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France

Finding Employment in France

There is one rule for employment in France: The better your language skills, the better your chance for a more professional position. If you cannot speak French you will most likely be relegated to working for an American restaurant. Every rule has its exception and the one exception to the French language rule is computer expertise. If you are skilled in computers and technical areas, you may find it much easier to find a professional position. Strong typing skills will make you a more attractive candidate as well. Americans who can type and are fluent in French can find better opportunities.

Of the students who use the Council on International Education and Experience (CIEE) for employment assistance, about 33% end up working in restaurants, 33% in clerical positions, and about 15% get "high powered" positions. Others work in a variety of positions mostly in the tourist industry. Career-related positions require extra effort and the search should ideally be started at least 3 months before you leave the United States. Be prepared to change your mind if you can't find something in the area you initially selected. Generally, you will find a position once you arrive in France; it is highly unusual to be hired sight unseen, although it has been done particularly when finding a job through the alumni network. Look to French-owned companies rather than American-owned companies. You are not unique to an American company. They can easily find Americans to hire. Rather, seek out French companies particularly those which might have Americans or English speaking people as their clientele.

Begin your search in the United States:

Start early: look for a summer job in the fall.
Read everything your career center has on employment opportunities in France before you go over. Keep a notebook with addresses, company names, and other tips you pick up from your reading. Compile a list of alumni who are living/working in France. Collect contracts from family friends and professors.
Decide if you are most interested in finding a professional position or a temporary job such as waitressing or secretarial work. Evaluate your language ability as this will have a direct correlation to the employment you will find.
Apply to CIEE for the necessary work permit. Without this permit you will find most doors to employment closed. The permit allows you to work in France for 3 months, but you must obtain it while you are full time student and before you travel abroad.
Compile a list of possible employers. Employers who have hired students through the CIEE program include Accor, American Express, Berlitz, Chanel, Credit Lyonnais, IBM Europe, International Herald Tribune, JP Morgan, Laboratoires Pfizer, Mobil Oil, Musee d'Orsay, Paris Match, Polo Ralph Lauren, and Societe Regaim. Investigate the major companies located in France.
Read international newspapers including The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, International Herald Tribune and The European for possible leads on companies and jobs.

Preparing A French Curriculum Vitae (Resume) and Cover Letter

In addition to the information below, try:
Cadres Online
Excellent guide to writing French resumes.
Click for English version if you must, but best info is in French.

In France, cover letters are handwritten, preferably with a fountain pen. Keep the letter professional-looking by writing on quality stationery (preferably white). Write the letter in French, and include a typed copy of the cover letter as well. Always mention in your cover letter that you will have the necessary working papers. Explain that it is short term employment you are seeking, that you are highly motivated and be sure to stress any experience you have (most French college students do not work in the summer so they don't have as much experience as typical American college students). Include the dates beginning and ending that you will be able to work. Indicate the level of your French language ability. Tell why you want to work in France and why you want to work for the company to which you're applying; explain what you can offer the employer. Tell the employer to contact the CIEE's Work in France office in Paris if they have questions. Suggest dates when you'll be available for interview. Mention the possibility of a reciprocal arrangement: when a French employer hires you, CIEE arranges for an American company to hire a French student to work in the US for the same time period.

The CV is similar in style to a resume, but contains information you would not include in an American resume. Some basic guidelines are:

A job objective is optional, but if you use one, place it at the bottom of the vitae. Include a good passport sized black and white or color photo of yourself attached to the upper right corner of your vitae. Use white paper only.
Include your age, birthdate, marital status and the number of children you have, if applicable. This information can be placed directly under your address at the beginning of the resume or at the end under the "Divers" (miscellaneous) section. Do not list sports or hobbies in the "Divers" section, but do list your language ability or extensive travel.
In the "Formation" (education) section, replace the word "college" with "university", as the word "college" has a different meaning in France. Fraternities and sororities do not exist in France, so leave them off your resume or simply indicate the office you held, and that you were in a student organization (d'une organisation des etudients).
Do not include the line "references available on request."

