Hola a todos y todas!! Esta entrada es acerca de qué preguntas hacerles a las posibles familias.
Todas hemos pasado por ese momento en el que todo es una incógnita, sobre todo cuando se trata de las entrevistas con las familias. No sabemos qué decirles, y nos la pasamos dando vueltas en nuestra cabeza --o por la casa-- preguntándonos qué preguntas nos harán ellos y cómo les responderemos, pero lo más preocupante son las preguntas que NOSOTROS les haremos a ELLOS.
A continuación les comparto una lista de preguntas hechas por mí, basadas en MI experiencia --de hecho, se nota que estoy algo paranoica jaja--. Esta lista ya la he enviado a muchas chavas que están en busca de familia, espero les sirva de algo. Y tranquilas todas las que apenas se van a decidir por iniciar el proceso, su agencia usualmente les da una lista de preguntas, así que digamos que estas son "extra".
ABOUT THE KIDS
WHAT DO THE KIDS THINK ABOUT HAVING SOMEONE TAKING CARE OF THEM FROM A DIFFERENT CULTURE, COUNTRY, ETC.?
WHAT DO YOUR CHILDREN LIKE TO DO?
TELL ME ABOUT THE KIDS PERSONALITIES.
WHAT’S THE KIDS ROUTINE LIKE?
CAN I TALK WITH THE KIDS?
HOW’S YOUR KIDS-AU PAIR RELATIONSHIP LIKE?
WHAT ARE YOUR KIDS LOOKING IN AN AU PAIR?
ARE THE KIDS ALLOWED IN THE KITCHEN WHILE SOMEONE’S COOKING? IS IT OKAY IF I TEACH THEM SOME COOKING? (Safety reasons)
DO THE CHILDREN HAVE ANY ALLERGIES?
WHAT’S THEIR FAVORITE FOOD?
WHAT’S THE FOOD THEY LIKE THE LEAST?
WHAT KIND OF TOYS/ITEMS THE KIDS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO PLAY WITH?
WHAT TIME DO YOUR CHILDREN WAKE/GET UP? (WEEKDAYS AND WEEKENDS)
DO YOU WANT ME TO TALK TO THE KIDS IN ENGLISH OR IN MY LANGUAGE?
WHAT ARE THE RULES THE KIDS MUST FOLLOW?
DO THE KIDS LIKE GOING TO SCHOOL?
DO YOU HAVE A HARD TIME TO GET THEM ON THE BUS OR WHEN DROPPING THEM OFF?
DO THEY GO TO SCHOOL, DAYCARE OR ARE THEY USUALLY HOME ALL DAY?
WHAT ARE MY RESPONSIBLITIES WITH EACH KID?
HOW MUCH FREEDOM DO THE KIDS HAVE TO BE SELF-STARTERS?
WHAT DO YOU WANT/EXPECT ME TO DO WHEN THE KIDS ARE FIGHTING?
ABOUT THE FAMILY
DO YOU LIKE TO SPEND TIME WITH YOUR KIDS WITHOUT THE AU PAIR BEING AROUND?
DO YOU TAKE DINNERS ALL TOGETHER? WILL I JOIN YOU FOR DINNER OR DO YOU CONSIDER THIS AS QUALITY TIME WITH YOUR CHILDREN?
WHAT DOES THE FAMILY DO IN THEIR FREE TIME?
WHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES?
HOW DO YOU SEE AU PAIR FITTING IN YOUR FAMILY?
WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO JOIN YOU TO SPEND EVENINGS/WEEKENDS TOGETHER?
HOW AM I EXPECTED TO ACT AROUND YOU (THE PARENTS)?
HOW DO YOU BALANCE AN EMPLOYEE-FAMILY MEMBER SITUATION?
IF YOU, (THE PARENTS) ARE HOME, WHO IS IN CHARGE?
WHEN A KID IS MISBEHAVING AND YOU ARE THE ONE IN CHARGE, YOU REPRIMAND HIM/HER, DO YOU WANT ME TO SUPPORT YOUR STATEMENT? (e.g. by saying something like “your mom asked you to do this…”, “your mom just asked you to stop…”)
DO YOU CONSIDER YOURSELVES AS ROLE MODELS FOR YOUR CHILDREN? WHAT THINGS (GOOD AND BAD) YOU THINK YOUR KIDS HAVE LEARNT FROM YOU?
WHAT TIME DO YOU HAVE BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND DINNER?
WHEN SOMETHING BAD OR UPSETTING HAPPENS IN YOUR FAMILY, HOW DO YOU HANDLE IT?
DO YOU WORK AT HOME?
DO YOU HAVE PETS?
