Au pair CV: how to write one (with a South African example)
Write an au pair CV that shows parents they can trust you with school lifts, routines, homework and safety. Use a simple structure, highlight your driver’s licence, first aid and languages, and add a short profile plus clear childcare bullets. This guide includes a complete South African au pair CV example you can copy and adapt (including a no-experience version).
Your au pair cv should answer one question fast: can you safely care for children, keep to a routine, and help the household run smoothly?
You do that by making your childcare experience (even informal), driving ability, first aid, languages, and reliability easy to spot in the first half of the page.
Quick answer: Use a one-page au pair CV with a 3–4 line profile, a “Childcare & family support skills” section, then experience with bullet points that mention ages, school lifts, homework help, meals, activities, and safety.
Why au pair CVs get rejected (even when you’re great with kids)
Most au pair applications fail because the CV looks like a generic “any job” CV. Parents and agencies scan for very specific proof: routines, safety, driving, and maturity.
Common reasons you don’t get a call back include missing licence details, vague duties like “looked after kids”, and no indication of hours, ages, or where the work happened (private home, aftercare, family friends).
If you’re not sure what a clean, readable layout looks like, use this guide on CV format: the correct CV layout for South Africa before you start.
What to include in an au pair CV (South African section order)
This order works well for au pair roles because it puts trust and safety information early.
- Name + contact details (cell number, email, suburb/town, and a professional WhatsApp-ready number)
- Au pair profile (3–4 lines)
- Childcare & family support skills (bullet list)
- Driving & transport (licence code, confidence with school routes, own car if relevant)
- First aid & checks (first aid level if you have it; police clearance “available on request” if true)
- Work experience (paid and unpaid counts)
- Education (highest completed; add studies if you’re currently studying)
- Extra info (languages, availability, notice period)
- References (family references are common here—just make sure they are real and willing)
Need help choosing what to leave out so it stays one page? Use How to write a one-page CV in South Africa (that still feels complete).
How to write a strong au pair profile (with copy-and-edit wording)
Your profile is not a life story. It’s a small “trust summary” that covers: your childcare style, driving, safety, and what ages you can handle.
Au pair profile formula
- Who you are (student/graduate/career changer) + what role you want
- Childcare strengths (routine, homework help, activities, calm under pressure)
- Safety proof (first aid, careful driving, responsible supervision)
- Availability (days/hours, start date, area)
Au pair profile (experienced)
Reliable au pair with 2+ years’ experience supporting families with school lifts, afternoon routines, homework supervision and age-appropriate activities. Confident driver with Code 8 licence and careful approach to road safety. Calm, patient and organised with a focus on clear communication with parents. Available weekday afternoons and weekends in [Area/Suburb].
Au pair profile (no formal experience)
Responsible and friendly student seeking an au pair position. Experienced with children through regular babysitting for family/friends and assisting with homework and reading. Confident driver with Code 8 licence and strong timekeeping for school runs and activities. Patient, safety-focused and happy to help with light household tasks related to the children. Available from [Start date] in [Area/Suburb].
What skills parents want to see (and how to list them)
A good au pair skills section is specific. “Good with kids” is not a skill. “Homework supervision (Grades 1–6)” is.
Childcare & family support skills to include
- School lifts, planning routes, punctual drop-offs/pick-ups
- Homework supervision, reading practice, project support
- Meal prep for children (lunchboxes, after-school snacks)
- Routine management (bath time, screen-time limits, bedtime prep)
- Play and activities (arts & crafts, outdoor play, sports practice)
- Safety supervision (pool awareness, safe walking, stranger danger rules)
- Basic admin for parents (communicating schedule changes, packing sports kits)
- Light household tasks related to children (tidying play areas, kids’ laundry)
If you’re unsure how to phrase skills so they match the ad, use CV keywords South Africa: how to match the job ad (without lying).
Driving, first aid, and languages: how to present them clearly
These are often the deciding factors for an au pair role in South Africa. Make them easy to find.
Driving & transport (what to write)
- Licence: Code (usually Code B/8) and whether you have a PDP/PrDP if relevant
- Driving confidence: “comfortable with school-run traffic and peak-hour driving” (only if true)
- Vehicle: only mention “own reliable vehicle” if you can consistently use it for the job
- Area familiarity: suburbs/towns you can cover
If you need a separate guide for how to list licence details, see Driver CV: Example and Template (Code 8, 10, 14, PrDP) and adapt the licence wording to your au pair CV.
First aid & checks (keep it honest)
- If you have first aid training, list the course name and year completed.
- If you don’t, don’t pretend. Instead write: “Willing to complete first aid training.”
- If you have a police clearance, only mention it if it’s real and available.
Languages (very useful for families)
List languages you can use with a child (speaking and understanding). Keep levels simple: Basic / Conversational / Fluent.
Example: “English (Fluent), Afrikaans (Conversational), isiZulu (Basic)”.
Au pair CV example (South Africa) — copy and adapt
Edit the brackets, keep the structure, and make the bullets true for you. If you want to build this faster online, you can create a free CV and copy this wording into your profile.
