Are there any places in France (excluding Paris) that are good for getting IT work?

I see a lot of Paris jobs on sites like Jobserve but very little anywhere else.

I would consider a move to southern France but proximity to work is essential.

Thanks
Matello

Better join my old company then!! Got everything going for IT!
http://www.amadeus.com/amadeus/amadeus.html
Not least is the location - Sophia Antipolis - France's answer to Silicone Valley - about 10 Km from the beaches of the French Riviera, the busy international airport in Nice, The Cannes film Festival, The casino at Monte Carlo and the Carnival in Nice!
Amadeus offers all kinds of IT jobs - on permanent or internship basis
Check out the jobs and careers via the link above:
Currently, for example, they're looking for
SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT ENGINEERS-Amadeus Central System Software

1500 IT and admin people of 40 nationalities on site - all work in English and a worldwide network. Bonus and profit share systems and moving normally paid by the company who also help you find a place to live.
I worked there 9 years before retirement.

Need any further information - send me a PM
Good luck
Roger

PS Thompson and France Telecom also operate research centres in the same park as well as dozens of other companies.
Some facts on the park itself
http://www.ecotec.com/idele/themes/l..._antipolis.pdf
http://www.hoteliers-de-france.com/u...lages/303.html

http://www.amadeus.com/amadeus/x150644.html
If you happen to meet Christophe, pass my regards (hope he remembers me as i did retire more than 5 years ago when he was still section leader...)

Roger,
Thank you very much for this information.
It's very useful and something I'll keep my eye on to look out for opportunities.

I've had a look at the Software Engineers vacancy, unfortunately the skillset they are after does not suit mine.

I work in SAP, functional(consulting) and technical. SAP CRM, SAP Workflow and SAP ABAP programming.
I don't know if Amadeus use or have need for SAP people.

Matello

I used to work for a company full of SAP consultants and CRM programmers, but I'm afraid that was back in the UK. Shame you crossed Paris off the list, because I'm sure you wouldn't have had any difficulties here. Looks like Roger's given a good response though.

There is a shed load of IT work in Toulouse, But i guess the Aviation Industry is boring oh and the Pharmaceutical Industry around Rangueil hospital.

I work for a company that has a Paris office. Unfortunately it's a fairly skeleton IT staff there. IT Operational support only so no requirement for SAP consultants to be based there.
If there was I'd consider asking for a transfer.
It would be an easier way to make the move to France and learn the language.

Matello

That's unfortunate. Could you apply for a transfer to the Paris branch on the off-chance that a position might become available at a later date. You could then continue your search in other areas?
When you initially excluded Paris from your search, I had assumed it was because you had no desire to live in or around the capital?

Matello, did you look at this?
http://www.amadeus.com/corporations/x138556.html
Best way to know if they need anyone right now is to contact them..
I don't have that much up-to-date contact now with Amadeus people,
but I could try to get a contact for you if you like??

Yes. Ultmately I would want to live in the south of France.
Then when I thought about it a bit more, if I could get a job in France especially with my company that at least would help in the transition. i.e. living and working in France to pick up the language. Then eventually move south.

That way it is probably less daunting if I am at least familiar with something.

Yes thanks Roger but I hadn't seen that link before. Been to the site a few times to see if any more jobs have been posted.

Thanks
Matello

Quite a few software companies are based in Sophia Antipolis close to Nice, including SAP

Check this link!
http://www.durham.gov.uk/cdsp/usp.nsf/Lookup/Serge%20Lambert%20-%20Sophia%20Antipolis/$file/Serge+Lambert+-+Sophia+Antipolis.pdf

Better still, these
http://www.sophia-antipolis.net/uk/
http://www.sap.com/france/company/saplabs/index.epx

Thanks Roger.

I've also registered on Monster.com where searches can be tailored to a department of France so hopefully this should alert me to any jobs that come up too.

These links are very useful.

Roger,
When you went working in France, was this a placement by your existing company e.g. in England or did you just decide to up sticks and work in another country.

I think my biggest challenge, initially is the fact that my French is pretty basic.

Matello

I left the UK in 1970 to work for American Express Travel in Zürich. At that time I was married to a Swiss national which gained me entry. In 1971 I was offered a job at Swissair - first in the call centre to learn the system, then moved to HO specialising in what used to be called TTY (Teletype messaging = IATA AIRIMP reservation messages between airline systems) I stayed with Swissair in various capacities till 1994 (in the meantime, having divorced and remarried a French national (happily ever after!). In 1994 (at 56 years old!) - already seeing the deterioration of Swissair - mostly due to the Swiss "no" to the EU in 1992 - I got a job with Amadeus - due to the fact that people with my particular expertise were (and are) still quite rare - and the fact that an ex SR colleague already there recommended me too...

I have already mentioned this, but to work for Amadeus you would not need one word of French - everything is in English - even to the extent that French nationals holding meetings amongst themselves mostly talk in English to preserve the practice! All documentation is in English. it has to be seeing the worldwide companies dealt with - the majority of which are airlines.

Provided you would have some qualification which Amadeus is looking for in IT, management, etc., there is absolutely no need to be competent in French in any way - except in private life outside the company, of course, though on the Côte d'Azur, there are many more English speaking French people than almost anywhere else in France.

To see the influence of British presence on the Côte, one of the best ways is to follow this
http://www.rivieraradio.mc/