Comments on: Extension Candidates: How to interview, what to look for http://AuPairMom.com/entension-candidates-how-to-interview-what-to-look-for/2009/04/20/celiaharquail/ Helping Host Parents and Au Pairs build great relationships. Tue, 22 May 2012 09:09:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mom23 http://AuPairMom.com/entension-candidates-how-to-interview-what-to-look-for/2009/04/20/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-3552 Mom23 Tue, 15 Sep 2009 20:24:04 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/entension-candidates-how-to-interview-what-to-look-for/2009/04/20/celiaharquail/#comment-3552 We had two rematched au pairs and one extension au pair and they were all great. We were excited about our next rematched au pair. She was very engaging on the telephone and seemed to be great. She was horrible. Once she joined us she complained about everything and couldn't even do many basic things. After three months she quit and moved on to another family. We had made the horrible mistake of not talking to the previous host family (the family left the au pair program). We will never make that mistake again. We had two rematched au pairs and one extension au pair and they were all great. We were excited about our next rematched au pair. She was very engaging on the telephone and seemed to be great. She was horrible. Once she joined us she complained about everything and couldn’t even do many basic things. After three months she quit and moved on to another family. We had made the horrible mistake of not talking to the previous host family (the family left the au pair program). We will never make that mistake again.

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]]> By: Momofboys http://AuPairMom.com/entension-candidates-how-to-interview-what-to-look-for/2009/04/20/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-1641 Momofboys Thu, 23 Apr 2009 22:33:05 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/entension-candidates-how-to-interview-what-to-look-for/2009/04/20/celiaharquail/#comment-1641 I was wondering if people call the host Mom first to get a feel for the au pair before going down the path of interviewing her if you like what you see from the application? I was wondering if people call the host Mom first to get a feel for the au pair before going down the path of interviewing her if you like what you see from the application?

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]]> By: Jillian http://AuPairMom.com/entension-candidates-how-to-interview-what-to-look-for/2009/04/20/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-1615 Jillian Tue, 21 Apr 2009 21:34:51 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/entension-candidates-how-to-interview-what-to-look-for/2009/04/20/celiaharquail/#comment-1615 I would ask her about her previous host family. What was a typical day like with them? What did she most enjoy doing with their children? What tasks did she dislike doing for the host family? Hopefully you can get a sense of how she works and be able to make sure they'll match your needs and expectations well. I found this article about interviewing au pairs, worth checking out: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=1544855 I would ask her about her previous host family. What was a typical day like with them? What did she most enjoy doing with their children? What tasks did she dislike doing for the host family? Hopefully you can get a sense of how she works and be able to make sure they’ll match your needs and expectations well. I found this article about interviewing au pairs, worth checking out: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=1544855

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]]> By: Anonymous http://AuPairMom.com/entension-candidates-how-to-interview-what-to-look-for/2009/04/20/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-1603 Anonymous Tue, 21 Apr 2009 12:56:19 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/entension-candidates-how-to-interview-what-to-look-for/2009/04/20/celiaharquail/#comment-1603 We are a new host famliy and our au pair is an extension AP. We previoulsy had a live-in nanny so that may have helped. I appreciated having someone who could "hit the ground running" and our AP did. Also getting a driver's license was so easy. She just had to switch from one state to another. We are a new host famliy and our au pair is an extension AP. We previoulsy had a live-in nanny so that may have helped. I appreciated having someone who could “hit the ground running” and our AP did. Also getting a driver’s license was so easy. She just had to switch from one state to another.

]]> By: CalifMom http://AuPairMom.com/entension-candidates-how-to-interview-what-to-look-for/2009/04/20/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-1596 CalifMom Tue, 21 Apr 2009 00:00:17 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/entension-candidates-how-to-interview-what-to-look-for/2009/04/20/celiaharquail/#comment-1596 My advice would vary depending on whether you are a new host family or not. I think it might be hard for a new-to-hosting family to be matched with an experienced AP. A lot of first-time host family learning can be softened when your AP is also new to APing, if that makes sense! My advice would vary depending on whether you are a new host family or not. I think it might be hard for a new-to-hosting family to be matched with an experienced AP. A lot of first-time host family learning can be softened when your AP is also new to APing, if that makes sense!

