English speaking jobs in France/jobs for ex pats
 

Thinking about working and living in France, Paris or suburbs of Paris.

I would need to find an english speaking job or one where conversational French would be enough. At least to begin with.

Any tips for websites/angencies I can use.

Re: English speaking jobs in France/jobs for ex pats
 

I found a good way to begin in Paris was to in a pub.There are Aussie and English ones that may be of help.So long as you can count in French you should find that your French improves rapidly that will enable you to move on to other things.
Failing that there is English teaching ofcourse,but pay was not great in Paris as so many were doing that and perhaps not the best for development of the French language.

Re: English speaking jobs in France/jobs for ex pats
 

There are already tens of thousands of job-seekers of all nationalities in the Paris region and I think you'd be really lucky to find a job in a "pub", just like that.
As for teaching English, if you don't know French grammar, you'd find it difficult to explain English grammar to French students. If there are any such teaching jobs available, candidates with teaching diplomas would be selected...

I'd carefully research the question of coming over at the present time - the economic situation has improved ever so slightly (on paper) but there are still about 2 million people in France looking for jobs.:blink:

Re: English speaking jobs in France/jobs for ex pats
 

Think again!

Re: English speaking jobs in France/jobs for ex pats
 

Actually i found it in the early ninties quite different to what you say.In Paris it was considered fairly easy to obtain various hours at private English schools,but the pay was low.A knowedge of grammar beyond what a reasonably educated person should know was not called for as stress was put on having English as a mother tongue. Also the material used for teaching was self explanitary most of the times including answers.
Unemployment was high back then also as at the time i done work for ANPE with hard to place,long term unemployed people so had first hand experience of the difficulties involved.
Same with pub work sometimes it is only a matter of putting yourself about a bit and things can and do happen.Also matter of being in the right at the right time.
Difference maybe was i was not relying on pub work for financial gain so much as gain confidence in language by being pushed to speak it a bit. Anyway the hours would have been nowhere near enough to allow enough to live on without other means of finacial backing.
to allow.

Re: English speaking jobs in France/jobs for ex pats
 

sorry, I'll try again...
We're talking about 2009, not last century.

Anyway, if the OP has no family responsibilities, then go for it, whatever. At least you've been warned that France isn't a bed of roses!:)

Re: English speaking jobs in France/jobs for ex pats
 

Point taken with regards to the time but what i wanted to relay was that the times were tough then as well,unemployment was at least 12.5% or higher.
Was told employment prospects were very difficult but had work by the second week in France. The message is it can be done.
If the OP has the desire to work in France it can happen.Sometimes we are required to take the plunge and see what may unravel. Follow your dreams but also have a way out if it all goes pear shaped.

Re: English speaking jobs in France/jobs for ex pats
 

I was too busy bringing up my two daughters at the same time as struggling to keep my company afloat in the early 90s, to bother about national unemployment statistics!
I beg to differ re teaching English. I used to give English coaching to my daughters' friends at Collège and Lycée and I wouldn't have been able to do so without knowing the French grammatical terms which they all learn en Primaire to explain CODs, COIs, tags, compléments de lieu, de temps, etc,... not to mention the differences in the use of tenses in French and English...:)

Re: English speaking jobs in France/jobs for ex pats
 

You are speaking of a entirely different level of learning to which you are of course correct.
Are you saying there is now a uniform level in France that demands such a high standard by all?
This for certain was not the case early 1996.(When i departed)In fact whether or not the so called teacher could speak any French at all(to speak of)did not seem a big issue then,let alone have any grammar abilities as the students it was felt were then compelled to speak in English.
Sorry but this is something i witnessed in schools at the time so i know it to be fact. (Naturally most did speak French to a degree. ) I guess in certain areas it was not easy to find native speakers that held all the usual requirements shall we say.Dreux was one such place that comes to mind.Also not all teaching is conducted at school as companies also conducted Business English for staff and again i knew people with no formal qualification, but in those two cases did speak good French.
That was the case then 14 years ago i am by no means saying it was a norm in French education but a number of private schools to cut costs did employ what was in fact unqualified people.
One school in Dijon even had their own teaching program of three days which employees had to under take prior to being let lose on clients.
As i understand they were gone by 96 owing money to employees.
All this style of operating may not be possible these days i can accept that as have no idea having long removed myself from (sadly at times)most things French.
But really what i wanted to convay to the poster was if you really want to spend time in Paris or else where in France with a bit of effort it can be possible,go to where ever it is the expats tend to frequent these days and search out ideas.

