Comments on: Letters of Recommendation: For a so-so au pair? (Poll) http://AuPairMom.com/letters-of-recommendation-for-a-so-so-au-pair-poll/2010/01/20/celiaharquail/ Helping Host Parents and Au Pairs build great relationships. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:01:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Anna http://AuPairMom.com/letters-of-recommendation-for-a-so-so-au-pair-poll/2010/01/20/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-13687 Anna Mon, 20 Sep 2010 03:10:18 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/?p=2443#comment-13687 Thank you so much!! I really appreciate the help. Thank you so much!! I really appreciate the help.

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]]> By: Busy Mom http://AuPairMom.com/letters-of-recommendation-for-a-so-so-au-pair-poll/2010/01/20/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-13562 Busy Mom Sun, 12 Sep 2010 11:49:08 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/?p=2443#comment-13562 One more thing - an au pair letter of recommendation is really no different than any letter of recommendation (or linkedin recommendation) that you would write for any person who worked for you. You want to cover those qualities that all employers are looking for: reliability, organizational skills, timeliness, honesty, initiative, etc. One more thing – an au pair letter of recommendation is really no different than any letter of recommendation (or linkedin recommendation) that you would write for any person who worked for you. You want to cover those qualities that all employers are looking for: reliability, organizational skills, timeliness, honesty, initiative, etc.

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]]> By: Busy Mom http://AuPairMom.com/letters-of-recommendation-for-a-so-so-au-pair-poll/2010/01/20/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-13561 Busy Mom Sun, 12 Sep 2010 11:45:51 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/?p=2443#comment-13561 Anna, Below is the text of a letter of reference that I wrote for former nanny. She was looking for another nanny position, but the letter speaks to her personal qualities as well as her level of initiative so would be appropriate for any future job. To Whom It May Concern: XX was employed as our full-time nanny from ____ to ____. She cared for our X children while we worked. She left because ______________ When XX started working for our family, our children were __________. XX was responsible for everything involving our childrens’ welfare while she was on duty. During the school year, she woke them up in the morning, got them ready for school and drove them to school. She picked them up from school, supervised homework and played with them. While the older two children were at school, XX played with the youngest, took her on outings, took her to gymnastics class, and ran errands with her. During the summer, she planned outings, took them swimming and played with them. About three evenings a week, she fed them dinner and got them ready for bed. She took care of them when they were ill. XX was exceptionally patient in her daily interactions with our children. She was always even-tempered and loving. She always followed through on our discipline techniques so that parents & nanny had consistent expectations and consequences. She would bring behavior issues to our attention when necessary and we would together figure out ways to address those issues. She brings a wonderful sense of humor to her work with kids and my children responded wonderfully to her. My children all miss her. XX is terrifically creative. On her own initiative, she stocked a giant craft box which kept the children amused. She held dance parties to get the children active and moving. When time permitted, she would plan theme-based parties like a luau and a sock-hop, complete with costumes and themed accessories. Another way in which XX went above & beyond was in meal preparation. Once I communicated our nutrition expectations, XX went out of her way to find recipes that the children would enjoy that fit those requirements. XX is responsible, reliable and very well-organized. She is friendly and pleasant to have around. She is always on time and is honest. She is also a good driver and drove the children extensively. We provided her with a car. XX is a terrific nanny and we highly recommend her. Our family feels lucky to have had XX as our nanny for two and a half years. Please feel free to call me should you have any further questions. Anna,

Below is the text of a letter of reference that I wrote for former nanny. She was looking for another nanny position, but the letter speaks to her personal qualities as well as her level of initiative so would be appropriate for any future job.

To Whom It May Concern:

XX was employed as our full-time nanny from ____ to ____. She cared for our X children while we worked. She left because ______________

When XX started working for our family, our children were __________. XX was responsible for everything involving our childrens’ welfare while she was on duty. During the school year, she woke them up in the morning, got them ready for school and drove them to school. She picked them up from school, supervised homework and played with them. While the older two children were at school, XX played with the youngest, took her on outings, took her to gymnastics class, and ran errands with her. During the summer, she planned outings, took them swimming and played with them. About three evenings a week, she fed them dinner and got them ready for bed. She took care of them when they were ill.

