I am intrested in going to France for my gap year and i was wondering does anyone know of any good websites or know of any opportunities for paid jobs such as barman, or waitor or working in a hotel, i have applied to disneyland paris for a job as a barman, waitor or working on reception already but haven't hear anything back quite yet, but was wondering has anyone worked there?, what was it like ?. I do A level French at college so i have quite a good knowledge of the language.

Welcome to the forum, Waiters and Bar jobs get filled so quickly most places you pick them up in local papers and by word of mouth. Sorry cant comment on Disneyland Paris as I have never worked there. But if you get any issues give me a shout

Audi i am planning on doing the same thing for my gap year after university! I was just wondering where you plan to live and how you would go about finding a place? i was planning on moving out and staying in a hostel until i could find a studio apartment or something once i had found a job. I'm still a second year undergraduate so i have time to plan and save, but i'm just so excited about the prospect of going!

I have a very close friend who is from Paris and lived out there before university. She said that its best to approach cafes and restaurants for work. there is also a few chains of english speaking bars and pubs it may be easier to find work at, but in my oppinion that may defeat the object of moving there!

The son of one of my friends has worked for several summers in a holiday camp for kids in the Vendee.
He has done this since his days at university where he studied french.
Perhaps this could be an option to get started in France and to upgrade your language skills before trying your hand in Paris.
Another option is a holiday village used by UK families e.g. Pierre et Vacances.
My daughter studied in France as part of her university degree but she struggled initially to get up-to-speed with daily french and student slang.
She struggled specifically with things like renting an apartment and dealing with, for example, electricity connection and bills. She neither had the experience of doing this in the UK nor the vocabulary for doing it in french.
Disneyland sounds like a similar option and you dont need to have the hassle of arranging accommodation.
If you rent an apartment in France you would need to provide a guarantor i.e. a parent who would be required to provide personal details e.g proof of identity; proof of income; confirmation of bank details etc etc.
Such is life in France.
Good luck in your adventure.

How old are you? Young people do not find it easy to work in France as the legislation here does not encourage it. You have to be 18 to stand any chance as below 18 all sorts of legal issues arise. Do you have anyone in your family that works say for a bank or a big company, hotel or store chain? String pulling is the name of the game here. That's how my students get jobs, through Daddy, Uncle or friend of a friend.
Odd jobs like grape or fruit pickers can be found, but they are of course seasonal. As is the case in the UK, employers may be more reluctant, especially in times of recession, to give jobs to foreign nationals unless being able to speak English is an asset. If you can't speak French, I would have thought that basically you're wasting your time, but as you have done 'A' level, that should help, as long as you can hold your own in a conversation.
Don't forget that at the moment there are hundreds of thousands of young people on a similar mission... and lots of them began looking around January.
I've never had to use it, but Monster used to be the website lots of people use.
Good luck with your search.

Try this website to search for jobs - many of of them are seasonal, but it could be a start

http://www.hotrecruit.com/?CMP=KNC-h...ruit&HBX_ou=50

Cheers everyone for the help and support!

Zaia767, I'm hoping if i hear back from Disneyland Paris about the job i will get it because food and accomodation is all included with Disneyland. I've applied for other jobs in the hospitality industry also and they all come with subsidised meals and accomodation. I'm finding it harder because i'm only 18 and i don't know anyone who has done this and i don't know anyone in France. Same i'm really excited about this experience and starting something new but its not easy getting it sorted, i'm quite worried because Disney is my first choice for the first part of my year and haven't heard anything from then and i sent my application and CV on the 15th March.

Does anyone know of any good websites or information about accomodation for a gap year?, like if going for a job but no accomodation included?

Hi,
The problem with all companies in France is that they don't reply to spontaneous applications if they have nothing to offer, so there's no way of knowing whether or not they're interested. (They don't even have the courtesy to acknowledge receipt of applications following an advert. unless the candidate is interesting). It's a case of don't ring us, we'll ring you.
Did you send your application and CV to Disney by e-mail or by letter? In my family's experience, French companies don't like applications via e-mail unless they specifically ask.
If you are over 18, you could look at the wwoof or helpx websites for jobs on farms where you work for your bed and board, or what about trying au-pairing?

I know what you mean dmu because i applied through gapyearjobs.co.uk and they said thank you for your application but Disney have sent nothing or even said thank you for you application. I sent it to them via E-mail, I'm starting to think that maybe they aren't intrested or mine has gone to the bottom of the pile of applications because i want to apply for septemeber lol do you think that's what it is ?, and they are only looking at the one's for summer at the moment

Hi,
if you're aiming for work in September, then send off your letter of motivation and CV to Disney as of now, SNAILMAIL and IN FRENCH.
They have obviously disregarded your e-mail. French companies don't want the bother (and expense) of printing hundreds of applications out for nothing.
If they don't acknowledge your application, then forget them and try elsewhere (e.g. Parc Astérix, Futuroscope, ...). But don't be too optimistic about a job with food and lodging unless you consider the possibilities I mentioned above.
(Btw, I suspect that jobs going nowadays in kids' holiday camps are given to candidates with a BAFA (=youth activities leader) or like diploma.)
Good luck with your search!