When you decide to become an au pair, you may wonder how your time in the USA will improve or even change your future path in life.  It’s important to remember that there is no “typical career path.”

Whether or not you know what you want to do next, once you complete your year (or more) as an au pair, you will be a better version of yourself and better prepared for whatever your future holds. You’ll also gain improved English skills, improved confidence, newfound independence, and new passions.

Below, you’ll hear from au pairs who have completed the program and are now pursuing new passions, going back to school, opening businesses, and more!

Improved English skills:

“In 2017, I was finishing college, but my lack of knowledge in a second language was a barrier for me to grow professionally at that time. I decided to sign up for the au pair program and then after 4 months, I landed in the U.S. Not only did my English exponentially improve, but I had the best 18 months of my life. Almost 6 years later and back home, the language barrier does not exist anymore, and I’ve had the opportunity to work for big U.S. based companies like Google and Cisco!” —Barbara Silva, former au pair from Brazil

“The Cultural Care experience as an au pair changed my life. My English got so much better, and that opened more personal and professional options that I would never imagine before. The classes I took with the au pair program helped me to get my TOEFL certificate and have the opportunity to join a public school as a bilingual teacher. For me, it was the best decision I took in my life.” —Estefania Reyes Garcia, former au pair from Spain

Improved confidence:

“I grew so much with my experience living in the United States, and I can say that I am the person I am today thanks to the program. It proved to me that I can go through hard moments on my own and that I am stronger than I thought. I finished my au pair program 3 months ago, and now I'm about to start my career and I'm already planning new adventures for the future.” —Sofia Miranda, former au pair from Argentina

“During my au pair year, I had a big transformation in my personal and professional life. The experience makes a lot of difference, for the English skills and also for the fact that you overcome your fears and allow yourself to live in a different culture.  Those who go through this will definitely be more resilient and determined in anything they do.” —Jessica Nazare, former au pair from Brazil

Newfound independence:

“This July will be 7 years since I started my au pair journey. I was fortunate enough to take care of four amazing children, and I am still in contact with my host family! I am currently a part-time PR manager to a gallery artist in Cape Town as well as a certified Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) teacher while completing my degree in Communications at UNISA. I have learned that if you ask you will be helped, and that plays a big role in my everyday life.” —Chandry Howburg, former au pair from South Africa

“The au pair program was an amazing opportunity for me! After the program, I decided to apply for jobs and then I got an offer to work in a Fintech company in Europe. I accepted and now I’ve lived in Tallinn, Estonia for about 10 months! It’s been an amazing journey so far, and I’m really grateful for my host families and for the program itself, since it helped me to improve my English, be more independent and see the world with different eyes.” —Blanda Soares Ferreira, former au pair from Brazil

Discovery of new passions:

“My gap year gave me enough time to find out that I didn’t want to be a teacher, but rather wanted to study business administration and go into Human Resources or Marketing. Watching my host mom work in HR and do interviews as well as find good candidates showed me that I'm more into that kind of career, and I'm so glad for that.” —Lena Schulz, former au pair from Germany

“I applied for the program to enhance my English, but I came back home with more than that. As an outdoor lover, I used my time there to visit as many natural wonders as I could. Nowadays, I combine two of my passions—coffee and the outdoors—with a small startup I have called Montanea. Montanea is a coffee shop and outdoor hub, and its goal is to get people involved in outdoor activities and inspire them to become interested in conservation of natural spaces. Being an au pair helped me to travel and to see all these amazing places and feel even more interested in looking for alternatives to protect nature. It also helped me to improve my English and gain a multifaceted skill set now that I am an entrepreneur and have to meet and gather with foreign people involved in conservation.” —Mayra Guadalupe Saavedra Osornio, former au pair from Mexico

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