Most people become an au pair during a gap year. This means that they are putting off going to university for a year to move to a different country. Maybe you are not sure if this is a good move. Maybe you need some help convincing your parents as to why this is a good idea. These are all the reasons as to why you can put au pairing on your resume!
Language
This is probably the main reason for people to become an Au Pair: to become fluent in a different language. It also looks great on your resume if you speak multiple languages. Especially in the world that we live in today.
Experience abroad
This might not sound that important, but it is. Having experience living abroad shows companies that you are open to other cultures, can better understand and adapt yourself to people who come from another cultural background and that you are not afraid to do things out of your comfort zone. Besides all that, experience abroad also means that you are independent and can solve complicated situations.
Responsibility
Being an Au Pair shows that you are very responsible. You’ve looked after someone else’s children for several months, and they are still alive! This shows future employers that you can work under pressure and stress and that you can stay calm in stressful environments. (You didn’t kill the baby when it kept on crying for hours on end! Hooray!)
Organisational skills
As an au pair, you have to get up early every day at the same time and help children get ready for school. This shows that you are extremely organised and are able to solve problems and finish tasks on time.
Knowledge of the country
If you want to get into Marketing or Sales, it’s a great advantage to know the culture of a different country. You might not be as good at speaking the language as other candidates, but they don’t know how people in some countries don’t make eye contact during business meetings. Knowing another culture is a great advantage over other candidates, especially if you want to work in an international company.
Establish Contacts
You might not be able to put this one on your resume, but being an au pair gives you the chance to meet people from different countries. One of the most beautiful things about the Au Pair program is the opportunity of meeting people from a different country and making new friends. Although this is one of the main goals of the program, and having friends in other countries is the perfect excuse to travel to other countries, it can also be very positive for your future job. This is because you can find new job opportunities through them (they know other people, their company is currently hiring…). Even your host family can help with this. Having contacts all around the world is always beneficial, no matter what you’re going to do later in life.
If I hadn’t already settled down this would have been such a great experience. I had a similar experience when I went to Australia for this Student Ambassador program and I loved every minute!
thanks for sharing this informative post, it should be added on resume. Very unique post.
yes, it would be great if it included on resume. it would create great impact. thank you for this sharing.
I think it is good to put your experience as an au pair on your resume because that job requires a lot of skills and characters and most of the times employer look for those skills from the applicant.
Nice tips! I think it’s good for people to go somewhere far and live on. 🙂
Yes, international experience is a helpful thing to have under your belt. Many employers will be impressed by your ability to work with other cultures.
Being an au pair definitely shows that you are willing to take risks being in a strangers’ home to care for a child. Also the courage to be in a foreign country. That would be scary enough for me!
I definitely think this is worth putting on your resume. It shows how responsible you are not to mention creative! I wish I had this opportunity
Definitely! I’m very impressed by those who undertake this role, you have to have a good deal of confidence to move in with a family.
Coming from an Honors College communications role at a research intensive university, I know how well these skills transfer. You are building your CV and resume, without even knowing it. International experience is imperative for employers to take you seriously in a global economy.
I think this would be a smart move. There definitely seems to be a lot of benefits to becoming an au pair so why not highlight it?!
I think it’s smart to put this on your resume! It showcases PATIENCE for sure!
I would have thought that having au pair on your resume would look amazing as it’s such an incredible experience.
I really think you shood put au pairing on your resume. It’s a great experience, that gives you a lot of resources, that are very important for you professional future.