The Exact Checklist I Use to Get an Au Pair Interview Every Time

(+ Insider Aupairworld hacks most people miss)

Most Au pairs have solid profiles and many still get ignored. You send thoughtful messages, you wait. Nothing happens. Or maybe you’re getting tons of interest, but not booking calls. 

You probably aren’t doing anything wrong, but you might be missing a few crucial steps. 

Having a full calendar isn’t about luck, it’s about strategy. Read below for the checklist I used to go from empty inbox to full calendar. 

STEP 1: Nail the Basics

✅ Your Headline Matters
Families (like us!)  don’t read everything, they skim. Make the first sentence of each section hit hard. Make it clear, warm, and memorable. 

It’s your first impression. Make it count!

✅Your Photos tell a Story

Families are trying to imagine the person that’s going to live in their home. Having a photo maximises your chances of reeling them in immediately. You should at minimum have a clear, smiling photo. Photos with children (ask permission first) are also great to have. 

There’s a time and place for a sexy selfie… This isn’t one of them. 

✅ Let your first message do the heavy lifting

This one is so simple, yet so important. Introduce yourself, find a connection point, and get to it quickly. 

If your problem is getting replies at all (not just interviews,) I can help. Because a strong opening message makes or breaks your opportunity, I created the First Messages Vault. 

STEP 2: AuPairWorld Hacks Most People Aren’t Using 

✅ Stop wasting your time messaging inactive families.

Check their profile for an ‘active’ badge, last login date, date the profile was created, and response time. Leave the blank profiles alone. 

✅ Be selective with search filters. 

It’s good to keep your options open, but it can also be a time waster. If you already know what you want, use search filters to optimize your search efficiency. If you need help narrowing things down, check out my where to au pair quiz.

✅ Turn your notifications on.

Families are often only online for small moments each day. If you miss that window, your reply gets lost or their interest moves on. Get the message, and respond to it. When done correctly, it doesn’t say ‘desperate,’ it says ‘eager.’ 

✅ Keep your response rate high.

Try to reply to everyone. Even when it’s a no, a polite “Sorry, I’m not interested/available!” not only keeps doors open for the future, but keeps your profile active. AuPairWorld tracks response rate, so if families see that you never respond, they might move on. 

✅ Update your profile regularly.

Same as above, the platform is keeping track of who’s online and active. If you update your profile consistently, it will stay at the top of the search page. The algorithm works, so use it to your advantage. 

STEP 3: Seal the Deal

✅ Assume the interview. Confidence books calls, so don’t wait for an invitation. Say “I’m looking forward to speaking further about the role.” 

✅ Offer times first. Parents are busy. Instead of waiting, give them your availability. “I’m free Wednesday at 5pm or Thursday at 6pm, your time.” Do the time zone math for them. 

✅ Always follow up. If it was worth sending a first message, it’s worth a follow up. So many interviews I booked came after a simple follow up. I told you- people are BUSY! Things get lost, but we can get ahead of it. 

✅ Have your documents ready. If they’re online and responding, don’t waste time. Have your resume, references, certifications ready to send. 

Getting interviews isn’t about being perfect, it’s about being intentional and understanding how the system works. These small tips may not seem like much on their own, but together they make a huge difference in how families see you. Apply them consistently, and you might just go from ghosted to fully booked. If you’re doing this and still having trouble, or want the exact application templates I use, take a look at my program.