Work permits in France

• EEA citizens are free to move and work wherever they want to, within the EEA (including France).
• You must apply for a residence permit. This is valid for five years and should be issued within six months of your arrival.
• Contact the French embassy in your home country for more information.

The application procedure in France

• Psychological tests are frequently used in France.
• Usually two to four interviews are held.
• A successful way of finding work in France is the speculative or open application.

Writing a CV in France

• The key focus of your CV should be to persuade the employer to invite you for an interview. Therefore, your CV is a marketing tool, which should be adapted to the market in which you intend to use it.
• The CV is either in reversed chronological or functional (activities grouped thematically) order.
• You should give your age, instead of your date of birth in a French CV.
• Language skills should be given in detail.

The application letter in France

• The French application letter should be handwritten - graphology is a widely used selection method.
• Application letters should be very short - often not more than 10 to 15 lines.
• In France, a photograph is often attached to the application letter.

Do's & Don'ts in France

Do:

• Prepare for questions about your hobbies if you mentioned them in your CV.
• Look interested - ask questions.
• Behave and dress very formally in France.
• Ask for clarification if you don't understand the question.
• Be able to provide examples to illustrate your achievements.

• Sit until invited to in a French interview.
• Interrupt the interviewer.
• Criticise former employers.
• Go over the top - stay calm and stick to the facts.

Management culture in France

• In France, business is characterised by a strong hierarchy - positions and power are clearly defined.
• French people have respect for competence.
• Secretaries in France work hard to protect their bosses from disturbances - you will hardly speak directly to people at top positions.
• Note that entrance to a room and the seating arrangement is organised according to rank.
• Elegance is the key word regarding the dress code in France.

For more information on employment in France, order the Looking for work in France guide - one of many Expertise in Labour Mobility Looking for work in guides - at www.labourmobility.com. It's all you need to make that first successful step abroad!