2) Determine which country you would like to go to (Holland, France or Germany)

3) Contact Au Pair Options for a free consultation appointment together with your parents (45 min.). Following the interview, you will receive information of what being an au pair involves.

4) If you are positive about being an au pair, make an appointment for registration and interview (90 min.). Requirements for the interview:
- Essay with appr. 500 words: introduce yourself, your personality, hobbies, sport, culture, why you want to au pair, why you are interested in Europe, a brief summary of your own family and your experience with children
- Photos (10-15): one full face photo of yourself, and photos with friends, children, family, holidays and lifestyle
- Registration fee
- Copy of a recent matric school report
- 2 ID photos

5) After the interview, the matching process starts. Au Pair Option takes pride in finding the right family for the right au pair. Once you have been matched, the (sometimes lengthy) visa procedure can start. For most of our candidates, we have placement opportunities each year in January. Naturally we will look at your individual situation, but in general you should contact Au Pair Options no later than July, if you would like to be an au pair the following January.

6) We won't let you go unprepared: before you go there will be a thorough training course. Liz du Toit: "A great experience can turn into a nightmare if you are not prepared and informed. I always like to tell the girls about the movie Forrest Gump, where the leading actor says that life is like a box of chocolates: a person never knows what he is going to get! To work overseas is to a great extent just the same: it sounds so romantic, but is surely hard work as well. How and where does one begin? The training course will make you aware of all relevant aspects of au pair life, and provide you with tips & tricks and answers."