Pro Au Pair- any luck matching with such a small pool?

[Anonymous]

So, after disappointing experience with CCAP, I thought I'd try Pro Au Pair, which claims to have higher quality candidates (for a higher price, both in terms of agency fee and AP stipend). They do seem to be higher quality with more real work experience, but there sure aren't very many candidates! Also, not an ethnically diverse pool at all, and we are a non-white family, which generally means we are at the back of the bus in the matching process already. Does anyone actually use this agency? Seems like it would be very limiting to have such a small pool in rematch also.

[Anonymous]

They do seem to have more qualified candidates. What are the fees/AP stipend? I imagine it could get competitive with them bidding for perks.

[Anonymous]

we had a very average AP from ProAupair. She seemed to have a lot of experience and degrees but really didn't have really experience in child care. Beware. They are also very expensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, after disappointing experience with CCAP, I thought I'd try Pro Au Pair, which claims to have higher quality candidates (for a higher price, both in terms of agency fee and AP stipend). They do seem to be higher quality with more real work experience, but there sure aren't very many candidates! Also, not an ethnically diverse pool at all, and we are a non-white family, which generally means we are at the back of the bus in the matching process already. Does anyone actually use this agency? Seems like it would be very limiting to have such a small pool in rematch also.

Such a shame you feel that way as a non white family. I feel that way as an AP found it to be a disadvantage when looking for HF.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They do seem to have more qualified candidates. What are the fees/AP stipend? I imagine it could get competitive with them bidding for perks.

http://proaupair.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Live-In-Nanny-Professional-Au-Pair-comparison-sheet-2014-for-website.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They do seem to have more qualified candidates. What are the fees/AP stipend? I imagine it could get competitive with them bidding for perks.

http://proaupair.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Live-In-Nanny-Professional-Au-Pair-comparison-sheet-2014-for-website.pdf

According to this, from 2014...might have increased.

Agency fees: $3850 matching + $11964 fees (paid monthy?) -- WOW.
AP stipend: $250

They say they have 2 years experience.

If you look at APIA, they have the APIA extraordinaire program that is similar, but for lower fees. Those candidates should all have direct childcare or further education.

[Anonymous]

Your problem will come if you want to rematch. Seriously risk there.

The other AG riches have plenty of qualified APs. You just need to search.

And as a PP said, just because they have certain credentials, does not make them a great AP.

Plus lots,of times these credentials are fudged.

[Anonymous]

Our family has had a great experience with Pro Au Pair. But the small pool is what attracted me, during the process I felt the agency knew each girl individually which better helped match us to a great Au pair. Yes they are a bit more expensive but for our family it has been extremely worth it.

I know everyone’s experience is different with every agency, but we have had a great one and the matching process can be overwhelming already that having it narrowed down to a smaller group of quality candidates really appealed me.

[Anonymous]

Have had two male au pairs from ProAupair after working with CCAP and there definitely was a difference in the quality of candidates for us. I agree with the previous poster that complained that they draw from a very limited geographic area (Germany and Austria) and it would be nice to see more diversity. I have SN kids and found that the professional au pairs I had were worth the higher price. It does take some careful interviewing, however, because credentials doesn’t necessarily mean they are good with kids and i’ve met a couple of HP’s who complain that an OT au pair expects to only be doing therapies and not kid laundry. This is fairly manageable to ferret out in an interview, I think.