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AU PAIR PERSONAL INTER VIE W FORM
GreatAuPair requires that each au pair applicant be interviewed in-person prior to acceptance. The in-person
interview must be conducted in English and is intended to assess the candidate’s language skills, maturity,
and general suitability for the program. The in-person interview is a critically important piece of GreatAuPair’s
screening process and your role is crucial to our success. GreatAuPair relies on our Sending Agents to conduct
a careful and thorough interview with each applicant in a one-on-one setting. This is the best opportunity to
understand an applicant’s motivation for participating in the program. Please provide a detailed and honest
assessment of each candidate. This information will be shared with potential host families to aid them in the
selection process.
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Note to the Interviewer: all questions must be asked of the applicant and recorded by you. Simply allowing
the candidate to write in their answers on the form is NOT permitted.
Au Pair First Name: Madina
Au Pair Last Name: Alyshpaeva
INTERVIEW DETAILS
Date of in-person interview:
Location of interview (City, Province, Country):
What made you decide to be an au pair?
I was motivated by the fact that I will spend time with pleasure, because I like children. At the same
time, I will have a brilliant opportunity to learn about the culture of people who live in the United
States, expand my horizons and gain working experience with children on international level.
What qualities do you think you possess, which makes you a better care provider than others?
I am a positive, diplomatic and responsible person. I remain positive even in the most difficult stressful
situations, calmly resolve conflicts and always take responsibility for my job. I am used to solving my
problems on my own and do not live off my parents, so I can call myself an independent person. These
qualities have helped me a lot at my work with children.
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What could you improve upon?
I would like to learn how to accurately express my thoughts and become more flexible, in order to
develop and improve myself.
What experience do you have caring for children?
I have two main child care cases lasting 7 months. I have taken care of children from babies to
schoolchildren. All kids are individual in their way, they were different ages, personalities, and
behavior. Among them were children with special needs. I got along well with all the kids I cared after.
Were any of the children you cared for related to you (sisters, cousins, nephews)?
Yes
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No
Please provide me an example of a stressful time when providing care and why it was stressful.
The stressful situation I faced with happened when I was taking care of the baby Azamat. The infant had a viral
infection. I was in the hospital with the child for several days and no medicines helped, Azamat did not get better,
he constantly cried and did not want to eat. The child's parents were depressed, but I encouraged them. A few
days later, the treatment was changed for the baby and he started to recover, it was our common happiness.
What do you find most challenging about childcare?
In my opinion, the most challenging thing is to take care of children under 2 years old, because they
need extra requirments than older ones. Babies are more sensitive, they cannot feed on their own,
they often cry, they need to be carried, changed diapers and looked after all night.
What ages of children have you cared for? (check all that apply)
Newborns (age 0-6 months)
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2-6 years
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6-10 years
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6-12 months
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1-2 years
10 years
What ages of children are you most comfortable caring for? This will help GreatAuPair to recommend host
families that better match your ideal type of placement.
Children from 3 to 12 years old
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INFANT QUALIFICATION
Do you have at least 600 hours of childcare experience with a child under 2 years old? \
Yes
Are you comfortable caring for a newborn baby (age 0- 6 months)?
Yes
No
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No
Tell me about your experience caring for newborns, if any.
Do you have experience changing diapers?
\
Yes
No
Are you comfortable with this task?
\
Yes
No
Cloth
What type of diaper have you used?
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Disposable
Both
Do you have experience preparing and providing a bottle?
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Yes
No
Are you comfortable with this task?
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Yes
No
Walk me through how you prepare a bottle for a baby.
First you need to wash your hands and sterilize the bottle by boiling it in water. Boiled cooled water
at room temperature should be poured into a bottle and a few tablespoons of baby powder should
be added. Then you need to mix it and check the temperature.
Have you ever cared for a baby on your own, or was another adult present?
Yes, I have
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SPECIAL NEEDS QUALIFICATION
Do you have any special needs experience?
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Yes
No
If no, please move on to the next section, “General Childcare Experience”.
If yes, please tell me about that experience.
