Au Pair in America: live-in child care.

Au Pair Screening and Interview Process

Screening is an important key to a successful placement and exchange experience. Au Pair in America utilizes a multi-tiered screening process to ascertain an applicant’s appropriateness for the program.

All applicants who meet the program’s minimum requirements complete a four page application detailing occupational history, child care experience, educational achievements, interests, hobbies and other personal information. They write an essay describing life in their home country and reasons for wanting to become an au pair or companion in the United States. Each applicant is also required to submit photographs showing herself with the children in her care, her family and friends.

All Au Pair in America applicants will have successfully passed a background investigation, which includes verification of schooling, references, psychometric test and a criminal record check (where available within the scope of the laws of a given country).

Personal interview

Applicants are interviewed in person by a trained interviewer. Should you wish to contact the interviewer directly, the interviewer's name is provided on the Interview Report.

We also monitor the interviewer's performance and applicants complete evaluations about their interviewers.

During the interview, the interviewer assesses the candidate’s suitability, ability to speak English and educational level.

References

Applicants provide at least three written references, one of which must be a child care reference. An academic reference is required for all EduCare applicants. Three references will be confirmed by telephone. References from relatives are not accepted as primary references.

Criminal history and background check

Interviewers inquire as to whether the applicant has a criminal history and review the applicant’s Certificate of Good Conduct or police record clearance. It should also be noted that, before issuing the J-1 visa, United States embassies in the applicants’ home countries require them to answer questions about whether or not they have a prior criminal history.

Medical report

Applicants are required to submit a medical report completed in part by a physician. Each medical report is reviewed, and any areas of concern are investigated prior to their arrival in the United States.

Psychometric test

The final step in the interview process is a psychometric test administered by the interviewer. Au Pair in America utilizes the California Personality Inventory (CPI) test, which is used by numerous industries. The CPI test is one of the most intensely studied and researched of all personality instruments and is known for high reliability and validity. Although no test can accurately predict how a person will react in all situations, this test translates well across cultures.

The results are considered in conjunction with other documentation about the candidate, allowing us to gain a more well-rounded picture of the candidate and how the applicant might fit into an American family.

Au Pair in America pays interviewers for all interviews conducted, whether they pass or fail an applicant. Interviewers may charge a fee to an au pair for services, and the amounts are governed by local market standards. All completed applications are reviewed by the program staff, who may telephone an interviewer or applicant directly to gain additional information or clarification.

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