locations: Worldwide.
Are Host Families Vetted: No. This website does not screen profiles or accounts.
9. Find a Babysitter
Fee: Free.
Host Family Locations: Mainly in Australia.
Are Host Families Vetted: Yes.
Notes: This is not specifically for Au Pairs but Au Pairs have found jobs by using this website.
Conclusion
If you are looking for an Au Pair job abroad, you can use one of these free websites to create a profile and find a host family on your own. Going on your own means not having to pay agency fees and making all the decisions yourself. Be sure you do plenty of research before deciding on a host family to make sure they are the right fit for you. What is your opinion on these websites? Is there one you think should be added to this list? Please let me know in the comments below!