INFORMATION FOR AGENTS

Our purpose is to deliver a high quality au pair introduction service to families in Britain, ensuring both parties get the best from the experience.

Our Goal is to have a healthy, successful company that is a leader in customer service and has a loyal following.

Our strengths are that we have passionate people devoted to delivering the best service and building a relationship with each individual that they come into contact with. Our website is smart and easy to use and our processes are simple yet effective.

Our commitment to the host family is to introduce them to selected, relevant candidates with complete profiles only.

Our responsibility to the au pair is that they are well informed and feel positive that we appreciate their needs.

A very important part of the service is to deliver first-rate au pair profiles through extensive screening and a personal interview.

Before an au pair is introduced to a host family, we make sure that the file is up to date with

• A quality profile
• Recent photographs
• References, that are checked and ‘checkable’. They need to be originals or certified translations to English, with signature, telephone number and address of referee, allowing families to complete a reference follow-up
• Medical reference, checkable as above
• Police check from their country

During the preparation of their profile, the au pair candidates are contacted by e-mail to confirm that as soon as their profile is complete, they will be guaranteed a telephone interview by a member of the team (EEA landline or Skype only).

ROLE OF AGENT

Once the profile is complete, the agent should call the candidate for a telephone interview. Each interview should follow the same structure.

• Introduction and explanation of the interview, introduction and selection process
• Re-assurance that smartaupairs do NOT charge au pairs for the service
• Clarification that we choose to represent only complete profiles
• Outline of our exclusive benefits for au pairs
• Explanation of what to expect as an au pair in Britain, preferably in local language to avoid misunderstanding
• Validation of the profile, which means a double check of the information provided by the au pair
• Interview, discussing the au pair’s profile, in English, to check language skills
• Close with an invitation for them to contact us, recommend us to friends and explain what happens next
• Reminder of the unique benefits of smartaupairs

In most cases notes of the interview are filed on the profile to create a rounded picture of the candidate.

Each agent will receive a training pack with scripts for interviews to ensure every candidate receives the same, structured interview and information, no matter what country they come from.

Once a routine is established, an interview should take approx. 10 – 15 minutes per call and notes on profile should take another 5 – 10 minutes to complete.

Eventually there will be an agent representing smartaupairs in every EEA country.

Incentives and rewards

Overseas agents are paid a small fee per completed interview and given a bonus for each of ‘their’ au pairs accepted into a position.

ESTABLISHED AGENCY OR SELF EMPLOYED

We are interested to hear from established agencies looking to place their candidates in Britain. Please contact nicole@smartaupairs.com.

Alternatively, we look for individuals wanting to become an agent on our behalf.

You will be self employed and not an employee of smartaupairs. However, we will give you permission to use our name and act on our behalf. We want to provide the same level of service in each country and will sign a ‘Service Level Agreement’ to ensure this.

Could I be an agent?

We are looking for smart individuals who have a passion for the role of au pair and have experience as an au pair in Britain.

This is what we expect from our agents.

General

• Able to dedicate anything from 1 to 3 hours per day interviewing candidates and updating profiles.
• The work can be flexible as interviews can take place during the day or in the evening, ideal to combine with studying, a part-time job or motherhood
• You need to have access to a telephone and a computer in a private location. Ideally you need broadband to make affordable calls to candidates. A webcam is great as you may chat with the candidates online and see each other.
• You should be available to take calls from candidates from your country if they have queries before they travel.
• June, July and August are our busiest time of year, when we need you the most and you can earn the most money

Skills

• Good communication skills and positive telephone manner
• Confident in English, reading, writing and speaking
• Fluent in at least one other language
• Confident with use of a computer, the internet and ‘word’ (windows)
• Office skills such as time management, filing etc are an advantage

Experience

• Au pair experience in Britain (at least 9 months)
• In addition, experience in other childcare or educational roles or motherhood are a plus
• Interview and/or recruitment experience are an advantage

Personality

• Highly motivated self-starter, passionate about working with people
• Puts the customer first and delivers against commitment
• Open and honest and treats others with respect and courtesy
• Seeks feedback in order to improve and innovate

If you are interested, please e-mail nicole@smartaupairs outlining why you would like to be an agent, where you live and what languages you speak