Category: Au Pair Working Conditions

Low Pay Commission Release Food & Board report

The Low Pay Commission have just released their review of Food & Board rates report.

The review was commissioned by Minister for Employment and Small Business Pat Breen T.D. Continue reading Low Pay Commission Release Food & Board report

Au Pair Working Hours in Ireland

Traditionally the role of an au pair would have involved between 20 and 25 hours work per week, with occasional paid babysitting duties. However in early 2016 a Workplace Relations Commission ruling recently recognised au pairs as employees, which instilled on them, the same rights and expectations as Continue reading Au Pair Working Hours in Ireland

Au pair Interview questions

We’ve put together a list of some interview questions you might find handy, when looking for your perfect au pair. They cover a wide range of topics including travelling, personal life, driving and working.

You’ll also find a link, at the bottom of the page, which allows you to download and print these questions, to have with you during the interview. Continue reading Au pair Interview questions

Au Pair house rules and guidelines

Establishing written house rules and guidelines is a very important part in the hiring process of your au pair. Establishing rules and guidelines can help both you and your au pair avoid misunderstandings, and sources of possible conflict.

Rules and guidelines will vary from home to home, but the following are some you might want to address:

  • Set a day-by-day timetable, including start time, finish time, and what days the au pair has off
  • Babysitting – how often it would be expected, and is it included in the au pair’s base pay. If it is not included in their base pay, how much will you be paying your au pair for the service
  • Au pair wages – when are they paid, what rate the au pair is being paid, and how frequently they will receive their wages
  • Curfew – if you have one, make sure you mention it. If your au pair is not spending the night in your house, by what time do they have to they let you know
  • Are Smoking and drinking permitted, if so when and where
  • Phones – important phone numbers (creche, doctor, parents, neighbours, etc.) should be stored on the au pairs phone, the phone should be kept charged, with credit at all times
  • Establish rules that address the use of phones during working hours and mealtimes
  • Computer use – when and where computers can be used, are your children permitted to use the computer with your au pair
  • Au pair car use – when your au pair can use the car, can it be used during the au pair’s time off, and who is responsible for replacing petrol
  • Cleanliness – address how your au pair’s room should be kept, how frequently they should hoover, change bed-sheets, etc.
  • Cleanliness in common areas such as the bathroom, kitchen or living room – what are the standards expected, and who is expected to clean up after your children
  • If you recycle make sure your au pair understands the process
  • Children’s eating and sleeping times
  • What times children need to be dressed by, and what time they should be in bedclothes by
  • Children’s important activities and appointments, when they start, when they end, and where they are
  • Treats for the children – for example sweets and television, are these allowed – if so, how much and how often, and on what conditions

Continue reading Au Pair house rules and guidelines

Safety Tips for Au Pairs

We became aware last week, of the horrific experience an Irish au pair, allegedly suffered at the hands of her employer in France.

Newspapers reported the au pair was given a spiked drink, she said she began to feel dizzy, and said she remembered her employer kissing her, before going on to rape her.

You can read more about it here.

This is the sort of nightmare scenario no au pair ever wants to find themselves in. Thankfully it rarely happens, in the 10 years this site has been running, we can’t recall anything like it ever having happened before. And, while it is impossible to say it won’t happen again, you can take some very simple steps to make it less likely. Continue reading Safety Tips for Au Pairs

Au Pairs for the Elderly

We first blogged about elderly / senior au pairs about 5 years ago.

At the time we were just starting to see elderly au pairs emerge as a viable option for caring for the elderly. Now 5 years later, they have become an established and popular home care option, and a fantastic alternative to a nursing home.

What is an elderly/senior au pair?

An elderly au pair, or senior au pair as they are also known, is an individual who provides companionship, light home care, and other assisted living duties for a person, or in some cases a couple, in their own home. Continue reading Au Pairs for the Elderly

6 Tips That Will Help You Succeed When Interviewing For An Au Pair Position

[The following is a guest posting from Andrea Roman of
DublinAuPairs.com]

Most Au Pairs are nervous about the first video call – interview with their future host family. Meeting the family for the first time as well as talk to them in a foreign language can be as exciting as overwhelming. That’s why it is important to prepare the interview: the more prepared you are, the less nervous you will feel. Also, you will be ready to answer all type of questions.

Here are 6 helpful tips that will help you get in the right mood for the interview and be prepared to meet and delight your host family. From preparing for the most common questions, to practicing your responses, or planning some questions to ask the family. Continue reading 6 Tips That Will Help You Succeed When Interviewing For An Au Pair Position

Au Pairs – seven steps to building the perfect Au Pair CV

There is a lot of competition out there for the best jobs. Your CV is the first opportunity you have, to make an impression on your future host family, so why not make it a good one.

Here on AuPairIreland.ie we see a lot of CVs, so we get an idea of what works, and what doesn’t.

Follow these suggestions to build a CV that will impress.

  • Edit your CV to match the job – don’t be afraid to rewrite your CV for each job you apply for. Highlight any experience you have, that is required for the role you’re applying for.
  • Include a photo – but if you do include a photo make sure it’s the right type. Ideally showing you with children, and definitely not showing you partying!
  • Irish references – it’s a big plus if you have an Irish references. If you do, make sure you highlight it in your CV.
  • Irish work experience – the same as with Irish references. If you do have Irish work experience make the most of it, and highlight it.
  • Fill out all the CV sections – those sections were added for a reason! Employers want to know that information, so don’t leave then empty.
  • Keep it to the point – avoid writing long, rambling paragraphs. Write about the important stuff, leave out the rest.
  • Include a cover letter – write about what makes you suitable for that particular job. Show interest. Make direct reference to the advert to show you’ve read it.

10 ways to get more applicants for your Au Pair ad

We always see a noticeable disparity in the number of applicants a job in the city will receive, compared to a job in the countryside. It’s not unusual for city jobs get as many as thirty times more applicants, than their country equivalent.

We’ve blogged about this in the past, posts aimed at jobseekers,  trying to encourage them to apply for positions outside the cities, so in this posting we thought we’d share some tips with host families, especially those living in the countryside, on how to get more applicants. Continue reading 10 ways to get more applicants for your Au Pair ad