Re: English speaking jobs in France/jobs for ex pats
 

Hi,
My "pupils" needed coaching in order to keep up with the teachers' fast pace and ultimately to pass the Bac (which includes grammatical analysis).
Back to the OP, as I said, as long as he/she hasn't got a family to feed, then go ahead.:)

Re: English speaking jobs in France/jobs for ex pats
 

Turquoiseblue, you will find that very difficult I'm afraid. I was talking with a friend yesterday who has a very very good position, recently moved out to Switzerland, but looking to move back to Paris. He says there's nothing for him and finding a job here would be incredibly tough, and he's French. I asked if it was the recession (despite France is now supposed to be out of the recession according to the papers), but he doesn't think the recession is causing problems, it's just a lack of jobs.

Around 5 years ago, my partner's Aussue ex came to Paris for a few months with no French and got a job in an Scottish pub without many problems. I imagine there are a few British companies (and even more American) here too, although I'd be surprised if they didn't want somebody who spoke good French as well.

Have you considered working for yourself?

Re: English speaking jobs in France/jobs for ex pats
 

Perhaps your French friend is a little more selective when it comes to job searching?
The Aussie who secured a pub is something more like i had in mind that the Poster could aim to start with. A foot in the door..who knoes what may happen then?

Re: English speaking jobs in France/jobs for ex pats
 

Could we have a bit of feedback from Turquoiseblue? He/she is conspicuous by his/her absence in this discussion...:blink:

Re: English speaking jobs in France/jobs for ex pats
 

Thank you for your responses so far!

I should explain I have lived in France before (Chaville) as an au pair and since visited many many times and always hoped to live there again.

I speak better than conversational french and have a fairly good schooling in grammar but I am very out of practice and hence I am looking into an english speaking job in France. (I knew someone who worked in Belgium for Levis and that was what got me thinking about the possibility).
However I have no idea where to start looking for such jobs? I will be looking in industry mags/sites anyway but I wondered if there was a magazine/paper/website especially for expat job seekers or places where such job ads are more likely to be found/places other people have found success.

I would love to apply for French speaking jobs but I just don't think my french is good enough to be competitive. Annoyingly I know I will improve quickly if I was living there and get back to my former standard. But to live there I need a job!
I probably would get by in a pub/restaurant situation but I really want to do a 'proper' job, either what I am doing now (fashion buying) or at least in the same industry.

Re: English speaking jobs in France/jobs for ex pats
 

I guess most would like what you term a proper job but it gets back to your ability to be able to function in that enviroment.
My suggestion is not to be too proud and accept whatever comes up that will allow the confidence and skill to move on.

Re: English speaking jobs in France/jobs for ex pats
 

:thumbup:

just like to say you get up very early:) best part of the day too

Re: English speaking jobs in France/jobs for ex pats
 

It's not about being proud, I'm not in a position where I need to "accept whatever comes up" as I am not looking to move straight away. If it came to it and I had a date in mind I wanted to move or if I was desperate to leave England, of course I would just get any job I could and go from there. I would probably au pair again or I have contacts at a restaurant where I could probably get work during the summer.

Let me put this another way - I love my job and totally happy where I am but if the opportunity came up I would like to work abroad. Such opportunities don't just land at your feet, so I need to be looking in the right places. Hence my original post asking for agencies/websites that are tailored towards ex pats looking for jobs. I have come across a few before but I thought people on here may have better suggestions/personal experience of using them.

Re: English speaking jobs in France/jobs for ex pats
 

We were sent this link by a friend when my wife was briefly considering trying to find work in Paris:

http://www.jobsinparis.fr/

I got a job in Paris with zero French language skills, but it does not really count for this discussion as it was an internal transfer. However, large international companies with head offices like mine do recruit non-French speakers as the working language is English. I met a guy at a kids party just this weekend who got a job in Paris a few months ago by applying directly from the UK despite having limited French skills. However, to get such a position you really need some very sought after specialist skills or experience, in this guys case it was a degree from Cambridge and knowledge of an IT system that few have. Like me, his working language is 100% English so he has had no language barrier at work. If you lack those specialist skills then I understand it is very difficult. Jobs are scarce and two of our neighbours, young French professionals (a lawyer and an IT specialist), were both made redundant this year. Ironically the IT guy got a job in the UK!

