Help with searching and finding

Answers to all your questions about searching and finding an au pair or host family with AuPairWorld are presented here.

Your AuPairWorld Dashboard

Search

Messenger

What functions does the new AuPairWorld Dashboard give you?

The new Dashboard brings together:

  • A search function (EasyFind) that displays your search results based on your current filters.
  • A messaging function that allows you to directly contact profiles from your search results.
  • A listing of any favorite profiles (Favorites) that you have selected.

How many Favorites can I select?

You can select 100 profiles and put them on your Favorites list. 

What do the activity status markings (green, yellow, orange) on the profile cards in my EasyFind search results mean?

There are 3 activity levels to help guide your search:

  • Green (active): The user has logged into the platform within the last 5 days.
  • Yellow (low activity): The user’s last login is more than 5 days in the past.
  • Orange (inactive): The user is not actively using the platform.

A green dot on the profile card shows that the user is currently logged onto the system.

How does the search work on AuPairWorld?

AuPairWorld is a self-matching platform, meaning that au pairs and host families search for and contact each other directly. The search process is simple: 

  1. Create a profile – Au pairs and host families complete their profiles with key details.
  2. Use the EasyFind – Our system suggests possible candidates based on your preferences.
  3. Check profiles – Browse potential candidates and learn more about them.
  4. Send messages – Express interest through our internal messenger.
  5. Find your match – Connect, discuss expectations, and agree on an au pair stay.

What is EasyFind, and how does it help?

EasyFind is a tool that automatically displays the best suited profiles based on your search criteria. It helps you: 

  • View potential matches at a glance.
  • Filter and refine search results.
  • Quickly connect with au pairs or host families that fit your preferences.

How does searching with the new EasyFind search manager work?

The new EasyFind provides dynamic filtering options to manage your search. As soon as you change your filter settings, your new search results are immediately displayed. These filter options are shown in the left column on desktop displays and as an overlay for mobile use.

What happens after I change my search filters?

You immediately see the new search results. To keep these search filters, you need to save the changes at the bottom of the filter option panel. These saved search filters will be used for your future logins on the platform and they also will be used as the basis for the Daily Update email informing you of newly registered user profiles that fit your new filters.

For families:  

  • In EasyFind, you can set filters such as start date window, length of stay, nationality or age of the au pair, whether you accept smokers, whether a driving licence is required or whether you need help with household chores. Then click ‘Save’.  
  • Under ‘🖉 Profile – About you’, you can update information about your family: number and ages of your children, your address, pets, whether you smoke at home, etc.  

For au pairs:  

  • In EasyFind, you can set filters such as start date window, length of stay, preferred host countries, ages of children, household tasks, willingness to work with a family that smokes, single-parent families or children with special needs. Then click ‘Save’.  
  • In ‘🖉 Profile – About you’, you can update your childcare experience, smoking, whether you are vegan, languages spoken, and other personal information.

Important: Whether you are a family or an au pair, if you change the filters but do not click ‘Save’, your profile will not be updated. EasyFind will simply show profiles that match the selected filters.

Please note that the start date and the duration of stay are two different things:

  • Start date: the range of dates when the au pair's stay could begin.
  • Duration: how long the au pair will stay with the host family.

Example: if you choose a start date between July and December and a lenght of stay of one month, the stay could start in July and end in August, or begin in December and end in January. 

Unlike a general profile search, EasyFind provides relevant matches based on your selected criteria and preferences.

Au pairs can select several host countries in their filters, allowing them to view families from different countries within EasyFind. Likewise, families can see au pairs who wish to travel to their country and can also activate the ‘Show more profiles (fuzzy matches)’ option with one click to discover similar profiles that may have initially selected other destination countries.  

This feature in the family profile broadens the search results by including au pairs whose characteristics are compatible with the selected filters, even if their destination country does not exactly match. For example, some au pairs who have shown interest in a particular language or region may be open to nearby countries or new opportunities if the family profile is a good fit. 

What is the Daily Update?

The Daily Update is an email that you will receive each time there are new registrations that match your search criteria. 

In order to receive the Daily Update, you need to have logged in within the last 14 days and your profile has to be active. In addition, your preferred start date must be in the future. 

How do I improve my chances of finding a match?

  • Complete your profile – Detailed profiles attract more interest.
  • Check EasyFind regularly – New matches appear frequently.
  • Be proactive – Send messages to potential matches instead of waiting.
  • Use clear and friendly communication – First impressions matter!

Can I search in specific countries or for specific languages?

Yes! In your search settings, you can filter by: 

  • Country – Choose where you want to host an au pair or be hosted.
  • Languages spoken – Find au pairs or families that speak a specific language.
  • Availability period – Ensure the timing matches fits for both parties.

