Hi everyone,

Alors....
I've been looking for a paying job for almost a month now. I have over 4 years experience with Service (hotels/restaurant/bar) but because of my french being half-assed, I can't really land a job.

Anyway, to pass the time in between job hunts, I was looking for assiociations to join so I can lend my time to do some voluntary work, preferably where I can mingle with french speakers to aid my lessons (coz once a week simply isn't fast enough). If any of you guys know any association, please share it.
A paying job would be much better but I will gladly do voluntary as well.

I live in Lyon (6th arr).


cheers!

Hey Rekesah,

I'm in the same boat, trying deperately to find a job, but it quite tough. Depending on your age, you can either join up with the Mission Locale (up to the age of 25yrs) or the pole emploi and ask to be put on a formation to learn french. I am currently on the course and its full time mon-fri, sometimes you can be paid too!!
Hope that helps
Zoe

I've got classes at the moment and my boyfriend's grandma was also giving me some advice about where I should look for more classes.
there's the universities and other private institutions but seeing as I'm not working; I can't really funnel money towards that.
hah!
but... very intriguing on the getting paid gig. how is that?

Hey,

The private instituitions are very expensive and as for the universities, i found it difficult to get in. Basically if you have worked in the UK before you came to France, you need a 'derniere certificat du travail'. so all you would need is you old boss to write down how many hours per month and how much you were paid each month for the last working year. Then you have to get it translated into french of course
Once on the formation you will have a form to fill in and its and association called 'ASP' who will refund you upto 600ish euris per month, however, you do need to attend every class and sign the 'signing in paper' if not you will not be paid. It like being back at school but you paid, bonus huh??
hope that helps you a bit more.
How long have you been living in france??
Zo

If you want to propose yourself for voluntary work, I would advise you to look though a Pages Jaunes telephone directory, under "Associations Humanitaires et Caritatives". You will get a long list of them, and can start making phone calls (good for your French too!) to offer your services...
Bonne chance - finding paid work is not easy, even for native French speakers!