Last year I took care of a 10 month old baby Azamat. The child received a birth injury,so he became
physically disfunctioned. He could not sit, or crawl on his own. Until he turned 13 months he could not
eat. I fed him through a medical tube and gave him medicines. I played with the baby, read fairy tales,
rode him in a stroller, put him into bed, washed Azamat's dishes and clothes.
Do you have experience caring for a child with physical disabilities (cerebral palsy,
mobility challenges, etc.)?
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Do you have experience caring for a child with cognitive disabilities (autism, downs
syndrome, ADHD, etc.)?
Do you have experience caring for a child with any other sort of special needs?
Do you have any formal training caring for children with special needs?
Yes
\
No
Yes
\
No
Yes
Yes
No
\
No
What surprised you about caring for special needs children, if anything?
Azamat is a very smart child. He understood when he was praised, when they wanted to feed him, or what personality each of
the family members had and how to behave with them. For example, when I asked him "who came home?" he immediately
looked at the door, or clapped his hands when I praised him, sometimes he even tried to say something. But his favorite
pastime was to listen attentively to the conversations of people when they were discussing something interesting.
What do you consider most challenging about your experience?
Based on my experience, the most challenging thing for me was to learn how to feed the baby
through a tube and hold him when he burps. It was also challenging to take care of a child in
hospital. But soon I got used to it and coped with all the difficulties.
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What do you consider most rewarding about your experience?
This experience gave me invaluable knowledge. I understand most of the baby food, medicines, clothes.
We often visited different doctors, so I know which doctor and why to go. I became much independent, as
I lived in the house of employees all the time I worked, and returned home only once a week.
Have you worked with children with special needs who presented with unique
behavioral challenges?
Yes
No
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If yes, please tell me about your experience and approach.
If the child becomes upset what methods do you use to soothe/calm the child? (Please be specific.)
You need to be calm and empathic. If possible, you need to hug the child (or any other physical
contact) and distract from other stimuli. Remain calm and stay close to the child until they calm
down. This shows that you understand their emotions and can deal with them.After the child feels
safe, you can talk to him, cheer him up and solve the problem together.
If there was an emergency involving the child, how did/would you handle it?
You need to make sure that the child is not in danger and take him to a safe place. Keep calm and don't
waste time. Try to calm the child down and call an ambulance or other emergency services. In case that
a child has received a minor injury, first aid should be provided. Notify the child's parents.The most
important thing is that the child is alive and has not received psychological or physical trauma.
Would you consider caring for a special needs child in the US?
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Yes
No
Are there any special needs that you would not be comfortable caring for?
\
Yes
No
If yes, please explain.
I will not be able to take care of children who cannot walk, eat on their own, deaf-mutes and mental
challenging children. I would take care of children with mild physical or psychological challenges.
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Are there any potential caretaking requirements for a special needs child that you would not be comfortable
providing? (restricted diet, toileting assistance for an older child, specialized plan to address behaviors, etc.)
GENERAL CHILDCARE EXPERIENCE
Tell me about one of your favorite experiences caring for children.
One of my favorite experiences happened a year ago when I was looking after two girls. Elana was then 7, and Sofia 5
years old. I warmed up the children's food and put them to bed for lunchtime naps, sometimes bathed them and washed
the kids clothes. We had fun together, I liked walking with them, taking them to swimming lessons. Our favorite game
was the Barbie dollhouse, we dressed the dolls up and made up new characters. Also, the children were very fond of
doing something with their own hands, and I taught them to make jewelry from beads and threads.
Tell me about one of your least favorite experiences caring for children and how you handled it.
I don't have a bad experience with children, but I have the most difficult one. Since baby Azamat, whom I was taking care of, could
not eat and move, at first it was difficult for me to feed him through a tube. He was often sick, so I had to bring down the temperature
and give medicines on time. And in emergency situations, the whole family, including me, was worried about his health. But after a
few days, I began getting used to such a rhythm of life, and since I am a positive person, I began looking for pluses in everything and
cheer up the child's parents. This experience made me stronger and I learned a lot of new things.