How long does the search take?

It varies! Some users find a match quickly, while others take longer. On average, the search takes 1–3 months. Factors like experience with AuPairWorld, location, destination, and search activity all play a role. Staying proactive increases your chances of finding the right match faster!

When should I start searching for an au pair or a family?

It’s recommended to start your search about six months before your desired start date. While some au pairs and host families find a match quickly, others may take longer. Our statistics show that most families and au pairs register with AuPairWorld about six months in advance. By starting early, you give yourself the best chance of finding a suitable match, as this allows you to align with the schedules and needs of potential host families au pairs on the platform.

How does messaging work on AuPairWorld?

AuPairWorld's Messenger allows au pairs and host families to communicate in a structured way: 

  • Pre-written messages: A way to quickly signal Quick interest signals that can be sent with one click.
  • Personal messages: Only available to au pairs and to Premium host families to exchange direct messages.

Why can't I send a message as a family? 

Host families need to purchase a Premium Membership to send and receive personal messages.

Why can’t I find or contact certain au pairs or families?  

If a profile is not visible, it may be due to:  

  • Incomplete profiles (only complete profiles appear in searches).
  • Different availability dates or preferences that do not match with yours.
  • The user has disabled their profile.

What should I do if an au pair or host family isn’t responding? 

Waiting for a reply can be frustrating, but don’t put your search on hold. Many au pairs and host families receive multiple messages and may need time to respond. If you haven’t heard back, try sending a friendly follow-up message and give them a couple of days to reply. It can also be helpful to include a “deadline” that specifies when you need to have an answer. If they still don’t answer, assume they are not interested and move on with your search.

For fair and respectful communication: 

  • Always reply to messages, even if you’re not interested. A polite “no” helps everyone move forward.
  • If you’re unsure about a match, say so openly and take time to get to know each other through video calls.
  • Don’t rely on just one option—connect with multiple families or au pairs to increase your chances of finding the right match.
  • If users haven’t logged in for two weeks, their profile will automatically stop appearing in search results.
  • Both au pairs and families often contact many candidates before finding the right one, so patience and persistence are key!

What if I don’t receive any responses? 

If you’re not receiving replies: 

  • Make sure your profile is complete and appealing.
  • Be patient; some users take time to respond.
  • Follow up politely if you haven’t heard back.
  • Expand your search criteria for more potential candidates.

What language should I use for writing messages?

Messages are not translated. You can choose which language you write in. Au pairs and host families can decide together what language is most effective for their initial communication. The pre-written texts are automatically displayed in the language that is shown in your profile.

How can I delete a chat and what happens afterwards?

If you would like to end a conversation, you can delete the chat at any time. Before the chat is deleted, you will be asked to confirm your decision.

Once you delete a conversation, it is marked as ended for both you and your chat partner. Your chat partner will be informed about this in the conversation and will see that the chat has been deleted. The conversation will remain visible in their chat list but will be greyed out and labelled accordingly.

If your chat partner opens the conversation, they will see a message explaining that the chat was ended. They will also have the option to delete the conversation on their side.

A conversation is only fully removed once both users have deleted it. If you or your chat partner start a new conversation later on, it will begin as a new, empty chat without any previous messages.

Why is a conversation greyed out in my chat list?

A conversation appears greyed out when there is no longer an active exchange possible. This can happen in two cases: either the chat has been deleted by one of the users, or your chat partner is no longer active on AuPairWorld.

In both situations, the greyed-out display helps you quickly understand that you may not receive a reply in this conversation.

What does it mean when a chat partner is inactive?

If your chat partner has been inactive for a certain period of time, the conversation will remain visible in your chat list, but it will be marked accordingly.

You will see a notice indicating that your chat partner will probably not reply. In addition, the conversation and the contact will be greyed out to make this status more visible.

This feature is designed to give you more transparency and help you focus on active conversations while still keeping your existing chats accessible.

Can I still access conversations with inactive users?

Yes, conversations with inactive users remain in your chat list and can be opened at any time. However, you will see a message in the conversation informing you about the inactivity of your chat partner.

You can decide yourself whether you would like to keep or delete the conversation.

Are inactive conversations automatically deleted?

No, conversations are not deleted automatically when a user becomes inactive. They remain in your chat list so that you can still access them if needed.

Only when you actively delete a conversation will it be marked as ended. 

Can I see whether my chat partner is currently online?

Yes, within the chat you can see at the top under the user’s name if the au-pair or host family is currently online and might read your message soon. You can also see when your chat partner was last online. 

