Can you be an au pair in the summer?

Hey Au Pairs! 

With the weather warming up, so many of you have been asking « Can you really be an au pair in the summer? »

Gosh, I just had a flashback to the stress of being in college, right before summer. You know, that time of year when everyone is searching for jobs and internships and you’re just like… but I want to TRAVEL. 

I’m happy to say that being an au pair during the summer is completely possible. You can even go through an agency who will happily accommodate you. There are tons of families looking for au pairs for the months of July and August. I have even been in France for a few summers myself, during which I looked after kids and worked on my French!   

Here are all things I wish I knew before I became a summer au pair! 

If you are looking to be in Paris…
there is something you must UNDERSTAND about THE FRENCH AND FRENCH CULTURE 

The French, during the summer, are rarely in their hometown. They know how to live balanced lives and they love their vacation time. In other words, if you were hoping to spend the summer in Paris, get ready to travel with your host family! Parisians are known to leave Paris as soon as it starts getting hot. In fact, the entire city basically shuts down in August. Seriously, everything is shut… don’t believe me? Ask the au pairs in the FB Open Forum

being a summer au pair and a school year au pair is not the same

Being with your family from morning to night while you travel in the summer can be really great. You essentially get an all-inclusive vacation. You get to see the world while being an au pair, which is amazing! However, it can also be a little more work and a little more tiring than during the school year. This is because the kids will inevitably be with you for more time. They have no school all they want to do is play! And hopefully play with their au pair! 

For extra protection, and to make sure you are only working the limited legal hours of 25 a week (for France) you can go through an agency. But if you don’t, make sure you advocate for yourself and ask for a day off! You are entitled to 1 day off a week and at least 1 weekend off a month.

Language course options are not always available 

While there are some language schools who provide language classes during the summer, they can be more expensive than they are during the school year. Why? Because, during the school year, most au pairs will go to language schools which offer a special « Au Pair Packages » In other words, in the summer, you will be placed in a more intensive course, organised for anyone and everyone coming to France (or whatever country you are in) from June to August.  

You will probably work more 

Like we mentioned, children are not in school during the summer. As a result, they have more time to play and to be with you. When I was an au pair during the summer, I woke up with my kids, I spent all day with my kids, and I went to sleep with them. I wish I was a stood up for myself more honestly…. Because I was definitely overworked. But, alas, I learned my lesson! Stick up for yourself and have a schedule so you know when you are working and when you are off! 

You are not necessarily paid more 

As mentioned above, if you go through an agency, your hours will be monitored more and you will only work the maximum legal limit, which is 25 hours a week. Therefore it makes sense that you would be paid the same compared to salary during the school year. However, if you find a family and make a loose contract with them on your own, just make sure you are ready to work more and speak up for yourself! 

You can still go through an agency 

A lot of people rule out the agency option if they are trying to be an au pair during the summer. However, because there might be more competition to find a family, it may be nice to have that extra support. The good news is that since summer is only 2-3 months, you likely won’t need a visa - depending on your home country of course. This also means, fewer agencies fees and administrative tasks. APOP partners with the Agency Butrfly, to help place au pairs all over France.

It might be a little harder to find a family 

I can’t say for certain, but I assume a lot of people want to come to France, or be abroad in general, during their summers between university years! Between the traveling-schedules of families, and the limited availability for you between your university years, it might be hard to find a family who is able to take you in as their au pair. I personally would start looking in March to go abroad during the summer. 

In my personally opinion, summers are the best time to be an au pair. You are only in this country for a short time, but the amount of self-development that you can undergo is insane. It is such a good opportunity to either try out au pairing, or to just throw yourself into a new world, new culture and live with a host family. Plus, with what other opportunities are you able to live abroad for cheap and get paid to do it! Lastly, if you are an au pair over the summer, you don’t need a visa! (At least for Americans going to Europe!) 

If you have any other questions, you can ask the @aupairbutrfly team on their Instagram or follow us on our platforms @aupairohparis -
Check out the APOP Open Forum on Facebook !

xoxo Edwina