XX was exceptionally patient in her daily interactions with our children. She was always even-tempered and loving. She always followed through on our discipline techniques so that parents & nanny had consistent expectations and consequences. She would bring behavior issues to our attention when necessary and we would together figure out ways to address those issues. She brings a wonderful sense of humor to her work with kids and my children responded wonderfully to her. My children all miss her.

XX is terrifically creative. On her own initiative, she stocked a giant craft box which kept the children amused. She held dance parties to get the children active and moving. When time permitted, she would plan theme-based parties like a luau and a sock-hop, complete with costumes and themed accessories. Another way in which XX went above & beyond was in meal preparation. Once I communicated our nutrition expectations, XX went out of her way to find recipes that the children would enjoy that fit those requirements.

XX is responsible, reliable and very well-organized. She is friendly and pleasant to have around. She is always on time and is honest. She is also a good driver and drove the children extensively. We provided her with a car.

XX is a terrific nanny and we highly recommend her. Our family feels lucky to have had XX as our nanny for two and a half years.

Please feel free to call me should you have any further questions.

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]]> By: Taking a Computer Lunch http://AuPairMom.com/letters-of-recommendation-for-a-so-so-au-pair-poll/2010/01/20/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-13557 Taking a Computer Lunch Sun, 12 Sep 2010 03:09:52 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/?p=2443#comment-13557 I would recommend sticking to the facts in that case. Was she reliable and punctual? Then say so. Did she do what was asked of her (even if she didn't do more)? Then say so. Did she meet the other stated visa goals: attend cluster meetings, finish her required education? I have only been asked to write one letter of recommendation for an au pair (I gave a verbal interview for another). She was a fantastic au pair - did everything we asked and more -- and enthusiastically (including giving a peanut butter massage to my son's hamster when he escaped from his cage and got caught in a glue trap one morning). She was a great friend to other APs in our cluster - and became the event organizer. She met her course requirements well and received a high score on the TOEFL. So my glowing letter was not just about her level of childcare (I was fairly explicit about her duties with The Camel - not every AP changes diapers and g-tubes in a large child), but how I felt about her as a person and a friend (and how jealous I was of any employer who hired her, because I had wish she had extended with us). When she received the letter she said she cried. I think she knew how we felt about her, but of course we had never put it in writing. I would recommend sticking to the facts in that case. Was she reliable and punctual? Then say so. Did she do what was asked of her (even if she didn’t do more)? Then say so. Did she meet the other stated visa goals: attend cluster meetings, finish her required education?

I have only been asked to write one letter of recommendation for an au pair (I gave a verbal interview for another). She was a fantastic au pair – did everything we asked and more — and enthusiastically (including giving a peanut butter massage to my son’s hamster when he escaped from his cage and got caught in a glue trap one morning). She was a great friend to other APs in our cluster – and became the event organizer. She met her course requirements well and received a high score on the TOEFL. So my glowing letter was not just about her level of childcare (I was fairly explicit about her duties with The Camel – not every AP changes diapers and g-tubes in a large child), but how I felt about her as a person and a friend (and how jealous I was of any employer who hired her, because I had wish she had extended with us). When she received the letter she said she cried. I think she knew how we felt about her, but of course we had never put it in writing.

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]]> By: Anna http://AuPairMom.com/letters-of-recommendation-for-a-so-so-au-pair-poll/2010/01/20/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-13555 Anna Sun, 12 Sep 2010 02:56:41 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/?p=2443#comment-13555 I am not at a loss for words, rather don't know where to start. She does not need a letter to be an au-pair in another family rather get a job in her home country unrelated to taking care of kids. I am just not sure what to write and need an example of a standard au pair letter of recommendation. I am not at a loss for words, rather don’t know where to start. She does not need a letter to be an au-pair in another family rather get a job in her home country unrelated to taking care of kids. I am just not sure what to write and need an example of a standard au pair letter of recommendation.

