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Learn what it takes to become a professional nanny or au-pair for rich families living overseas, while making up to $100,000 a year. Where to find jobs, qualifications needed, and more.
Looking to change up your job this year? Maybe find one that lets you travel more? Do you enjoy working with children?
What if you could do all of the above, while making great money in the process. Welcome to the world of VIP Nannies & Au-Pairs.
In this guide I’ll explain the best way of finding and getting hired for VIP tutor, au-pair, or nanny jobs, and – in the process – why you might (or might not) want to work in this industry.
If you’re not yet convinced that this whole thing is doable, get on Google and do a quick search for ‘VIP nanny agency’, or check out the salaries for nanny, governess and tutor jobs.
You’ll see that salaries of £1300 or £1400 (around $2000 USD) per month are fairly commonplace for full-time positions.
But if you want to reach the coveted 6-figure bracket of English teaching, tutoring and nannying jobs, you’ll need to do a little extra research into particular locations, and understand what exactly the work entails.
All of these terms are describing a similar role. Getting paid to take care of other people’s kids while also living (and traveling) with the family. These jobs are for both women & men.
The highest paying jobs are usually private, overseas positions tutoring or nannying kids for an UHNW (Ultra High Net Worth) family. It’s a pretty simple concept.
Wealthy families understand that English is a valuable language for their children to learn.
They know their children will have better opportunities to study or work abroad, or simply be more comfortable traveling if they speak English well.
For families that don’t have English as their first language but DO have the financial resources to pay for top-notch education, hiring a private tutor or nanny from the United States, Canada, or United Kingdom is often the answer.
A native-level English nanny or tutor working with their kids on a 40-50 hour per week basis can give these VIP children the kind of immersive experience that gets them fluent fast, and ultimately they are brought up speaking English with a clean accent, like a native.
For many wealthy families overseas, this is quite a prestigious matter.
The day-to-day experience for a nanny will include getting the charge (or charges) up in the morning, washed, dressed, fed breakfast and off to kindergarten or nursery, then probably a break.
In the afternoon perhaps walks, games, small trips and then the evening routine of getting the child ready for bed.
A tutor (or ‘governor’) might focus more on after-school sports, games, homework support and reading, whilst speaking English all the while. And, of course, tagging along on all the family’s vacations.
The pros of this type of work include the obvious great salaries (full-time work usually starts at a minimum of £1000 or $1400 per week), worldwide travel to luxury resorts (the Maldives, South of France and Dubai are popular choices for these types of wealthy families) and even occasional bonuses. Sounds pretty good, right?
This is actually a pretty easy one to answer. The highest paying locations for tutors and nannies working for VIP international families are usually:
Naturally, this list isn’t exhaustive. Whilst the areas listed above are the most common, more niche locations will include places like London or New York (international families that have moved there but haven’t achieved native-level English yet), Paris, Lagos, and plenty more.
Most large international cities will have some sort of market for VIP nannying or tutoring, it’s just a question of looking in the right place.
The bottom line is; almost all of these types of positions involve travel and relocation. If you want a job like this make sure you really are ready to commit to an overseas contract and prepare yourself accordingly.
OK, so you love travel and adventure and you’re cool with working with kids. What’s the next step?
It’s important to be realistic here – it’s very unlikely that you’ll find a wealthy VIP employer ready to pay you $100,000 per year to work with their family if you have zero experience or qualifications.
Time to go and get some! The qualifications to obtain will vary for a nanny or a tutor. A nanny applicant would ideally have a degree in Early Years, Childhood Education or similar to get to a top-level salary.
However it is possible to do shorter nannying courses and certifications. A CACHE certificate would be a good start for nannies based in the UK, but there are a huge variety of options – get on Google to find nanny courses near you.
You would also ideally have some sort of background check done (many agencies will ask for this) and First Aid certification would be helpful too.
For tutors, a couple of years’ tutoring English to your target age group, as well as a TEFL, TOEFL or CELTA certificate is generally enough. You can do these courses either in a school or online. A degree in education, languages or childhood education would be even better.
Full teaching qualifications would allow you to max out your salary potential.
You’ll also need to show at least a couple of years of work experience. The longer-term the better; a year or more in one stable position demonstrates to families or employers that you are reliable and committed and suitable for their family.
Families don’t want a nanny or tutor who leaves after a month or two, unless they are specializing in summer placements.