Yes
Have you ever been an au pair before?
No
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If yes, in which country and for how long?
PERSONALITY
Describe your personality.
I am a sympathetic person, and if someone needs help, I always try to help. I patiently go to my
goal, patience helped me overcome life's challenges and not go astray. I am also open-minded, I
learn something new all the time. My friends describes me as a reliable and devoted friend.
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What are your three (3) greatest strengths?
My greatest strenghts are perseverance, sincerity and responsibility.
What three (3) weaknesses do you have?
I'm not very comfortable with public speaking. I am a night owl and perfectionist.
Which of the below words most accurately describe you? (check three)
Adventurous
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Determined
+
Cheerful
+
Caring
Funny
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Assertive
+
Outgoing
+
Introspective
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Cautious
Which activities did you participate in during high school (drama, sports, etc.)?
Basically, I participated in creative activities. Most often I drew posters for events or helped with the
scenery for the play.
What do you like to do in your free time (hobbies, interests)?
I have many hobbies, in my free time I enjoy photography, drawing, hiking and travelling. I often
combine my hobbies, for example, when I hiking I take a camera with me and take pictures of nature
and animals on the way.
What frustrates you?
I sometimes get frustrated, when I can't find a way to help people, who really need it; or when I am
in a quarrel with loved ones.
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How do you address and resolve problems with your family and friends?
I always resolve conflicts calmly. During a conversation, it is important to think logically, not to be too
emotional. I express my point of view and carefully listen to the position of the another person, if our
opinions do not agree, I offer the person a compromise so that both parties are satisfied.
How do you handle conflicts? Please provide an example of a challenging conflict that you successfully
resolved at home, work or school:
When I worked as a nanny, there was a conflict between my two wards, the girls Elana and Sofia were quarrelling among themselves
because of the doll and did not want to talk to each other.Then, I allowed children to speak without interrupting each other and found
the reason of a conflict. You can not take sides or raise your voice at children. I explained them how they felt and helped them find
options to get out of the quarrel so that both girls were satisfied. After reconciliation, we watched an interesting cartoon.
What are a few ways you relieve stress?
I manage stress with brisk walking or meditation. When I walk in a park or forest, all tension disappears
and my well-being improves. Breathing exercise also help me, it clears the mind and inspires peace.
Sometimes I redirect my power into my hobbies. I edit photos or draw and listen to relaxing music.
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
What type of paid employment have you had?
I worked twice as a nanny, after that I started working in the office as an office manager.
What were your responsibilities?
My duties as an office manager are: recruiting staff for the office, meeting visitors,
organizing meetings, supplying office staff with what they need for work,
control expenses for office needs, receiving calls, registering correspondence, distributing documentation
by departments.
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What incentivized you to do well?
I like learning something new, I was interested to know what is it like to work in an office. I studied
the whole process from the inside. For example, I learned more about the organization of meetings,
about documentation and invoices, improved my business speech(?)
What was your supervisor’s style?
My supervisor is a strong personality. He is positive, open to all ideas, attentive to details, fair,
honest in expressing his opinions and truly likes his job.
What did you like about that style?
My supervisor inspires a strong spirit and motivates me to work better. He's demanding when he needs to be, but he
can also be funny. I like his professionalism, he skillfully negotiates, he treats every office worker with respect. If
someone made a mistake, he does not make his subordinates feel bad, but corrects and explains what was done
wrong. He clearly follows the plan and easily solves all problems on his way.
What did you not like?
Sometimes he can be too frugal, and spare money for things that employees really need in the
office.
Have you ever had difficulty working with a supervisor?
Yes
\
No
If yes, please provide details.
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Do you prefer working independently or as a part of a team?
I prefer to work on my own,because it makes you more independent. When you work alone, it's all
up to you and you don't have to worry about (someone not doing their part of the job)or (things
going wrong). But I also worked in a team and it was interesting, since all people have different
personalities and skills that will complement each other in team work.
Describe a stressful situation at work and how you handled it.
EDUCATION HISTORY / OTHER QUALIFICATIONS
When did/will you complete secondary school?
