lunes, 27 de febrero de 2012

The Video

I take a long time to do the video because I don't like cameras lol. But is really easy do it.
Here there are tips for the video !!! (they come from the profile)


1. Film your video in a quiet place (indoors or outdoors) and make sure you have good lighting.

2. Maintain eye contact with the camera when speaking. Your video needs to show actual footage of you speaking.

3. Speak clearly, slowly and smile!

4. This is your video resume (CV)! Dress nicely, and don't talk about topics you wouldn't mention on a job interview. Host families will not be interested in watching videos of your boyfriends/girlfriends, or of you and your friends at a party.

5. Begin your video by greeting the host family, stating your name, age and the country you are from.

6. Once you have introduced yourself to your potential host family, be ready to describe some or all of the following:

o Why do you want to be an au pair?

o Why should the host family watching your video choose you to be their au pair?

o Share your childcare experience, and what you like most about caring for children.

o Share your personal interests, skills and educational background and goals.

o Talk about your home country.


7. If possible, include action videos of yourself caring for children. Some good examples are: feeding a baby, pushing a child on a swing, helping with homework, singing, or playing games.

8. Be creative. Do you have any unique talents, or musical abilities? Show yourself playing an instrument, painting, or playing your favorite sport.

9. You may want to thank the host family for watching your video, and let them know that you look forward to hearing from them soon.

10. Review your video and edit if necessary, prior to uploading it in Au Pair Room.

And here is my video :) Is not the better video but I enjoy it and hope that you too


PD:  I edit the video with movie maker 

viernes, 17 de febrero de 2012

Most common aupair interview questions


Hello !!!
Today I come with some suggested interview questions that families may ask you.

  • Have you ever lived out of your home country before?
  • Tell us about your personality. Are you a cheerful person?
  • Can you adjust living with a foreign family and be a part of it?
  • Can you live apart from your family and friends?
  • Have you ever been an aupair before?
  • Why do you want to be an aupair?
  • How well do you speak our language?
  • Are you planning on going to a language school?
  • What do your parents do?
  • How large is your hometown? Is it a large city or a rural area?
  • What is your last diploma you received? Are you a good student?
  • What are your hobbies and interests?
  • How are your driving and driving record?
  • Do you have a criminal record?
  • Do you have a boyfriend or a girlfriend?
  • How would you spend your weekends here?
  • Will you request any time off to observe certain religious days?
  • How do we arrange the vacation schedules?
  • Are you flexible? If we run little late from work, do you mind?
  • Would you participate in our family outings or vacations?
  • Do you have any brothers or sisters?
  • Please tell us about your childcare experience
  • Do you have any first-aid training?
  • Can you cook?
  • Do you have any dietary restrictions? Is there any type of food you don’t eat?
  • How would you approach any problems or issues during your stay?
  • If we want you to teach our children your native language, would you mind speaking to them in your language?
  • Do you have any allergies?
  • How is your health? Do you have any health related issues?
  • What kind of activities would you do with the kids?
  • Can you help the children with homework?
  • Would you treat younger and older children equally?
  • How many children can you take care of?
  • Our children have playmates coming over to our house regularly. Do you mind having more children around some days?
  • How do you think this experience will change you as a person?
  • What are your plans after your aupair experience?
Also you can check this website  http://www.nannygps.com/forfamilies/interview.jsp 

PD: If you are in Bogota and your prospective agency is StudentVisa, you can take AuPair English course with Upstairs is very useful.

lunes, 13 de febrero de 2012

Process and Documents

Hi everyone !!!

Well the process begins when you pay something like a tuition (is a percentage in my case was $500 dollars), then you have to take an english interview (I was scared about the interview but was easier than I thought).

Example of questions

  • Why do you want to be an Au Pair?
  • Can you live apart from your family and friends? (give reasons "Yes, because.....)
  • Tell me about your childcare experience
  • Why a family should choose you like their Au Pair?
  • What do you do if "the kid is playing in the park and suddenly he/she fall down and hurt".(or something like that)
  • Could you live with a single mother/father? with couples of the same gender?
  • About your skills...
  • Many Au Pairs feel homesick. What would you do if you feel homesick?
  • What do you do if you have troubles with your host family?
  • How would you avoid the problems with your host family?

 
And those are the questions that I can remember :)

 
Then you have to complete your profile



When you have finished your profile you have to take some documents to your agency like
  • Passport copy
  • Driver license copy
  • Childcare reference
  • Personal Refence
  • Physician Verified Medical History
  • Au Pair agreement
  • Answer Sheet del Test Psicologico BF
Then you agency review your profile and after that they send it with the documents to AuPair Care in US.

 
Well that's it for now 
Please let me know your coments.

viernes, 10 de febrero de 2012

Beginning

Hi guys !!!

Today I took my documents to Student Visa office, is my agency here in Colombia. Now I have to wait because the profile is on-line in almost 10 days, I'm excited but I know that sometimes you have to wait many days  for your first family's interview.

In my next entry I'm going to tell you how is the application's process.

Bye :)

PDT: please tell me if you want the next entries in spanish too.