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]]> By: Taking a Computer Lunch http://AuPairMom.com/letters-of-recommendation-for-a-so-so-au-pair-poll/2010/01/20/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-13484 Taking a Computer Lunch Wed, 08 Sep 2010 11:21:25 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/?p=2443#comment-13484 It depends on what you want to accomplish - do you want her to succeed in rematching or do you want to damn her with faint praise so the next HF knows what they're getting into. APIA has a form that HFs fill out, and we were able to make it clear that our AP had had one accident but had learned to drive well enough that we were comfortable letting her drive the car (our state lets foreign non-residents drive for one-year on their home license). However, when potential HF called us to ask why we did not extend with her, the first thing I said was, "She never bothered to get our state driver's license despite the fact that we told her several times we would reimburse her for the entire cost." She finally found a family with which she could extend, but they don't intend to let her drive. It depends on what you want to accomplish – do you want her to succeed in rematching or do you want to damn her with faint praise so the next HF knows what they’re getting into. APIA has a form that HFs fill out, and we were able to make it clear that our AP had had one accident but had learned to drive well enough that we were comfortable letting her drive the car (our state lets foreign non-residents drive for one-year on their home license). However, when potential HF called us to ask why we did not extend with her, the first thing I said was, “She never bothered to get our state driver’s license despite the fact that we told her several times we would reimburse her for the entire cost.” She finally found a family with which she could extend, but they don’t intend to let her drive.

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]]> By: Anna http://AuPairMom.com/letters-of-recommendation-for-a-so-so-au-pair-poll/2010/01/20/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-13479 Anna Wed, 08 Sep 2010 04:08:38 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/?p=2443#comment-13479 Hi, I post here a lot under the name "Anna", just want to clarify that the above posting is not from me. As to a recommendation letter, it sounds like you were not too happy with your au pair, otherwise you wouldn't be at loss for words. I would write about her good points, and leave my contact information in the letter if another family has questions. Hi, I post here a lot under the name “Anna”, just want to clarify that the above posting is not from me.

As to a recommendation letter, it sounds like you were not too happy with your au pair, otherwise you wouldn’t be at loss for words.
I would write about her good points, and leave my contact information in the letter if another family has questions.

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]]> By: Anna http://AuPairMom.com/letters-of-recommendation-for-a-so-so-au-pair-poll/2010/01/20/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-13476 Anna Wed, 08 Sep 2010 03:14:00 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/?p=2443#comment-13476 Hi, Our previous au pair just left and I am trying to write a recommendation letter, but I am a little stuck. Does anyone have some examples that would not mind sharing with me. Hi,

Our previous au pair just left and I am trying to write a recommendation letter, but I am a little stuck. Does anyone have some examples that would not mind sharing with me.

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]]> By: Former au pair 2 http://AuPairMom.com/letters-of-recommendation-for-a-so-so-au-pair-poll/2010/01/20/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-5830 Former au pair 2 Mon, 25 Jan 2010 14:27:47 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/?p=2443#comment-5830 Yes, I know about this rule. But if you think about it.. in the end of the program when the au pair decides to extend with another family, the agency mails a form of recommendation that current host family needs to complete, no matter if the relations are good or bad. At the same time, this family is going to match with another girl and agency DOES NOT ask the current au pair to fill in the feedback about the family. Yes, I know about this rule. But if you think about it.. in the end of the program when the au pair decides to extend with another family, the agency mails a form of recommendation that current host family needs to complete, no matter if the relations are good or bad. At the same time, this family is going to match with another girl and agency DOES NOT ask the current au pair to fill in the feedback about the family.

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]]> By: Anna http://AuPairMom.com/letters-of-recommendation-for-a-so-so-au-pair-poll/2010/01/20/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-5785 Anna Sun, 24 Jan 2010 04:10:57 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/?p=2443#comment-5785 Dear former au pair, no, it is a very unfair little game. In both of the agencies I've been with, host families ARE NOT ALLOWED to contact the previous families of rematch au pairs. In case of rematch, they are not writing the recommendations either. We just can go on what the au pair herself tells us about why she rematched..... which is in most cases half the truth or not true at all. I've been burned on that, I believe that if I were allowed to talk to the previous host family, I would not have gotten a bad au pair into my home. Dear former au pair,

no, it is a very unfair little game. In both of the agencies I’ve been with, host families ARE NOT ALLOWED to contact the previous families of rematch au pairs. In case of rematch, they are not writing the recommendations either. We just can go on what the au pair herself tells us about why she rematched….. which is in most cases half the truth or not true at all. I’ve been burned on that, I believe that if I were allowed to talk to the previous host family, I would not have gotten a bad au pair into my home.

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