I graduated from high school in May 2021.
What level of education do you have? (check all that apply)
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Secondary School
Currently in University
Completed university
Vocational training
Advanced degree
Do you have any future educational plans?
Yes, after I got international experience working with children through the Au Pair program, I want to
return to my homeland, go to university and create my own educational center for kids and their
parents.
Do you have knowledge of first aid or CPR?
Do you have any first aid certificate or other relevant certificates?
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Yes
No
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Yes
Have you taken any course relating to child care or child development?
No
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AWAY FROM HOME
Have you ever spent time away from home (two months or more)?
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Yes
No
If yes, please tell me about the experience.
Partially yes, when I worked as a nanny and looked after a baby, I lived with employers and returned
to my house only on Sundays for 4 months. I got over it quickly, and this experience helped me to
separate from my parents.
Yes
Have you ever been denied a visa?
No
\
If yes, for which country/ies? What was the reason for denial?
How does your family feel about you becoming an au pair and leaving your country for a year or more?
My family supports all my endeavors and always helps me to grow, that's why they treat the Au Pair
program well. I have already been living away from home for a while, so they will be all right.
Tell me about your family.
I live with my grandmother and my younger sister. I have an older brother, he is married and my
sister is a student. My mother Nazik works as a manager, my father Nurlan is a private entrepreneur.
We have a good relationship with our parents and we often see them although they are divorced.
Do you have any children of your own (biological or adopted)?
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No
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How will you cope being away from friends and loved ones as an au pair for a year or more?
I am quite an independent person, and I have been living without my parents for three years, only
with my grandmother, so homesickness will not be hard for me. We will keep in touch and chat from
time to time.
Are you concerned about being homesick?
Yes
\
No
What would you do to overcome homesickness?
I will pursue my hobbies, explore the city, make new friends and learn about American life and
culture.
Do you have any family or friends living in the US?
No, I don't.
HEALTH AND MEDICAL HISTORY
Yes
\
No
Do you wear braces on your teeth?
Yes
\
No
If yes, are you willing to have them removed prior to traveling to the US?
Yes
Do you smoke?
If yes, how many cigarettes per day?
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Yes
\
No
Do you have any previous health concerns potentially chronic in nature (heart
condition, digestive condition, etc.)?
Yes
\
No
Do you have any allergies?
Yes
\
No
Do you have any current health concerns?
If yes, please explain.
If yes, please list them.
Do you have any dietary restrictions?
Vegetarian
Gluten Free
Vegan
Other (please specify)
Are you willing to live with a family who has a special diet?
\
Yes
No
DRIVING EXPERIENCE
When was your Driver’s License issued (month and year)?
12.2021
Do you have an international driver’s license?
Yes
\
No
If yes, when was this issued?
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How often do you drive a car in general (daily, weekly, monthly, etc.)? Please also describe the roads and their
conditions. How many lanes are on the roads you normally drive?
I usually drive a car every month. In my city, the roads are quite narrow, mostly two-lane, we don't
have four-lane roads.
Yes
Have you driven on multi-lane roads with a center turning lane?
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No
What kind of car do you drive now?
What kind of car have you driven in the past?
Are you comfortable driving a large car or truck (SUV, van, etc.)?
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Yes
No
Describe weather conditions in which you have experience driving, such as rain, high wind, snow, etc.
I drove a car in a temperate climate, in heat, in windy and rainy weather.
How much experience do you have driving in snow, if applicable?
I drove the car in snowy weather about 3 times.
Have you ever been involved in an accident while driving?
Yes
\
No
If yes, please explain.
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Do you feel comfortable driving with children?
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Yes
No
Yes
Have you driven in an international country before?
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No
If yes, where and how was it different?
Left
Which side of the road do you drive on in your country?
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Right
HOST FAMILY TYPE
How many children would you be comfortable caring for?
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One
\
Two
Three
Four or more
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Yes
No
Are you willing to live with a single-mother?
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Yes
No
Are you willing to live with a single father?
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Yes
No
Are you willing to live with a same-sex female couple?