You’ll need references from previous employers (not necessarily VIP), so check that you have someone ready to speak to the agency or to a potential new boss.
As a general rule of thumb, the better your qualifications and experience, the better chance you have of finding a VIP nanny or tutor position.
The first thing to put on your CV is your qualifications and experience (as above). Family employers will also usually like a photo to ‘visualize’ how you might fit into their lives, so smile in your CV photo and wear something smart and sensible, clean and professional.
Your CV needs to include some personal information about you (but keep it professional, this isn’t the place for sentimental childhood memories) and information on any extra-curricular skills you possess.
The nannies and tutors getting paid the highest salaries usually have musical or sporting ability, or the ability to speak a second or third language on top of English. Anything you can think of here (piano, yoga, chess, Spanish) that you could theoretically teach to a child is a bonus.
When it’s all been put together, your CV should be a maximum of 2 pages (no longer, cut out information that isn’t relevant). Write a cover letter email introducing yourself, add some photos of you working with (or just spending time with) children, attach your CV, copies of your qualification certificates and your references and your application ‘package’ is good to go.
Now that you’ve got your application package prepped you need to start shopping for suitable positions.
One of the best places to get started is, as per usual, the internet. Both job sites and agencies can be your friends here. Job sites like Jobs in Childcare have a variety of positions from VIP agencies.
Alternatively, get on Google and use search terms like ‘VIP nanny jobs’ or ‘VIP tutoring’ to access individual agencies. Your best bet is to upload your CV and documents to job sites or to email them as a package to individual agencies.
Have a browse around the job sites and agencies themselves, scoping out what kind of terms are on offer. Look at schedules, responsibilities and pay careful attention to the charge’s ages and the working requirements, and see if you can find any positions that particularly peak your interest.
We talked about the ‘pros’ above’; this is probably a good moment to mention the dreaded ‘cons’. Working with a family can go either way. You might have a fantastic employer, or a terrible one.
Make sure that:
a) You are comfortable and confident that this is a real job (99% chance it will be, but just in case). Speak to real humans during the process, and do as much background research into the agency/ position as you can.
b) You are ready for what might be a different culture, homesickness, the possibility that people don’t speak good English where you are headed.
c) You are aware of the possibility that the children you nanny or tutor may be badly behaved, badly brought up or just generally unpleasant.
Whilst these are possibilities that you need to be aware of, that’s not to say that working for a family is a bad idea. On the contrary, a good employer with well-brought up children can bring a blissful working life that pays you a fantastic salary, and I personally know lots of people in this situation.
It’s important to be aware of potential pitfalls, to approach this kind of work with an open mind and to be ready to backtrack if the position isn’t quite what you expected. If your interview goes well, try and lock in a fixed trial to give you time to understand if the position is right for you.
A professional interview is the next step if the agency or employer likes your profile. Your job interview will either be in person (if local) or (much more likely post-COVID) on Skype, Zoom or a similar video-conferencing platform.
Make sure you are on time! It is massively unprofessional to be late for your interview, so don’t make this basic mistake.
You also need to be well dressed and suitably prepared. Make sure your WiFi connection is good and make sure nobody will interrupt you, either on the phone or in person. Have sensible lighting and keep a pen and paper nearby to make notes.
If your interview is for a specific position (rather than a general ‘welcome to our agency’ interview), think of questions you might want to ask to demonstrate a little genuine interest in the role).Oh, and remember to smile!
So if you have put together a good CV and interviewed successfully, then it’s time for the final step – a trial period.
If you are local then you will typically make your own way there. If it’s a long way (or overseas) a good employer will generally arrange this and pay for it for you, along with any visas you need.
Trial periods should always be paid; discuss this with the agency you work with.Key tips for your trial would include:
a) Do not be late under any circumstances! Better to be there 15 minutes early and take a book.
b) Be prepared – take suitable books and games for your charge or student’s level, as well as outdoor clothes for yourself in case you find yourself outside
c) Dress appropriately, be clean, don’t wear too much perfume or aftershave, and – again – smile!
At the end of your first day, ask your employer for feedback if you get the opportunity. Remember that the trial is as much for you to see if you are comfortable as it is for the employer. So if you don’t like the position, don’t sign up for it – there will be others!
And if you are offered a job, make sure that the agency you work with provides you with a contract and that the terms are clear and concise, particularly with regards to salary, schedule, working hours and holiday conditions.
