Working in France
For any expat France can be a difficult place to find employment. While speaking a foreign language is a valuable skill to have, it is important to speak French as well. It is possible to work as an au pair or language teacher while gaining enough proficiency in French to move into the general job market. The French prefer to do business with friends, and most people find employment through networking and alumni organisations.
France has one of the busiest tourism industries in the world. More tourists visit Paris than anywhere else on the globe. Those with experience in hospitality, waiters, barmen, hotel staff, will find plenty of job opportunities if they look for summer work.
Paris is the corporate centre of France. Those speaking French and another language, will find Paris a good place to climb the corporate ladder. English-French bilingualism is highly valued. As always the Internet provides many job listings.
The accepted etiquette for a job application is to leave a CV at the front desk, and then to pester the company until they make an appointment for an interview. Be polite but persistent. France is different from the Anglophone countries in that the French expect to be pestered. It can be useful for an expat to follow up an application with a number of calls.
The average working day in France is 9am to 6pm, but this is not a hard and fast rule. Work in a restaurant or hotel will require evening shifts, and many companies offer a shorter day in exchange for working over lunch. Lunch itself can be as long as 2 hours.
For an expat looking for permanent work, there are two types of contract to consider. The Contrat à durée indéterminée (CDI) or is a full-time indeterminate term contract. There is a three month trial period after which either the employer and the employee can terminate the contract. However firing someone with a CDI can be very expensive, and anyone on a CDI contract can expect a high degree of job stability. The Contrat à durée déterminée or CDD, is a fixed term contract which has a maximum limit of 18 months. After 18 months have been worked the employer is required to either terminate employment or offer a CDI contract to the employee. There are other contracts for short-term and part-time work which are usually agency or hospitality related.
Most contract workers can expect two extra cheques a year in December and June. A contract worker can also expect around five weeks of leave per year, worked out at two and half days per month worked. Its best to discuss leave before a contract is sign as the vacation days are only accumulated from June 1st to May 31st. Beginning work in April for instance, will only oblige an employer to offer five days leave until the next May. Incredibly, a company employee, having worked for the same company for three years, can apply for a year long sabbatical. While unpaid, social security coverage is maintained, and the employee has the right to return to the same or equivalent position in the company.
An employer can propose an amendment to a contract based upon a change in economic circumstances. This must be done by registered letter, after which the employee has a month to file a refusal. A refusal will either result in a compromise, or a dismissal. Assuming a the minimum conditions have been met, the employee is entitled to notice and redundancy pay.
France has one of the busiest tourism industries in the world. More tourists visit Paris than anywhere else on the globe. Those with experience in hospitality, waiters, barmen, hotel staff, will find plenty of job opportunities if they look for summer work.Paris is the corporate centre of France. Those speaking French and another language, will find Paris a good place to climb the corporate ladder. English-French bilingualism is highly valued. As always the Internet provides many job listings.
The accepted etiquette for a job application is to leave a CV at the front desk, and then to pester the company until they make an appointment for an interview. Be polite but persistent. France is different from the Anglophone countries in that the French expect to be pestered. It can be useful for an expat to follow up an application with a number of calls.
The average working day in France is 9am to 6pm, but this is not a hard and fast rule. Work in a restaurant or hotel will require evening shifts, and many companies offer a shorter day in exchange for working over lunch. Lunch itself can be as long as 2 hours.
For an expat looking for permanent work, there are two types of contract to consider. The Contrat à durée indéterminée (CDI) or is a full-time indeterminate term contract. There is a three month trial period after which either the employer and the employee can terminate the contract. However firing someone with a CDI can be very expensive, and anyone on a CDI contract can expect a high degree of job stability. The Contrat à durée déterminée or CDD, is a fixed term contract which has a maximum limit of 18 months. After 18 months have been worked the employer is required to either terminate employment or offer a CDI contract to the employee. There are other contracts for short-term and part-time work which are usually agency or hospitality related.
Most contract workers can expect two extra cheques a year in December and June. A contract worker can also expect around five weeks of leave per year, worked out at two and half days per month worked. Its best to discuss leave before a contract is sign as the vacation days are only accumulated from June 1st to May 31st. Beginning work in April for instance, will only oblige an employer to offer five days leave until the next May. Incredibly, a company employee, having worked for the same company for three years, can apply for a year long sabbatical. While unpaid, social security coverage is maintained, and the employee has the right to return to the same or equivalent position in the company.
An employer can propose an amendment to a contract based upon a change in economic circumstances. This must be done by registered letter, after which the employee has a month to file a refusal. A refusal will either result in a compromise, or a dismissal. Assuming a the minimum conditions have been met, the employee is entitled to notice and redundancy pay.
Visa and Work Permits
EU citizens do not need any of these documents, but a residency permit is required for access to French Social Security. Moving to France requires a visa and a residents permit. French embassies and consulates are the places to apply for the visa, but the residency permit is only available in France. It is important to begin this process early as the French bureaucracy will take it time to process the request.
Note that the type of visa one has is seldom altered. A short stay visa of 3 months, cannot be changed into a long stay visa. To become an expat in France an application for a residency permit must be lodged, but being granted a long stay visa. This can done at the local Foreigners Office or town hall. After three years living in the country one can apply for a permanent residency.
Note that the type of visa one has is seldom altered. A short stay visa of 3 months, cannot be changed into a long stay visa. To become an expat in France an application for a residency permit must be lodged, but being granted a long stay visa. This can done at the local Foreigners Office or town hall. After three years living in the country one can apply for a permanent residency.
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