The Nanny Podcast episode 9 "I want a French live out au pair"
Release Date: 05/01/2018
The responsibility of answering questions.
The Nanny Podcast
When someone asks you a question, what you might not think of or realize is the enormity of responsibility that comes with. Let me frame it for you. When I ask a client what they are looking for, it happens that I can see them over the phone tapping their fingertips together in delight of being granted the wish of being able to have whatever they can think of. Which of course is not true. Same with nannies and for example salary wishes.
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Why are you applying for this job?
The Nanny Podcast
A common question you might get in an interview is “why are you applying for this job”. And I bet that the person asking it has something in mind that they want to hear. It’s never going to be the same answer that is the right one. This is one that I have been thinking a lot about recently, I had a client who said the first question they ask is always why are you applying for this job, and the way he told me it seemed very obvious I should know exactly what his right answer was.
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What does a gap in your CV mean?
The Nanny Podcast
Let’s talk about a gap in your CV and how people read it. First off, I just want to say that I generally think that it is much better to address possible objections first, meaning, if you think someone is going to ask or wonder about something, take charge of that conversation and lead it where you want it to go rather than be caught off guard and not feel prepared to answer, or even comfortable to.
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Honesty in a time of pandemic
The Nanny Podcast
Since the beginning of the Sars Cov2 pandemic we have all collectively gone through a traumatic period. We are all affected differently, but regardless of how, the world is different now. We are different. Some things are good, some things are awful and I always try to look at it, trying to find the silver linings. One of the things I like is a new level of honesty. We have relied on each other’s honesty to stay safe and healthy, and we will continue to do so.
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Sharing parenting values with the family
The Nanny Podcast
Parenting values can be controversial topics in all kinds of circumstances. What philosophies do you agree with? Which ones do you disagree with? That's what we will talk about today.
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Have you envisioned your career path?
The Nanny Podcast
Today I thought we could talk a little bit about your career path and whether or not you have an idea of where it’s going.
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Where do you want to be in five years?
The Nanny Podcast
Have you thought about where you want to be in five years? Not only geographically, but emotionally, physically, in your career, in your relationships? I think it’s always good to have goals to aim for, and for the areas that are your priority right now, a clear path to take you to the next step.
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Who do you want to be?
The Nanny Podcast
Who are you? Who are you now, and who do you want to be? It can be in any area of your life, but because we usually talk about work and career, let’s talk about who you want to be as a professional.
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Who are you?
The Nanny Podcast
Friends, this is the first episode of the third season of The Nanny Podcast. I am so psyched you are here with me. Let’s start this season with something a little different.
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The Nanny Podcast season 2 episode 17
The Nanny Podcast
Today I want to talk to you about figuring out who people are, using simple tools like search engines online. Always a good first step to start building the image of the person you are trying to figure out.
info_outlineI want a french live out au pair
Sometimes we get requests that are difficult, sometimes we get requests that are confusing and sometimes we get requests that are impossible and illegal. Even though we don’t place au pairs, we still get a lot of questions about them. I think most people think an au pair is a cheap way to get childcare, it is not, and I will explain why in a minute, but most of all I think a lot of people don’t know the difference between an au pair and a nanny so we will talk a little bit about that.
An au pair is not a professional. Having an au pair is a cultural exchange program, and this is where a lot of misunderstandings happen.
An au pair does not have any training or experience (babysitting is not experience) in general.
Generally they do not know about childhood development or education, they are young people who want to experience another culture and learn a new language in a foreign country.
The laws are different in different countries, but normally, an au pair can work up to 30 hours per week, have at least one or two days off per week and should be treated like a family member.
He or she also needs language lessons, both time for them and have them organized and paid for, it is often needed to even get a visa.
Then you have to pay for their insurance and social charges, and of course you have to house and feed them and pay a weekly stipend, usually about 60-90 euros per week depending on where you live, and you have to provide transportation for them (bus card, scooter, car). The cost is about the same as a part time nanny. A lot of families break several of the rules for keeping an au pair, many don’t pay social charges or insurance or probably language courses, but that is not the legal way to work and it is definitely not the ethical way to work.
So, when we get asked, in France, if we can help someone find a french live out au pair, the answer is no, because 1. they can’t have a french au pair in France, and 2. you can never have a live out au pair because an au pair by default lives with you.
When a family wants full time help that is of course possible and in a lot of cases a great idea, when they can and want to pay for it.
When money is an issue, we always suggest instead of going the route of doing half the things necessary to get an au pair, to get a part time nanny.
Figure out what you really want and need help with and get a professional that you don’t have to worry about housing or having someone in your home all the time.
There are so many stories about au pairs ending up not working out at all, I have one personally too and it is not to say that an au pair is never a good solution, but most of the time it is not the cheapest or easiest.
With a nanny you don’t have to worry about them getting drunk and crashing your car.
With a nanny you don’t have to worry about their boyfriend coming to visit, and then he doesn’t leave.
With a nanny you don’t have to worry about them abusing your children, verbally, emotionally or physically.
With a nanny you don’t have to worry about them leaving in the middle of the night and stealing from you.
With a good nanny you don’t have to worry about any of those things, and the more things you have talked about before the start of the contract that we think you should always have, the less things you have to worry about in general.