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]]> By: Momof2Girls http://AuPairMom.com/entension-candidates-how-to-interview-what-to-look-for/2009/04/20/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-1595 Momof2Girls Mon, 20 Apr 2009 23:59:35 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/entension-candidates-how-to-interview-what-to-look-for/2009/04/20/celiaharquail/#comment-1595 Ditto all the above, and definitely ask to see both types of apps. Sometimes a new AP will stand out, and could even be a better choice than a "burned-out" extension AP with no ambition who isn't eager to return to her home country for whatever reason. We had an interesting experience a few months ago where our former AP wanted to extend, said she'd like to stay with us, but we were ready for someone new for various reasons. I carefully worded my referral, was honest but not enthusiastically praising for any particular area, as she was just "average." I hoped that the prospective families would call me to discuss her, but the new family who selected her didn't; only the two counselors spoke. Our current AP was most eager to speak with the former one, yet we were hesitant because we didn't trust that she would be truthful and might sway the new one negatively because our older daughter really disliked her (again too many reasons to go into here). Luckily, she seems to have said good things about us, but we fear she also may have told her many things to try to get away with or take shortcuts with, although we had already started compiling our handbook, writing down many rules that we wanted to be sure were understood from the beginning. I think it's best to tell new candidates that if they're in your final 2 or 3 that they may contact your current AP (may not apply in your case, however, Maya!) and if possible, "coach" her to be honest, but not get into specific rules or ways of doing things; tell them that the Host Parents will explain and go over all that with them. General overview of the daily routine, how much driving, what there is to do on time off, etc. are all good topics to go into. Ditto all the above, and definitely ask to see both types of apps. Sometimes a new AP will stand out, and could even be a better choice than a “burned-out” extension AP with no ambition who isn’t eager to return to her home country for whatever reason. We had an interesting experience a few months ago where our former AP wanted to extend, said she’d like to stay with us, but we were ready for someone new for various reasons. I carefully worded my referral, was honest but not enthusiastically praising for any particular area, as she was just “average.” I hoped that the prospective families would call me to discuss her, but the new family who selected her didn’t; only the two counselors spoke. Our current AP was most eager to speak with the former one, yet we were hesitant because we didn’t trust that she would be truthful and might sway the new one negatively because our older daughter really disliked her (again too many reasons to go into here). Luckily, she seems to have said good things about us, but we fear she also may have told her many things to try to get away with or take shortcuts with, although we had already started compiling our handbook, writing down many rules that we wanted to be sure were understood from the beginning. I think it’s best to tell new candidates that if they’re in your final 2 or 3 that they may contact your current AP (may not apply in your case, however, Maya!) and if possible, “coach” her to be honest, but not get into specific rules or ways of doing things; tell them that the Host Parents will explain and go over all that with them. General overview of the daily routine, how much driving, what there is to do on time off, etc. are all good topics to go into.

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]]> By: Anonymous http://AuPairMom.com/entension-candidates-how-to-interview-what-to-look-for/2009/04/20/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-1588 Anonymous Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:37:22 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/entension-candidates-how-to-interview-what-to-look-for/2009/04/20/celiaharquail/#comment-1588 Our first AP is an ext and it has worked out pretty well so far. We needed someone whose English and driving skills were very good so this really proved to be a good choice for us. I also liked the ability to speak with a previous employeer and LCC. Our family is not a TV family like her other family was so I had to explain my expectations with this after the first two months, but once I did it has been smooth sailing so far. Our first AP is an ext and it has worked out pretty well so far. We needed someone whose English and driving skills were very good so this really proved to be a good choice for us. I also liked the ability to speak with a previous employeer and LCC. Our family is not a TV family like her other family was so I had to explain my expectations with this after the first two months, but once I did it has been smooth sailing so far.

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