AuPairWorld: Is Being An Au Pair Right For You?

AuPairWorld is an online service that’s meant to bring together host families and potential au pairs in a monitored environment, allowing families to be assured the stranger they’re letting into their home is qualified and safe, as well as allowing au pairs the benefit of knowing who they’re going to stay with before they do so.

While being an au pair has been romanticized in movies and television, it’s not an easy decision to become one. Yes, it is a chance to live and work in a foreign country, but not every teenage babysitter is cut out for the experience and you probably won’t meet your foreign Prince Charming in the process.

Au pairs are generally required by their host countries to be of legal age, but still young (some countries have low age limits for au pairs), unmarried and childless. Host families provide room, board and spending money in exchange for childcare and housework assistance, but do not pay for transportation costs or language courses (except in a few certain countries). Work can involve babysitting, cooking, cleaning, doing laundry and tutoring. Generally au pairs can work a maximum 45 hours in a week, and then have free time to either spend in their private room or out and about, with an additional four weeks of vacation time per year. Keep in mind there are different rules and regulations for au pair duties, hours and compensation in every country, so you’ll want to do thorough research before committing to one destination.

AuPairWorld currently offers their services in 23 different locations. The most popular host countries on their site are Great Britain, Germany, France, Canada, New Zealand and Australia.