Re: English speaking jobs in France/jobs for ex pats
 

Turquoiseblue,

You might also like to look at the ANPE site to see what sort of things are available in the department you're thinking of. Once registered, you can opt to receive regular emails with job offers. http://www.anpe.fr/espace_candidat/w...nce_14989.html They do tend to be manual work, but now and again something more interesting appears.

You must also make your CV suitable for a potential French employer. There are lots of sites online with suggestions. A French CV is short and factual. The "I'm really wonderful" stuff goes in your lettre de motivation, examples of which you can also find online.

Your CV has to prove that you are suitable for the job you are applying for. No, don't laugh! :lol: If you have, for example, done lots of different jobs in your time, a UK employer might think you're adaptable, but a French employer might just think you're unstable. I'm not saying ALL French managers are like that, but it's a cultural difference worth bearing in mind.

Someone suggested working for yourself in France. If you are currently quite comfortable and happy, I wouldn't recommend it. Business charges are high in France, so don't be misled by talk of low tax. There is a new option called autoentrepreneur, which does simplify running your own business, but it has its limitations. It also looks like the rules are about to be tightened up. http://www.wikio.co.uk/article/120027493

http://france.xpatjobs.com/
http://www.workinfrance.com/
http://www.recruitmentfrance.com/

Happy job hunting! :)

Re: English speaking jobs in France/jobs for ex pats
 

I am not sure where you are from, however, I am able to find french jobs on my local job centre plus webpage, that might help.
http://jobseekers.direct.gov.uk/home...7168f47d&pid=2

Re: English speaking jobs in France/jobs for ex pats
 

Only problem is the person that entered them into the system listed the location as France, Which makes it harder to find anything local.

Re: English speaking jobs in France/jobs for ex pats
 

eh??

Re: English speaking jobs in France/jobs for ex pats
 

There is a great need in France for mother tongue English teachers and trainers, esp in Paris. However you have to be qualified to be legal. Why don't you look around for a TEFL qualification before you come. This will open all doors. I recommend looking at www.tefl.com site for jobs and traiing courses. A great company to get experience is englishinaction.com who will enable you to visit all sorts of countries and situations at their expense and you begin to work as a teacher with ready made lessons and resources and a great team of teachers to get tips and experience from. This will then enable you to get a GOOD and legal job in Paris.

Jill
(English teacher in France)

Re: English speaking jobs in France/jobs for ex pats
 

Have a go.....
everyone comes to France for different reasons....some not for a lifestyle
Applying,french CV and the interview the 3 difficult stages in actually getting a job in France.
The last was the most difficult for me, 20 other people and 15 minutes to impress.
Sadly english did not help me in anyway!!...explained many times as "not needed" and i must say in the last few years, i mutter under my breath only swear words at the fellow workers in english...
Work for a french buisness....less money than britain ...very diffcult..do have to push yourself more....do not expect your qualifications to help to much...found that experience and ability to be left to work and achieve the required result is a plus in france
P.S do not make mistakes,only good as your last job!! french are like elephants they never forget!
Best of luck....

Re: English speaking jobs in France/jobs for ex pats
 

what an excellent idea re working in a pub - what a great way to learn the language

Re: English speaking jobs in France/jobs for ex pats
 

I sense a bit of irony........

Re: English speaking jobs in France/jobs for ex pats
 

Finding a job as an au pair or nanny with an expat family, or French family looking for an English mother tongue nanny is a good option while you improve your French.
We currently have many families in France looking for native English speaking nannies and au pairs

Re: English speaking jobs in France/jobs for ex pats
 

Welcome to the Forum....;)

Re: English speaking jobs in France/jobs for ex pats
 

I can vouch for the jobsinparis site. I look at it often. I have a job in France even if I have crappy french. I think I was lucky though. I work for a software company that twas looking for an English speaker to deal with the international projects in the Nordics. So I live in france (paris), work for a french software company and travel often to the frozen north.