Working in France

Working in France

If you happen to be an EU or EEA citizen then you’ll be glad to know there are no restriction! The European Economic Area agreement allows EU members to work in each others country with the same rights and obligations and without excessive paperwork or permissions.

On the other hand, if you are the holder of solely a UK or another third country passport, then you will need a work permit before you can work in France. Fortunately, applying for a work permit is simple, all you need to do is find a job! Your employer will apply on your behalf. However, if you won’t be working through traditional employment, this should be reflected in your visa application. For more information about visas, which you’ll need to live and work in France, click here.

While it may seem daunting to find work in your own country, finding work in a new country with a different language is no easy task! Therefore, to make that process easier, we’ve made a list with advice and tips on finding work in France. This is by no means an exhaustive guide. We only want to start you on the right path to finding your path in France.

Learn the Language

The first piece of advice advice, and something you soon realise when looking for a job, is to learn the language. Taking French classes should be a number one priority because it will be a big obstacle if you can’t communicate.

If you decide to try to avoid this obstacle by working in a multinational or international enterprise, be warned, you will still find life in France difficult. Moreover, even international companies which require English may still ask for some basic French. So, just bite the bullet and apprendre le français !

Networking

There are numerous ways to find a job in France, but keep in mind that many jobs are not advertised and are filled through personal contacts. Therefore, it is very important to grow your professional network.

Sites like LinkedIn and Facebook have made it easier to connect with other expats and potential employers, so make great use of these platforms. When in France, you should socialise with fellow expats and put the word out there that you are looking for a job. Even in the UK, you should try to connect with people that lived in France before you go as they may still have contacts.

In the same light, you should go to business events such as career fairs to grow you network. The French Chamber of Commerce organises events which are a great way to meet and connect with employers.

In France, speculative applications and calling the company to enquire about open positions are valid options for finding a job. It is also essential to put your professional profile on pages such EURES and LinkedIn so that employers can find you. Aside from that there are different online pages advertising job vacancies, some are listed here:

• Jooble
• EURES
• Indeed France
• Les Jeudis
• Monster
• LinkedIn

When it comes to applying for job it is always advised to start your search as soon as possible. Although you may need to be in France for the actual interview, it is better to start applying before you even move to France. Although, companies may be willing to accommodate an online interview.

Updating your Curriculum Vitae

It is, of course, quite important to update your CV for the French work world. First of all, you are advised to convert your English CV to a French CV. All letters of application also need to be in French except stated otherwise.

• French CVs are generally quite concise. This means a 2-page CV for a senior employee and 1-page CV for a junior employee.
• A photo is not required on CV but is generally expected. A professional passport photo should be with no bright makeup. The person should be professionally dressed, and hair brushed.
• Furthermore, it goes without saying you need to add your qualifications to your CV, however, it is especially important to provide details of the French equivalent.

French Work Environment and Rules

There are some differences when it comes to the work environment and rules in France compared to the UK. Here are some things you will have to keep in mind when applying to work in France:

• In France, an average week for an employee is 35-hours. This applies to all employee although there are exceptions. For example, this rule does not apply to sales representatives, executives, limited liability company managers, caretakers in residential buildings and domestic staff.
• Working hours are generally from 8:30-9:30 to 17:30-19:00 with a one-hour lunch break .
• Employees are legally entitled to 25 days of holidays excluding bank holidays or Réduction de Temps de Travail (RTT).
• Mothers have the right to a minimum of sixteen weeks of paid maternity leave. They can take 6 weeks pre-natal leave (repos prenatal) prior the estimated birth date (la date présumé). The remainder can be taken after the birth as postnatal leave (repos postnatal).
• New fathers also have the right to paternity leave of 11 days. These days can extend to 18 days in the case of twin, triplets, and so on. The leave must be taken on consecutive days within four months of the birth.
• French companies are generally hierarchical. Bosses, especially when older, will expect to be addressed and treated with respect. So, it’s advised to brush on the ‘vous’ form to not offend your boss. Moreover, you are advised not to give the boss two kissed on the cheeks even if this is the norm with other colleagues and friends.

Salary in France

In France, there is a guaranteed minimum hourly wage called the Salaire Minimum Interprofessionnel de Croissance (SMIC). An employee cannot legally be paid less than the minimum wage. The income tax generally ranges from 5.5% to 45% depending on tax brackets your income falls into. The salary that is earned must be declared annually and income tax must be paid over it. This is opposed to it being deducted automatically from the salary every month.

However, there are deductions that are automatically taken form the gross salary for compulsory social security charges such as CRDS (social security repayment contribution) and CSG (general social security contributions). Optional charges that may be deducted are mutual insurance contributions, pension contributions, or life insurance. Obligatory deductions will count for about 20 to 25% of your gross salary.

Read for the Next Step?

That was a pretty thorough dive into everything that you can expect pertaining to working in France. You should be prepared for the culture and finding work, the next challenge is to move to France. Of course, we can help you there. Just look at all of the useful links below and click one, it’ll be full of useful information! One final thing, good luck with the job search and working in France.