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You are here: Home Employment Employment Information A checklist: Getting a job in France

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20/03/2012A checklist: Getting a job in France

A checklist: Getting a job in France This handy guide from Expertise in Labour Mobility includes how to write a CV, application procedure, interview dos and don'ts, French management culture.

Looking for work in another country requires more than just the obvious CV translation. You will be confronted with issues that probably didn't even cross your mind when you decided to go for an international career, but don't underestimate the big impact they can have on the outcome of your adventure.

Think for example about the different rules and habits regarding immigration, job application procedures, the selection procedures and the management culture.

Expertise in Labour Mobility has prepared this practical fact sheet to give you a head start in job-hunting in France:

Work permits in France

• European Economic Area (EEA) citizens are free to live and work anywhere within the EEA, although some countries might be subject to national regulations. 
• You need to apply for a residence permit. The permit is issued within the first six months of your arrival, is valid for five years and can be expanded upon proof of employment or sufficient financial resources. 
• Contact the French embassy in your current country of residence for more information.

Where to look for jobs

• One of the most successful ways to find work in France is through speculative or open applications. They show your ambition to achieve.
• Personal contacts are also very useful.
• French newspapers, both national and regional, normally carry substantial numbers of vacancies.
• Besides the employment service ANPE, the French also have OMI (dealing with migration) and APEC (aimed at management positions). The services of these three organisations are open for foreign job seekers.
• Another good source of information is the French Minitel system, which can only be used in France.
• Recruitment fairs are held frequently, approx. 70 per year.

The application procedure in France

• Most attention is paid to the personality of the candidate.
• Psychological tests are frequently used in France.
• Usually two to four interviews are held.
• For administrative jobs, assessment centres and panel interviews are rather unknown.

Stock photo © photo.com

Online Applications

• Online applications are common nowadays. A lot of job agencies and employers who publish their vacancies online provide the opportunity to complete online job application forms.
• Online application letters are preferably written in the form of an email, while the CV should be a separate attached document. (Avoid using colloquial language!)
• Digital CVs are also becoming more common.

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 that 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.
• A ‘projet professionnel’ is given under the heading with your personal details. In max. 5 lines you have to describe who you are, what you have achieved and what your mid-term career goals are. (Quite a challenge in 5 lines!)

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 the top right-hand corner, you should mention the reference number of the vacancy, if applicable.
• In France, a photograph is often attached to the application letter. 

The Interview

Having reached this stage means your application must have made a good impression. Here are some tips to help you overcome the interview more easily:

Do:
• Be able to provide examples to illustrate your achievements.
• 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.

Don’t:

• Sit uninvited in a French interview.
• Interrupt the interviewer.
• Criticise former employers.
• Go over the top – stay calm and stick to the facts.
 Stock photo © photo.com
 Management culture in France 
• In France, business is characterised by a strong hierarchy – positions and power are clearly defined.
• French people have deep 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. Pay attention to it!

Book Cover
This information is based on the Looking for work in France guide (ISBN 978-90-5896-056-6), written by Expertise in Labour Mobility. This one-pager is one step to making your international career aspirations become reality. The full Looking for work in France guide tells you everything you need to know. If you want to order or find out more information about our services, have a look at www.labourmobility.com. 


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