Good luck!
I hope you enjoyed my guide on how to become a Nanny or Au Pair! Hopefully you found it useful. Here are a few more wanderlust-inducing articles that I recommend you read next:
Have any questions about working as a nanny or au pair abroad? What about other suggestions? Join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter to share!
This is a post from The Expert Vagabond adventure blog.
Nobody looks forward to receiving household bills. But when it comes to knowing how to calculate a gas bill, it might seem like you need a high level of mental gymnastics! Gas bills are thick with jargon, strange terms and units of consumption which you’re unlikely to find in any other household bill.
Laden with terms like KwH, joules and calorific values, learning how to read your gas bill can be challenging. Doing so will help you understand and manage your utility bills and household expenses better.
‘It’s important to understand your gas bill,’ says Bronwyn Huband from British Gas, ‘to ensure that you only pay for gas that you have used, which will ensure you don’t underpay or overpay for your energy.’ Gas suppliers charge us for the gas we use in a quite complicated way. But we’ll explain how those calculations are made and how that relates to what you are charged.
In understanding how to calculate a gas bill, you may discover you’re using more gas than a house of your size should when you’re trying to keep your house warm in winter. Becoming fluent with the terms and calculations can help change your habits and routine, meaning more efficient gas usage and lower monthly bills.
‘Energy bills and statements contain useful information and it’s really important to understand them’ explains Jean Fiddes. ‘For example, it’s perfectly normal for your gas use, and therefore spend, to go up and down throughout the year, even if you’re on a fixed tariff. Because most UK homes use gas central heating, we expect to see people use more energy when it’s colder and less when it’s warm.’
‘To make it easier to budget across the year, you can pay the same amount every month by direct debit, so the credit built up over summer offsets your increased usage during the winter months. Your bill will clearly set this information out,’ she adds.
Image credit: Future PLC/ Lizzie Orme
Before embarking on the sums and figures contained in your gas bill, get to know some of the more unusual terminology you might come across.
‘The amount of energy you’ve used is shown in kilowatt hours (kWh), explains Bronwyn Huband from British Gas. ‘To give you a rough idea, one kilowatt hour is about the amount of energy it would take to boil ten kettles, run a full cycle of your washing machine, or keep your laptop powered for two days.’
‘Temperature and pressure cause gas to expand and contract ‘ says Christopher Dalley from EDF. ‘To account for this we use a correction factor in our calculation. This is fixed and standardised across the industry.’
Calorific values, or how much heat is given off when gas is burned, vary. ‘The figure on a customer’s bill is the average calorific value for the gas supplied to your property,’ explains Christopher. ‘Calorific value is measured across the gas pipeline by National Grid, in accordance with Ofgem. Industry standard values are then sent onto the relevant suppliers.’ The exact figure will be quoted on your bill as megajoules per cubic metre (MJ/m³). The figure will be somewhere between 38 MJ/m³ to 41 MJ/m³ – gas transporters are regulated to maintain this figure to prevent problems with gas burning appliances. The typical value is 39.5 MJ/m3.
In order to save energy at home, when working out your gas bill you’ll need some information to hand. Follow these simple steps:
You should have the meter reading which you last provided your energy supplier with.
‘In the UK,’ explains Christopher Dalley from EDF, ‘we have gas smart meters and traditional meters which were installed before smart meters. Customers who have a gas smart meter that’s connected to the Data Communications Centre don’t need to submit regular meter readings, as this is automatically done by the meter. Customers who have a traditional meter are still required to submit regular meter readings to ensure they receive an accurate bill.’
‘If you have a prepayment meter or Pay As You Go meter, you will pay for your energy as you use it by topping up a card or key,’ says Bronwyn Huband from British Gas. ‘You will pay a standing charge. If you owe any arrears from a previous bill and this has been loaded onto your prepayment meter, this will also be deducted at an agreed amount when you top up.’
This can be found in the information about your gas tariff. It’s usually quoted in pence per kilowatt hour – for example 2.5905p/kWh.
Image credit: Future PLC/ Lucinda Symons
There are quite a few calculations required to get to your bill’s bottom line. Have a calculator and notepad at the ready. The figures below are firmly grounded by rules set out by government legislation.
Once you have your meter reading, your meter type and the unit price you’re charged (as outlined above) you’re ready to calculate your bill. ‘It’s the UK standard to calculate energy in kWh.’ says Jean Fiddes from E-ON. ‘To work out your gas bill, convert the usage from your meter into kWh.’