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Yes
No
Are you willing to live with a same-sex male couple?
\
Yes
No
Are you willing to live in a family with pets?
Are there any animals you do NOT wish to live with?
Snakes
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FUTURE PLANS
How will participation in the au pair program help you in your future?
Experience that I will gain through networking with kids and their parents will make me a better
specialist in the sphere I see myself in the nearest future.
What are your plans when you return home?
INTERVIEWER OBSERVATIONS
What was your experience like interviewing this candidate? Did they greet you and appear professional? Did
they display a serious interest and understanding of the program?
How was the communication, and was she/he responsive to you throughout the application process?
Did the applicant arrive on time?
Yes
No
Was the applicant appropriately dressed?
Yes
No
Were there any visible piercings or tattoos?
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No
Yes
Did the applicant appear physically able to care for children?
Comments about the applicant’s demeanor and/or appearance:
How would you assess the au pair’s character? (check all that apply)
Adaptable
Friendly
Mature
Self-Confidant
Worried
Independent
Reserved/Shy
Caring
Responsible
Motivated
Insecure
Inflexible
Evaluation of candidate’s interview attitude (rating on a scale of 1-6, where 6 is the highest):
Outgoing
Easy-going
Modest
Cheeful
Reserved
Bubbly
Confident
Warm
Polite
Open-minded
Nervous
Serious
Patient
Talkative
Sullen
What type of family would best suit this candidate? (check two or three of the most relevant boxes)
Children ranging from 2-6 years
Working parents requiring an independent au pair
Children aged from 10 years +
Family wanting an au pair to be part of the family
Family with a young baby
Very active family with sports interest
Family with cultural interests
Family with many social interests
Other observations and/or comments:
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SPECIAL REQUESTS (OPTIONAL)
Does this candidate have a specific location preference?
Yes
No
Yes
No
If so, where and why?
Does this candidate already have a U.S. host family they would like to match with?
If so, what is their relationship with that family? Have they met them in person?
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ENGLISH LANGUAGE ABILITY RATING
Based on your conversation with the au pair, please rate the au pair’s English language skills using the guide
below. Select the appropriate level:
LEVEL
ABILITY TO USE A LANGUAGE
DEFINITION
1
Able to use a few words or phrases such as greetings, and
recognize some public notices or signs
2
Able to use a narrow range of language, adequate for basic
communication. Basic communication is possible with assistance
3
Able to use a limited range of language adequate for short
communication and practical needs. Problems cause frequent
breakdown of communication, but the message is usually
recovered with repetition and/or assistance
4
Able to use a basic range of language sufficient for familiar and
non-pressuring situations. Frequent problems restrict prolonged
communication, but the message can be communicated with
repetition and/or assistance
Pre-Intermediate
5
Able to use the language adequately in familiar situations. Rather
frequent problems but usually succeeds in communicating
general message
Lower Intermediate
6
Able to use the language competently in a variety of situations
but with noticeable problems. Communication is usually
effective. When difficulties arise, communication is recovered
with ease
Intermediate
7
Able to use the language effectively in most situations with few
problems. Communication is effective and consistent, with few
hesitations or uncertainties
Upper Intermediate
8
Able to use a full range of language with proficiency approaching
that in the speaker’s own language, with occasional minor
problems
Advanced
9
Able to use an extensive range of language equivalent to that
used in the speaker’s own language
Proficiency
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Beginner
False Beginner
Elementary
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RECOMMENDATION FOR THE PROGRAM
I confirm that I have met physically in-person with the au pair applicant. I have assessed the individual’s
maturity, experience, and suitability to work as an au pair in the USA and have evaluated their English language
abilities. I hereby make the following recommendation for the applicant’s participation in the GreatAuPair J-1
Au Pair Program:
This applicant is recommended.
This applicant is not recommended.
If not, please state why.
INTERVIEWER ASSESSMENT FOR HOST FAMILY
Please describe why you believe this applicant would be a successful au pair on the GreatAuPair USA Program:
Name of Interviewer (please print):
Signed:
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