Can I see whether my chat partner has read my message?

Yes, as soon as the person you are chatting with has read your message, the two ticks will turn green.

How can I make it clear to an au pair or host family that I am not interested?

You can use predefined messages to politely inform the other person that you’re not interested. After that, you have the option to delete the chat. Please always send a response—ignoring messages (ghosting) is impolite and leaves the other person uncertain about your decision. 

Why are my previous messages not showing?

There are a few possible reasons why past messages might not appear:

  • Your chat partner deleted the conversation.
  • You accidentally deleted the conversation.
  • The profile you were communicating with has been deactivated. 

If that’s not the case, it could be a pre-existing cache and cookie settings issue in your browser. To fix the problem, log out of your profile, delete your cookies and browsing history and log in again. After a short reload, your migrated messages should be displayed. 

Why is my Messenger not working?

If you're experiencing issues with the Messenger, try these troubleshooting steps:

  1. Clear your browser cookies and cache
    1. Open your browser settings.
    2. Locate the option to clear cookies and cache.
    3. Delete all saved data, restart your browser, and try again.

      Instructions for clearing cookies:  Chrome | Firefox | Edge | Safari
  2. Use Incognito/Private mode
    1. Open a private window in your browser.
    2. This prevents conflicts with saved data and may resolve loading issues.
    3. Check whether the problem still occurs in incognito mode.
  3. Try a different browser, device, or network
    1. Switch to another browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, etc.). Make sure you are using the latest version of your browser.
    2. Use a different computer, phone, or tablet. Restarting your device can also fix connection or display issues.

    3. Test on a different network (Wi-Fi vs. mobile data).Many problems are caused by unstable or weak connections. So please check your internet connection:

      -Turn your Wi-Fi off and on again

      -Alternatively, try using mobile data

      -If possible, move to a location with a better signal

       

    4. Avoid using a VPN, as it may block Messenger access.

If the problem persists:

  • Check the AuPairWorld Idea Community to see if your issue is already reported. You can vote on existing problems to help prioritize fixes.
  • If you discover a new issue that is not yet known Report the issue through the AuPairWorld Idea Community contact our Support Team if urgent. Include details like error messages, screenshots, browser, and device info to help us resolve the issue faster.

We appreciate your patience and hope this helps!

What happens after I find a potential match?

Once you find a potential match:

  1. Have video calls to confirm compatibility.
  2. Discuss key topics such as responsibilities, schedule, and expectations.
  3. Check legal requirements for visa and contracts.
  4. Make a final decision and start planning the stay!

Need more help?

Check out our Help Section for detailed guides on using AuPairWorld efficiently. 

 

How do I enable notifications on my device?

With browser notifications, you’ll be notified immediately when new messages arrive – even if you’re not currently on the page.

Here you’ll find instructions for different devices and browsers, as well as information on how to activate notifications later if you initially denied them.

📱 Android

Chrome: Chrome will automatically ask for permission. 
Enable later: 
⚙️ Settings → Site settings → Notifications → Select our website → Allow

Firefox: Firefox shows a permission request. 
Enable later: 
⚙️ Settings → Privacy & Security → Permissions → Notifications

💻 MacOS

Important: Enable macOS notifications for your browser: 
⚙️ System Settings → Notifications → Select browser → Allow

Safari: Safari will automatically ask for your permission. 
⚙️ Safari → Settings → Websites → Notifications → Allow

Chrome: Chrome will show a pop up notification on your first visit. 
⚙️ Chrome → Settings → Privacy & Security → Site settings → Notifications

Firefox: Firefox displays a request. 
⚙️ Firefox → Settings → Privacy & Security → Permissions → Notifications

Edge: Edge uses a Pop-up or a bell symbol. 
⚙️ Edge → Settings → Cookies and site permissions → Notifications

📱 iPhone & iPad (iOS)

Safari

Enable later: 
⚙️ iOS Settings → Safari → Notifications → Allow

Chrome, Firefox, Edge: All iOS-Browsers use the same Messaging feature as Safari.

Enable later: 
⚙️ iOS Settings → Select browser → Notifications → Allow

Available for download as a PDF

🛎️ I denied notifications earlier – what now?

No worries. You can always enable them later in your browser settings.

📬 When will I receive notifications?

When you get a new message

When you're not actively on the messaging page

When your browser is open (foreground or background)

❌ I’m not receiving notifications – what can I do?

✔ Check browser permissions 
✔ Check device settings 
✔ Restart the browser

🔧 Do I need to install anything?

No, notifications work directly in your browser.

♻️ Can I turn notifications off again?

Yes, you can disable them at any time in your browser or device settings.