Jean Fiddes from E.ON Next suggests watching out for the following:
If you pay by Direct Debit, you’ll see a list of monthly payments and the balance shows whether you’re in credit or debit. ‘Look out for the meter readings, dates they were taken and the price they pay per kWh as these make up the main part of a bill’ says Christopher Dalley from EDF. ‘For customers who pay by Direct Debit they should also check that any payments made have been listed correctly. Customers can also check that the meter number on the bill matches the one in their home.’
Bronwyn from British Gas adds, ‘It’s good practice to review that the energy tariff on your bill matches what you believe you have signed up to.’ It’s also worth keeping an eye on water bills.
Image credit: Future PLC/ Colin Poole
‘It’s difficult to predict what uses the most gas in a home as there are a lot of variable factors with gas,’ says Christopher Dalley from EDF. ‘The age and efficiency of an appliance will have an effect on the cost to run it. An older appliance which isn’t as energy efficient. will cost more to run.’ Add to that the fact that every home differs, both in size and in usage patterns.
‘Most of us rely on our gas boilers to ensure we have constant heating and hot water which account for the most gas usage in our homes,’ says Jean Fiddes from E.ON Next. ‘If you heat your home using a gas boiler, it’s really important that you check the age of your boiler.’ You can then decide when is the best time to replace a boiler. ‘If it’s older than, say, 10 to 15 years, look to upgrade to a more energy efficient one,’ adds Jean. ‘This could help to save you money on your gas bills, as well as reducing your impact on the environment.’
The post How to calculate a gas bill – a step by step guide appeared first on Ideal Home.
It doesn’t have to be a party for people to gather in the kitchen. It’s usually where the host or the food and drinks are, so whether it’s a friend popping in for a coffee, or family hovering for dinner, the kitchen is always a draw. And with the right kitchen island seating ideas, you can create a sociable space that works for you and is welcoming for others.
Whichever type of bar stool you opt for; positioned correctly, you can enjoy family and friends’ company, without them getting under your feet, when you’re juggling hot pans.
‘Creating seating within an island space is proving to be very popular now. It provides a space to eat in a hurry but is also a sociable option if guests are around you whilst you are cooking,’ says Jackie O’Riordan, Kitchen Designer, Harvey Jones.
There are tried and trusted methods to achieve this, as well as plenty of bar stool styles to choose from. So if you enjoy swapping stories or checking kids’ homework while chopping, or just like the idea of a breakfast bar, discover how here.
Of course, it’s not just when you or your family are entertaining or eating that you need kitchen ideas for seating. It might be somewhere you choose to take time out with your morning cuppa or perch to catch up on personal admin. So it’s worth considering how you live – or how you’d like to live – particularly if you’re currently considering kitchen island ideas too.
Image credit: Future PLC
Tolix bar stools and their look-a-likes are a popular design classic with industrial style. They’re stackable too, so this type of bar stool is great for a breakfast bar, as they’re easy to store if or when you need to make some extra space when hosting.
‘A breakfast bar is a versatile piece perfect for a multifunctional kitchen,’ says Melissa Klink, Harvey Jones’ Head of Design. ‘With the right seating it can work as a dining area where you can enjoy a quick breakfast or informal meals with family and friends, while it doubles up as a bar and buffet area to serve drinks and canapes when hosting a party.’
Image credit: Future PLC
The amount of space to allow for seating will depend on how many people you are going to typically have sat around your island. ‘If you’re a family of four and are all going to want to eat from the kitchen island at the same time then you’re going to need a bigger space. Ideally, you should plan for 50-60cm per person,’ says Darren Watts, Wren Kitchens Design Director.
Consider overhead kitchen island lighting ideas to ensure the zone is well-lit for dining and entertaining.
Image credit: Future PLC/ Lizzie Orme
Curved edges feel more comforting than sharp corners, and this charming country kitchen demonstrates that. The overhang on the island worktop has been extended to create a breakfast bar idea, and by rounding off its edges and teaming them with traditional round wooden door knobs on the cabinetry below, it contributes to the kitchen’s welcoming, homely feel.
The circular style of these metal bar stools suit perfectly as they echo the round shapes and curved edges elsewhere, while the deep red seat colour stands out against soft lilac cabinetry.
