How to Become an Au Pair

I didn't have a guide to become an au pair in Belgium back in 2012, but I did chat to my newly made au pair friends on a family holiday, so that was helpful to hear their story, so here is mine! Read up on becoming a solo traveler, too.

Au pair: Job title - An au pair is a helper from a foreign country working for, and living as part of, a host family. Typically, au pairs take on a share of the family's responsibility for child care as well as some housework, and receive a monetary allowance or stipend for personal use.

Step 1: Get on Great Au Pair

This is how I got started. I created an account seeking an au pair role. I highlighted my childcare experience at the summer camp that I had worked at for four summers and my weekly babysitting that I had done since I was 14 years old. I also put in my education experience and answered short essay questions relating to childcare to complete my profile.

Step 2: Search for host families

I had a pretty broad search set for all of Europe as I was truly interested in any place. I looked at the family group with the parents, number of children, duties desired, housing situation, etc. Took other things into consideration like the au pair stipend, visa assistance and reimbursement, flight assistance or reimbursement, and if health insurance was paid for. I had a few host families that I favorited in Sweden, Belgium, France, and the Netherlands. I ended up interviewing with all families and decided upon the host family in Belgium. Ask your host family about disciplining techniques that they use or want you to use with their children. Also ask about the schedule you will have and the house rules as you will usually be living in their space, too.

Step 3: Choose the host family

I chose the family in Brussels because they were nice and organized. The kids seemed really great, too. They were located in a sizable city whereas the others were in a rural setting, offered a great stipend (€450/month), visa assistance and reimbursement, paid for half of my flights (around €700 total for the arriving and departing flights), and paid for my required European health insurance.

Step 4: Get documents in order for your visa

Follow the list of documents needed for your specific visas. These all differ by country, even within the EU. Belgium had a specific au pair visa that was only available for one year and was not renewable beyond that. I had to go to my closest Belgian consulate in Atlanta to present my paperwork and got my visa pasted in my passport the next day.

Step 5: Pack up and get ready

Packing was not so simple for me, a Floridian. I had not spent a lot of time in a colder climate. I didn't understand layers or materials that were better for this kind of weather. Do your research! I moved with a small suitcase and my 35L backpacking backpack. I ended up using most of my clothes (which were very old to begin with) and then added some new and thrifted items that I couldn't find in Florida such as heavier coats and sweaters.

Make sure you have important contacts and addresses in the country that you're moving to written down in a small notebook. Also have some local currency on hand because sometimes technology like cell phones and credit cards can fail you when you least expect it. Communicate with your host family about arrival details and if they will assist with anything with arrival.

Step 6: Let the adventure begin!

Be as open-minded as possible for your new move. Things will be different and it all takes time to get used to being in a new place and new culture without a support system. Look up activities and events in the area for things to do right away in order to easily meet people. I was out and about one of my first days in Brussels and I met one of my best friends trying to order frites in the neighborhood square! I also met another best friend through an au pair who worked down the street from me and was friends with my host family, so utilize your family's network, too. I also met friends through my weekly required French language courses. Once you make one or two friends, the rest will follow.

Have your wits about you, have fun, and bon voyage!