Jobs in France: Looking for Jobs in Paris and Other Areas of France
By Expertise in Labour Mobility
Summary: Extract from the Looking for Work in France Guide, from Expertise in Labour Mobility.
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.
Don't
- 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!
About the Author
Working abroad sounds like an adventure to many people. However, it requires thorough preparation, starting with a successful application. Expertise in Labour Mobility has prepared a set of country guides describing the main routes to employment in numerous countries.
Additional Information:
- France Guide
- Healthcare & Health Insurance in France
- Members Talk about Healthcare & Health Insurance in France
- Best Places to Live in France
- Real Estate in France
- Guide to Real Estate in France
- Pros & Cons of Living in France
- Cost of Living in France
- How to Buy a Home in France
- Pros and Cons of Living in France
- Chikungunya Disease in France
- Zika Virus in France
- Pros and Cons of Living in France 2024
- 2024 Guide to Moving to France