Interview mit Wendi Lahti vom Au pair Care Programm

What was your motivation for working at Au pair Care?
I worked as a nanny for over 10 years in San Francisco and I was looking for something on the other side of the childcare field. I was also an exchange student to Finland and lived there again a couple of years ago teaching English and I am very fond of travelling and cultural exchange. So, working at Au pair Care was a perfect combination for me.

What does your job look like?
A lot of emails! My daily routine is to answer emails from partners as well as review au pair applications and do any follow up that is needed. I also review the au pair pool to look for au pairs who may need some extra help matching, or who may need cancelling for whatever reason, or to verify that they are still interested in the program.

What do you like the most about your job?
Besides my coworkers in the San Francisco office, whom I love working with, I really enjoy the international aspect of my job. I love getting to speak to the partners and au pairs around the world.

From what experience what would you consider to be a good Au pair application?
An Au pair who has longer term childcare experience (as opposed to short term internships) is very attractive to host families. Also, the level of English also helps. Another important part of the application are the pictures and the video. Good pictures and a fun video are what first attracts host families to the profile and gives them an insight to the Au pair's life and personality.

How would you describe a “typical” American family?
The U.S is so big and diverse that there really is no 'typical' family.  When interviewing, au pairs will find that there are many different types of families such as: single mothers, single fathers, blended families and same-sex couple families.  They will also find that the family dynamic is very different between families as well. Some families both parents work, and sometimes either the mother or father will stay at home.

What are the main challenges in the matching process between Au pair and host family?
The main challenge, in terms of host families, is getting in touch with the Au pairs. We hear from many families that an au pair is not home when they are supposed to call, or they do not respond to emails in a timely manner. However, this can also be the case for Au pairs who are waiting for a host family to call and they never do, or the au pair will respond to a host family email and the host family never responds, which could mean they have matched with a different Au pair.

Another challenge may be that the au pair has so many host family choices that it is hard for them to make a decision, which can frustrate a family who is really hoping to match with a particular Au pair. The host families are sometimes overwhelmed with all the Au pair applications and may also take too long to match, which can frustrate an Au pair who is really hoping to get a match request from them.

What makes a successful match?
Successful match is when host family and Au pair have an open mind with the match. It's important to understand that there is an adjustment period when going to a new country and a new family. The children will likely need some time to adjust to a new caregiver and person in their home. Sometimes it's the first Au pair for the host family so they are nervous as well. It can take a month, or more, in order for the Au pair and host family to feel really comfortable with each other.

My best advice to Au pairs:

• Be open-minded about where you are willing to live. Remember, the United States is a big place and California and New York are just a small part of it. There are many great cities in the U.S and limiting yourself to one specific area will limit your host family choices and make it harder for you to match. Don't choose your host family based on location, instead, choose them based on the chemistry you feel when speaking to them.
   

• Be friendly and enthusiastic when you're interviewing with a host family on the phone. Host families want to feel like you're excited to be part of the program.  Don't worry, or be nervous, if your English isn't perfect. Host families know that this is your second language. Do the best you can and don't be afraid to ask for clarification if you don't understand a question.
   

• Be sure to answer all emails from host families, even if it's just to let them know that you are not interested.
   

• Be careful about what you put on Facebook, especially if you will be adding your host family, or potential host family, as your 'friend'.