For a complete explanation of converting your resume to a French Curriculum Vitae (CV), and writing a French cover letter, refer to Pineau & Kelly's book mentioned earlier.

Searching for a Job in France

In the best of all possible worlds, you will arrive with a job. If not, but you have your work permit from CIEE, your first stop when you arrive should be the CIEE office. The CIEE office can also help you find temporary housing.

In Paris the address is:

Work in France Program
Centre Franco Americain Odeon
1, place de l'Odeon
75006 Paris
(The nearest Metro stop is Odeon; CIEE is about a 2 block walk from the stop.)

The CIEE office offers orientation session each week and you must attend the sessions before you can use their job bank or library. The library is only open during certain hours. The phone is often busy, so the best time to call is in the evening. Leave a local number where you can be reached. Generally, you should speak French if possible, but most of the staff speak English. The majority of the CIEE office's contacts are in Paris, so they cannot be as helpful if you are looking for jobs outside that area, but check with them anyway for suggestions. Please note that if you are going through the CIEE program, you cannot use employment agencies in France.

The key to finding a job is to be persistent, professional, and serious. Once you arrive, talk to everyone you meet about your search for a job. Explain that you have the necessary working papers: you just need a job. Let the employer know you will be able to begin within several days of his/her decision to hire you. Be especially careful about etiquette. Never cancel an appointment. Don't be late. Look up alumni from your institution (remember that list you compiled back in the states?). Remind employers that your work will not have a negative impact on the unemployment situation. It will help a French student work in the US.

Walk in to a company and ask to see "la personne chargee de recrutement". Leave your CV if nothing is available and call back in a week. Use the French yellow pages for ideas and addresses. For retail jobs go to tourist areas and stores and present yourself as a "vendor/vendeuse bilingue". Look for stores which would attract American tourists or an English speaking clientele. Look in store windows for help wanted signs.
If you wrote to any companies while you were in the states, follow up with a visit, whether or not you received a reply. Always keep your potential employer informed of your plans and your current address and phone number.
Bring letters of recommendation with you, preferably with a French translation.
Check out the Bulletin Boards. Throughout Paris there are bulletin boards where job notices are posted. Most jobs are typical unskilled labor such as nannies, delivery persons, waiter/waitress, but sometimes there are more challenging opportunities in translation, publishing, teaching, or business. The best bulletin board is at the WORK IN FRANCE office (see address above).

Other good bulletin boards can be found at:

The American Church
65 Quai d'Orsay
75007 Paris
Nearest Metro stop: Invalides or Pont de l'Alma
The American Cathedral
23, a. Georges V
75008 Paris
Metro: Alma Marceau or Georges V
Centre d'Information et de Documentation pour la Jeunesse
101, Quai Branly
75015 Paris
Metro: Bir Hakeim
France USA Contacts (FUSAC)
40, rue des Boulangers
75005 Paris
Metro: Cardinal Lemoine or Jussieu
Shakespeare & Company
37, rue de la Bucherie
75005 Paris

Publications

There are several daily, bi weekly and monthly publications which contain numerous classified ads and can be helpful for finding employment and housing.
France/USA contacts (FUSAC)
Listing of want ads; available free at CIEE office and various businesses with foreign clientele (such as English speaking bookstores)
The Paris Free Voice
Courrier Cadres
Weekly magazine with job opportunities sold in France and produced by APEC (Association pour l'emploi des Cadres)
Passion:
Monthly English publication; has many ads and useful addresses.
France Soir
Has many ads for service positions
Le Monde
Every Thursday's edition has internship opportunities listed (called "stages") . Good for developing a list of potential employers. Job vacancy supplement called "Initiatives"
L'Hotellerie
Journal which specializes in the hotel service industry. Check with the concierge of a hotel.

French Job & Resource Links

French Cultural Services
Provides information on scholarships and work/internship opportunities in France
Monster France
JobPilot
Reseau
General Information about France
Go Jobsite France

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