WHAT’S YOUR RELIGION? HOW OFTEN DO YOU PRACTICE IT? DO YOU ATTEND TO A WEEKLY SERVICE?
HOW’S YOUR JOB? HOW DO YOU HANDLE A STRESSFUL SITUATION IN IT?
DO YOU HAVE A RUSHED LIFESTYLE?
HOW IN ADVANCE DO YOU PLAN YOUR UPCOMING MONTH, OR WEEK?
HOW OVER PROTECTIVE ARE YOU AS PARENTS?
HOW MUCH FREEDOM DO THE KIDS HAVE TO BE SELF-STARTERS?
HOW CLOSE DO YOU LIVE TO OTHER RELATIVES? LIKE UNCLES, COUSINS, GRANDPARENTS? HOW CLOSE IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP?
ABOUT MY JOB
PLEASE, POINT SITUATIONS WHEN/WHERE YOU THINK I SHOULD CALL FIRST BEFORE TAKING ACTION.
HOW DO YOU MANAGE THE AU PAIR’S HOURS WHEN THE KIDS ARE OFF SCHOOL? HOW DOES SHE MANAGE BETWEEN DOING HER CHORES AND OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES, LIKE SCHOOL, AND WATCHING AFTER THE KIDS (E.G. PLAY WITH THEM, ETC.)?
HOW MUCH AUTHORITY DO I HAVE WHEN I’M WATCHING AFTER THE KIDS?
HOW WOULD YOU RATHER ME TO SPEND THE WEEKENDS OR MY TIME OFF?
WHAT WILL I PAY FOR?
HOW IMPORTANT IS THE AU PAIR’S LOOK FOR YOU OR FOR YOUR CHILDREN, SINCE THE AU PAIR IS A ROLE MODEL?
DO YOU LIKE TO SPEND TIME WITH YOUR KIDS WITHOUT THE AU PAIR BEING AROUND?
ACTIVITIES WITH THE FAMILY WHEN I’M ON DUTY, LIKE MOVIES, ZOO, PARK, RODEO, ETC. AM I EXPECTED TO PAY?
HOW WOULD A TYPICAL DAY LOOK LIKE?
WHAT ARE MY CHORES?
WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT RULES I SHOULD KNOW ABOUT?
WILL I BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SHUTTLING THE BOYS TO AND FROM ACTIVITES? COOKING? LIGHT CLEANING?
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT CORRECTING THE AU PAIR IN FRONT OF THE KIDS?
HOW OFTEN DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD HAVE MEETINGS? MONTHLY, WEEKLY, DAILY?
ONCE I GET THERE, HOW WILL MY DAY BE LIKE?
IF YOU, (THE PARENTS) ARE HOME, WHO IS IN CHARGE?
WHEN A KID IS MISBEHAVING AND YOU ARE THE ONE IN CHARGE, YOU REPRIMAND HIM/HER, DO YOU WANT ME TO SUPPORT YOUR STATEMENT?
I UNDERSTAND THAT PUTTING THE KIDS’ TOYS, CLOTHES, DISHES AWAY, CLEANING AFTER THEMSELVES, ETC. ARE PART OF MY WORK AS AN AU PAIR BUT, DO YOU RATHER ME TO ONLY ASSIST THEM OR DO IT ALL BY MYSELF?
DO YOU GIVE YOUR AU PAIR SOME SELF-DECISION-MAKING-POWER OR, DO YOU RATHER SHE CALLS YOU BEFORE TAKING ACTION AND MAYBE YOU TAKE CARE OF THE SITUATION ON THE PHONE WITH YOUR KIDS?
HOW WOULD YOU CONSIDER MY JOB IS NOT BEING DONE PROPPERLY?
FOR EXAMPLE, THE KIDS ARE PLAYING, JUMPING AROUND, BASICALLY MAKING A MESS BUT, I HAD ALREADY CLEANED UP. DO I ASK THEM TO HELP ME PUT EVERYTHING BACK TOGETHER? OR, NO MATTER WHAT, CLEANING UP AFTER THE KIDS IS MY JOB?
I UNDERSTAND THAT COMMON AREAS ARE NOT PART OF MY LIST (UNLESS THE KIDS PLAYED THERE). IF YOU, THE PARENT, LEFT SHOES, BLANKET, PILLOW, DIRTY DISHES, ETC., AM I EXPECTED TO CLEAN THAT UP, TOO?
WHAT DO YOU THINK MY JOB IS? PLAYING, HANGING OUT WITH THE KIDS, OR CLEANING AND DOING MY LIST OF CHORES, OR SOMETHING IN BETWEEN?
WHAT DAYS AM I ON DUTY?