Image credit: Future PLC/ Rachael Smith
In a neutral kitchen with white cabinetry and walls, and grey floors, it’s a good idea to spice things up with flashes of bold colour. This trio of zesty orange bar stools are a fun addition and strike the right balance under this simple island with its clean lines and lack of fussy detail. For extra zing, team orange with other citrus hues through accessories and window treatments, like this joyful striped lime blind.
Image credot: Future PLC
If you enjoy hosting, create a bar area where guests can relax and chat, while you cook or prepare dinner.
‘A typical overhang for a comfortable seating area should be around 250-300mm,’ says Lizzie Beesley, Head of Design at Magnet. ‘This should leave enough knee room and adequate space between the countertop edge and the person seated. As the depth of the overhang increases, so does the comfort and usability of the bar. This is important to bear in mind if a breakfast bar is likely to be a main dinning space rather than an occasional seating area.’
Look to the colours and materials elsewhere in your kitchen when choosing your bar stools. This set with their shiny steel base echo the ball lights above and bring some bling to the kitchen. This gives it a sophisticated grown-up feel that’s great when entertaining friends.
Image credit: Future PLC/ Robert Sanderson
In a pale grey kitchen, it’s worth bringing in a darker accent tone through your kitchen island seating. Seen here, the charcoal shade of these stylish bar stools grounds the lighter hues on the cabinetry, flooring and worktops.
Symmetry is also important, when considering both your seating layout and kitchen island lighting ideas. Spacing bar stools and pendants evenly around or above the island will make the kitchen feel calm.
Image credit: Future PLC/ Robert Sanderson
It’s tempting to opt for casual bar stools around an island, but it’s worth considering a more formal high-backed, upholstered style if you have the space.
‘Whether you’re hosting friends or having a slightly more informal dinner with family, adding a selection of bar stools to the ends of your kitchen island gives you an extra seating area that cannot be undervalued,’ says Al Bruce, founder of kitchen company, Olive & Barr. ‘When considering the best style of seating, high backs offer both style and function, meaning you and your guests can sit back and relax well into the evening.’
Image credit: Future PLC/ Richard Gadsby
Include an alcove between cupboards at either end of your kitchen island to create a natural bar area. Think about storage practicalities too. A wine fridge at one end could make it easy for evening guests to top themselves up.
This traditional Shaker cabinetry has been given a thoroughly modern overhaul with the slick white worktop and contemporary bar stools.
Image credit: Future PLC/ Robert Sanderson
The most workable option when considering breakfast bar ideas, is to tuck the seating away from the cooking area.
‘When planning your kitchen island you need to consider it’s functionality,’ says Lizzie Beesley, Head of Design at Magnet. ‘Will there be integrated appliances, a breakfast bar, or different levels of work area? The area around the kitchen island should be accessible and safe. This area is known as the clearance zone, and the ideal distance is 1m. This space is best to enable safe and free movement around the island and kitchen.’
Image credit: Future PLC/ Richard Gadsby
Just because the kitchen is a functional space doesn’t mean that everything in it has to look functional too. By adding decorative furniture like these French-style high-back stools you can soften the utilitarian look of a plain white kitchen and a little glamour. That way it will be a more comfortable place to spend time and feel less like a cooking zone.
To balance the look, choose lighting in a similar style – an antique chandelier works perfectly.
‘Firstly, you want the height of the kitchen island to still be the same as the rest of your kitchen, you then want your worktop to overhang from the island unit by at least 12 inches to create enough room to slide stools underneath and allow for leg room when sat at the island,’ says Darren Watts, Wren Kitchens Design Director.
‘This completely depends on the height of your kitchen, but regarding the space from the actual seat to the worktop you want a gap of about 30 cm (for the average adult),’ says Darren Watts, Wren Kitchens Design Director. ‘For example, the average height of kitchen base cabinets in the UK is roughly 90cm, therefore you want a stool that is around 60 cm high. This just ensures you’re sat at a comfortable height for all purposes.’
For kitchen island seating ideas ideally, you should plan for 50-60 cm of space per person, with a gap of around 30 cm between the seat and the worktop. ‘Choose adjustable stools for your island if you have younger children who are going to need to sit closer to the worktop to eat,’ says Darren Watts, Wren Kitchens Design Director.
The post Kitchen island seating ideas – 10 styles for all spaces appeared first on Ideal Home.
