If you’re about to graduate from college or recently did and want to broaden your horizons before you get stuck in a work rut but don’t have the finances for it, apply to become an ‘Au Pair.’ Just like how gap year job opportunities in the country of New Zealand give you a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel the world, Au Pair does the same.
It allows you to go abroad and work for a family for a set period to learn about their culture and improve your language skills. In exchange, you’ll provide them with help around the house doing light chores and taking care of children.
To help you understand more about becoming an ‘Au Pair,’ here’s what the job entails.
It Gives You A ‘Unique’ Way to Travel
Becoming an Au Pair is one of the easiest ways to experience and learn more about a different culture, including its customs and language. Unlike most ‘study overseas’ programs, being an Au Pair lets you live with a local family and see how their daily life goes, giving you the unique opportunity to experience another country that you won’t find anywhere else.
It Provides You With Free Education
Being an Au Pair isn’t a full-time job, and according to the law, host families can’t ask you to work over an agreed number of hours per week, making it easy for you to pay for foreign education. Plus, since your room and boarding are paid for by your host family, it will not cost you a dime.
It Can Be A Great Resume Booster
Gaining international work experience can boost any person’s resume. To leave your country’s comfort and work in a different nation can show potential employers that you aren’t afraid to take risks and are willing to put in the work. It can also positively reflect your communication and problem-solving skills, showing recruiters you’re resourceful and able to tackle issues with a broad frame of mind. In essence, the invaluable skills you gain while working in a foreign country are unique and unattainable to individuals who don’t have your experience, providing you with an advantage over your competition.
Learning A Different Language is Invaluable
Although learning the local language of the foreign country you’re staying in to become an Au Pair isn’t in your itinerary, you’d be surprised at how quickly you can pick up the language when living abroad instead of learning on your own in your home country. If nothing else, hearing your name in an incoherent sentence or trying to soothe a fussy toddler in a foreign tongue will motivate you enough to break the language barrier.
Plus, the experience of gradually improving is more enjoyable, and as your knowledge grows, so will your self-sufficiency as you begin to break the surface and start to see the world with a broader perspective. In essence, learning a new language strengthens your communication skills, cultural appreciation and understanding, and cognitive abilities — making it a truly invaluable skill to have.
It Helps You Make A Difference
Becoming an Au Pair is a unique way to experience independent life overseas, enabling you to view the world differently. Moreover, the kids you’ll be looking after or the family you’ll be staying with will never forget you — every day, you can make a positive impact on their lives.
Becoming an Au Pair is genuinely a unique experience. You get to travel the world, meet new people, make unforgettable memories, and enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity — making it a trip definitely worth taking.
