How to Become A Family Au Pair in South Africa
Do you love children? While there are many steps and requirements to becoming an au pair, this should always be the very first question you should ask yourself. There will be children involved, and you will be spending a lot of time with them. If you are not passionate about the care and development of children, this is not the right career for you. Not only will you be unhappy and frustrated in your job, but the children will also pay the price. That said, if you love children, this can be one of the most rewarding jobs that you will ever take on in your life.
Something that is very important to note is that being a family au pair is not the same as being a babysitter. While both of these roles require similar skills, the former generally requires much more of a long-term commitment. Instead of being there for the odd afternoon or evening when someone needs a responsible person to look after their children, an au pair becomes an extension of their host family. They form part of the family’s daily routine and provide support, care and stimulation – as well as structure and discipline – to the children. It is therefore vital that an au pair has good communication skills and that they can form a trusting bond with the parents in order to provide the support the family requires.
Do You Think You Have What It Takes? Follow These Steps to Get Started:
You will need a reputable agency to represent you and assist with placement. AuPair Extraordinaire is a local agency that is committed to delivering an exceptional placement service that provides peace of mind to both the host families and the au pairs we represent. Go about it like this:
- Send us your CV. List all your previous experience, skills, and talents, including any references relating to your childcare experience.
- Come for an interview with us. If you meet our requirements, you will be invited to come into the agency for an interview.
- Start receiving vacancy notifications. We receive new families and requests daily. Relevant vacancies that suit your skills will be shared with you.
- Go for interviews with families. If there is a matching vacancy, an interview will be set up with the family so that you can meet face to face and establish whether there is a connection.
- Get hired. If you and the family are happy with each other, we will set up an au pair contract and ensure that you are 100% ready to start the journey with your new family.