[Your Name]
[Cell number]
[Email address]
[Suburb, City/Province]
[LinkedIn URL if you have one]
[Driver’s licence: Code B] | [Own car: Yes/No]
Au pair profile
Warm and reliable au pair with experience supporting busy families with school lifts, afternoon routines, homework supervision and fun, structured activities. Confident driver with a careful, safety-first approach and strong timekeeping. Patient communicator who keeps parents updated and follows household rules and routines. Available [days/hours] from [start date] in [areas you can cover].
Childcare & family support skills
- School lifts: drop-offs/pick-ups, route planning and punctual schedules
- Homework help: reading practice, spelling, worksheets and projects (Grades [x–x])
- Activity planning: crafts, outdoor play, library visits, sports practice support
- Meal support: after-school snacks, lunchbox prep, basic child-friendly meals
- Routine support: bath time prep, packing school bags, screen-time limits
- Safety-focused supervision in the home and on outings
- Light household tasks related to children (tidy play areas, kids’ laundry, dishes after snacks)
Driving, first aid & languages
- Driver’s licence: Code [B], driving since [year]; comfortable with school-run traffic in [areas]
- First aid: [Course name, provider, year] / Willing to complete first aid training
- Languages: English ([level]), Afrikaans ([level]), isiXhosa/isiZulu/Sesotho ([level])
Work experience
Au Pair / Childcare Assistant — [Family surname/Private household], [Suburb/City]
[Month Year] – [Month Year]
- Cared for [number] children aged [ages], following household routines and rules
- Completed daily school lifts and afternoon transport to activities (sports/culture)
- Supervised homework, reading and study time; communicated progress to parents
- Prepared snacks and assisted with dinner prep for the children when needed
- Organised age-appropriate activities and limited screen time with parent guidance
Babysitter (part-time) — [Family/Neighbourhood], [Area]
[Month Year] – Present
- Babysit children aged [ages] for evening and weekend shifts
- Managed bath time/bedtime routine and ensured safe supervision
- Kept parents updated by WhatsApp and followed instructions carefully
Education
[Qualification or Highest Grade Completed] — [School/College/University], [City]
[Year completed or “In progress”]
- Relevant subjects/modules (optional): [Child psychology / Education / First aid / etc.]
Additional information
- Availability: [Weekdays/afternoons/full-day/holiday cover]
- Notice period: [Immediate / 1 week / 2 weeks / 1 month]
- Non-smoker: [Yes/No] (only include if it matters to the role and is true)
References
[Reference Name] — [Relationship e.g., Parent employer]
[Cell number] | [Area]
[Reference Name] — [Relationship]
[Cell number] | [Area]
Au pair CV with no experience: how to fill the experience section without lying
You can still write a credible au pair CV no experience version if you use real, relevant proof. Think: babysitting, looking after younger siblings/cousins, tutoring, coaching kids sport, Sunday school, children’s programmes, or helping at an aftercare.
What matters is that you describe responsibilities clearly (and don’t exaggerate). If you need deeper help to structure a “no experience” CV, use CV With No Experience: How to Fill It (South African Examples).
Copy-and-edit: experience bullets for no formal au pair job
Childcare experience (informal)
- Regularly babysat [child/children] aged [ages] for [family/friends/neighbours], including meals/snacks, playtime and bedtime routine
- Helped with homework and reading practice (Grades [x–x]) and kept children focused in a calm way
- Planned simple activities (arts & crafts, outdoor games) and supervised safely
- Communicated with parents by WhatsApp and followed instructions carefully
- Assisted with school lifts/collections when needed (driver’s licence Code [B])
Tutoring / coaching (if applicable)
- Tutored [subject] for learners in Grade [x], helping with homework completion and test preparation
- Coached/assisted with [sport/activity] for children aged [ages], supporting discipline, safety and positive behaviour
Common au pair CV mistakes (quick checklist)
- No ages listed: Add ages or grade ranges so parents understand your experience level.
- Licence unclear: State licence code and whether you have your own car (only if true).
- Too vague: Replace “looked after kids” with “school lifts, homework supervision, snack prep”.
- Long paragraphs: Use bullet points in experience so it’s scannable on a phone.
- Unprofessional email: Create a simple email like name.surname@gmail.com.
- References missing: For au pair work, references matter. Ask permission first and list correct numbers.
Avoid this: Don’t claim first aid, police clearance, or a licence you don’t have. Parents will check, and it breaks trust immediately.
If you’re not sure whether to include references or how to format them, use References on a CV: Who to List and How (South Africa).
Final step: make it easy to apply (and easy to update)
Your au pair CV should be simple, honest, and specific. If a parent can scan it in 20 seconds and understand your childcare style, driving situation, and reliability, you’ve done it right.
When you’re ready, you can create a free CV on CV Hub and update it anytime in your CV profile. For the next helpful step, read How to Email Your CV (Subject Line, File Name and Template) so your application looks professional from the first message.
If you want to understand who we are or need help, see about CV Hub or contact CV Hub.