HOW MANY HOURS WILL I WORK?
WHAT ARE MY RESPONSIBLITIES WITH EACH KID?
WHAT ARE MY RESPONSIBLITIES AT HOME?
ABOUT ME AS AN AU PAIR, MY ACCOMODATIONS AND PRIVILEGES
HOW WOULD YOU RATHER ME TO SPEND THE WEEKENDS OR MY TIME OFF?
WHAT WILL I PAY FOR?
HOW IMPORTANT IS THE AU PAIR’S LOOK FOR YOU OR FOR YOUR CHILDREN, SINCE THE AU PAIR IS A ROLE MODEL?
ACTIVITIES WITH THE FAMILY WHEN I’M ON DUTY, LIKE MOVIES, ZOO, PARK, RODEO, ETC. AM I EXPECTED TO PAY?
HOW FAR AWAY FROM THE NEAREST CITY/TOWN DO YOU LIVE?
ARE THERE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATIONS?
COULD YOU TELL ME ABOUT CAR AND CELL PHONE USAGE?
DO YOU LIKE TO TRAVEL? WOULD YOU TAKE ME ON A TRIP WITH YOU?
WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT RULES I SHOULD KNOW ABOUT?
TELL ME ABOUT THE AREA YOU LIVE IN.
WHAT IS ONE PROBLEM YOU HAD WITH YOUR PREVIOUS AU PAIR? HOW DID YOU HANDLE IT? HOW CAN WE AVOID SIMILAR PROBLEMS?
TELL ME WHY YOUR PREVIOUS WORKED (OR DIDN’T WORK) OUT SO WELL? WHAT WAS IT ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP THAT (DIDN’T) WORK OUT?
DO YOU HAVE A FAMILY HANDBOOK? MAY I SEE IT BEFORE I MAKE A DECISION?
HOW’S YOUR DREAM AU PAIR LIKE?
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE AND LEAST FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT WHERE YOU LIVE?
ABOUT MY ROOM. DOES IT HAVE A WINDOW? MAY I SEE A PHOTO OF IT?
ONCE I GET THERE, HOW WILL MY DAY BE LIKE?
CAN YOU TALK TO ME ABOUT THE CAPTIVATIONS OF THE PLACE YOU LIVE IN? (HOUSE, TOWN, ETC.)
CAN YOU DESCRIBE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?
DO I HAVE A CURFEW?
IS THERE A NEAR COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY I CAN ATTEND TO?
WILL I HAVE ACCESS TO A CAR?
RANDOM QUESTIONS
WHAT IS ONE PROBLEM YOU HAD WITH YOUR PREVIOUS AU PAIR? HOW DID YOU HANDLE IT? HOW CAN WE AVOID SIMILAR PROBLEMS?
TELL ME WHY YOUR PREVIOUS WORKED (OR DIDN’T WORK) OUT SO WELL? WHAT WAS IT ABOOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP THAT (DIDN’T) WORK OUT?
HOW’S YOUR DREAM AU PAIR LIKE?
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE AND LEAST FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT WHERE YOU LIVE?
HAVE YOU EVER PICTURED YOUR OWN CHILDREN AS AU PAIRS OR EXCHANGE STUDENTS? DOES THIS HAVE ANY IMPACT IN YOU OR THE WAY YOU TREAT YOUR AU PAIR?
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT CORRECTING THE AU PAIR IN FRONT OF THE KIDS?
HOW OFTEN DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD HAVE MEETINGS? MONTHLY, WEEKLY, DAILY?
WHAT IS THE WORST SITUATION YOU’VE EVER HAD WITH AN AU PAIR?
WHAT IS THE FUNNIEST SITUATION YOU’VE EVER HAD WITH AN AU PAIR?
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR HOUSE? CRAZY CLEAN AND SPOTLESS, CLEAN, OR A WAR AREA?
IF YOU HAD THE CHANCE, WOULD YOU HAVE BEING AN AU PAIR? HAVE YOU DONE OR WOULD YOU DO ANY JOB RELATED TO MINE (AU PAIRING, BABYSITTING)?
DO YOU OWN ANY TYPE OF GUN? DO THE KIDS KNOW WHERE THEY ARE? DO THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THEM?
WHEN SOMETHING BAD OR UPSETTING HAPPENS IN YOUR FAMILY, HOW DO YOU HANDLE IT?
HOW’S YOUR JOB LIKE? HOW DO YOU HANDLE A STRESSFUL SITUATION IN IT?
Por lo pronto son todas las que he juntado hasta ahora, espero les hayan servido de algo.
¿Ustedes tienen algunas preguntas que quieran compartir?
Gracias por leer :)
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