An au pair interview should help you understand the real family routine, not just whether everyone sounds friendly on a call. A warm conversation matters, but practical details decide whether the placement can work.
Ask about the children
Start with ages, school schedule, favorite activities, meals, naps, homework, screen rules, and any behavior or support needs. Ask what a normal morning looks like and what a difficult afternoon can look like.
Ask about the weekly schedule
You need to understand expected hours, start and end times, weekend needs, schedule changes, parent work travel, and how time off is planned. If the family says the schedule is flexible, ask what that means in a normal week.
Ask about driving and transportation
Ask whether driving is required, what routes you would drive, whether highways are involved, how often the car is available, and what happens during bad weather. If you are not comfortable with a driving situation, say so early.
Ask about the room and household
Confirm whether the room is private, where the bathroom is, whether there are pets, and how meals, laundry, guests, privacy, and household rules work.
Ask how feedback is handled
A strong family can explain how they give instructions, how they correct mistakes, and how they handle schedule changes. Ask who your main contact will be and how often the family likes to check in.
Confirm sponsor and timing questions
For visa, program, insurance, rematch, extension, or legal questions, confirm details with the official sponsor or qualified professional. Need help preparing your au pair or family profile? Create your free account and the AuPair Advisers team will review the next step with you.
How to prepare before the call
- Read the family brief and write down missing details
- Prepare questions about children, schedule, driving, room setup, and time off
- Know your own start date, location flexibility, driving comfort, and interview availability
- Be ready to explain your childcare experience with specific ages and routines
- Keep sponsor or program questions separate from personal preference questions
Questions about the children
Ask what each child needs on a normal school day and on a difficult day. What helps the child calm down? What routines are most important? Does the child need help with homework, meals, naps, bathing, sports, or transitions? Has the family had an au pair before? If yes, ask what worked well and what they want to improve this time.
Questions about schedule and duties
Do not accept vague answers like we are flexible without details. Ask what time the day starts, when the day ends, whether weekends are needed, how schedule changes are shared, and what duties are expected around children. Ask whether tasks include child laundry, lunch boxes, meals, toy cleanup, driving, homework, or activity support.
Questions about living in the home
The room, bathroom, meals, laundry, guests, curfew expectations, pets, and private time matter because this is a live-in role. You should be respectful, but you should not be afraid to ask. A serious family can answer these questions calmly.
Questions about feedback
Ask how the family gives instructions and how they handle mistakes. Ask who you should contact if a child is upset, if you are running late, or if a schedule changes. Communication style is a major part of placement fit.
When to pause
- You do not understand the schedule after asking twice
- Driving sounds beyond your real comfort level
- The family avoids room or privacy questions
- You feel pressured to say yes before sponsor or timing questions are clear
- The role does not match your experience with child ages or independence level
Example au pair question list
Bring a written list to the call so important questions are not forgotten. Start with the children and schedule. Then ask about driving, room setup, privacy, communication, time off, meals, and what support the family gives during the first month. If you are in extension or rematch, include timing and sponsor questions separately.
A good question sounds respectful but specific. Instead of asking, is the schedule easy, ask what a busy Wednesday looks like from morning to evening. Instead of asking, do I drive a lot, ask which routes you would drive, how often, and whether highways or night driving are involved.
How to judge the answer
The best answers are practical and consistent. A family does not need perfect wording, but they should be able to explain their home. If an answer changes every time you ask, or if you feel guilty for asking reasonable questions, pause before moving forward.
Editorial review before publishing
This article should help au pairs speak with maturity and confidence. It should not encourage suspicion, but it should protect the au pair from accepting a role they do not understand. The tone should be calm, prepared, and realistic.
Quick FAQ
Is it rude for an au pair to ask detailed questions? No. A respectful question shows maturity. Families who are ready for a live-in placement should expect practical questions.
What if the family answers with only general comments? Ask one more specific question. If the answer stays vague, pause before agreeing to next steps.
Should an au pair discuss concerns during the call? Yes, calmly. If driving, child age, schedule, or privacy does not fit, it is better to say so early.
Scenario to compare
Weak question: is the schedule okay? Strong question: what time would I start on school days, what happens after pickup, and how are schedule changes shared each week?