France is the second largest economy in Europe and the fifth largest in the world. Although the crisis is affecting all countries, there are still job opportunities in France. That is why many people try to work in France.
But you need to know French. I recommend you go with at least a reasonably good knowledge of the language. I am not saying that it is impossible to find work without knowing French, but it will be very difficult. You will have difficulty communicating with people, finding accommodation and finding a job.
Work in France
As I said, you have to know French to work in France. Unless you are a highly skilled worker and your job is in high demand, it will be very difficult to find work if you do not know the language well.
So, to avoid disappointment and loss of money, I recommend that you spend a few months learning French. Mastering the language will greatly increase your success rate.
The golden age of economic boom is also over in France. However, it is still quite easy to find a job in the big cities and tourist regions. Besides Paris, the best cities to look for (and find) work are Marseille, Toulouse, Strasbourg, Lyon and Bordeaux.
Remember that in France you must always include a “lettre de motivation” (cover letter) with your CV. You must write a resume in impeccable French and clearly state why you are applying to the company. Many large companies often only accept online applications.
The sectors with the best job prospects in France are:
- Industry: aerospace, energy, electronics
- Engineering and information technology
- Commerce: banking, insurance, trade
- Health: doctors, nurses, etc.
- Construction: architects, bricklayers, stonemasons
- Agriculture: seasonal workers
- Tourism sector: catering, hotel industry, etc.
Remember that word of mouth is a good way to find work in France. Try to build a network of acquaintances and make the most of it.
In France there are differences between regions, in the north it is easier to find work than in the south. You need to consider in which region your job is most in demand. To be clear, it does not make sense to move to a rural area of France to look for work as an interior designer. On the contrary, it can be an excellent choice for an agronomist or simply for someone who wants to work in agriculture.
In France there is the minimum wage set by law, which for 2024 is € 1,767
Working in France visas
You can obtain a work visa if you want to work or be self-employed in France. To work, you must usually have a job offer. If you are starting a business or are self-employed, you must demonstrate the economic viability of the project and prove that you have sufficient funds to start it.
Non-EU citizens need a work visa to work in France and there are different types of visas
Short-Stay Work Visa
These are issued to foreign workers who will be working in France for less than 90 days. If you are from the EU/EEA/Switzerland, you do not need this visa.
If you are from Australia, Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Brazil, Canada, Israel, Japan, Mauritius, Mexico, St. Kitts and Nevis, the Seychelles, Singapore, South Korea, the United States, or Venezuela, you also do not need a visa. However, a work permit is required.
Long-Term Work Visa
If you are not an EU/EEA/Swiss national and are working in France for more than 90 days, you must apply for a long-stay visa (visa de long séjour). Once you get the visa, you need to get the work permit. Normally, the employer is responsible for filing the work permit application on behalf of the employee.
EU Blue Card
The EU Blue Card is a one- to three-year residence/work permit for highly qualified people. You must have a diploma/diploma or 5 years of professional experience and earn at least 1.5 times the French average gross annual salary. After 18 months in France you can work in other EU countries.
Work Holiday Visa
The Work Holiday Visa is open to young people between the ages of 18 and 30 from 15 countries (extended to age 35 in Argentina, Australia and Canada). You can stay for 3-6 months.
Visa for self-employed
It is advisable that you apply for the visa from your country of origin. In some cases it is possible to apply for the visa if you are already in France or elsewhere.
Work in France useful resources
- French Office for Immigration, useful website
- French Ministry of Labor website, contains all the information about the regulated professions in France and much more
- French Public Service website, contains information on the different types of employment contracts currently in force and other useful information
Work in France, job search
1. Linkedin, the job network
2. Pôle Emploi, the national employment agency. It has an extensive network of agencies and the largest database of job openings in France. Through this agency you can usually find jobs with low to medium qualifications. You can only apply if you are in France and can prove accommodation. The way is very simple, at the end you will be assigned an appointment which can be a month later, so sign up as soon as possible. The pôle emploi is very helpful with job placement: they will explain how to look for a job, how to write your CV, etc.
3. APEC, (National Agency for Professionals and Executives) Association for job search aimed at graduates Highly qualified jobs.
4. Eures, European mobility website
5. Job Fairs
Another good way to find work in France might be to visit a job fair. In many French cities, there are several that take place at regular intervals,
- Paris Emploi, the most famous French job fair, is held in Paris in October. For those interested in working in France, it might be a good idea to go to Paris and visit the fair
- Eventbrite, a list of fairs in Paris
6. Contact the company
- Yellow Pages, in France it is common to contact companies and send a self-application. In the French Yellow Pages you can find the addresses of all the companies present in the country.
- Europages, you can search companies by industry
- Kompass, here you can check if a company is represented in France
7. Action Emploi, an agency that takes care of the placement of unemployed people, including foreigners.
8. Recruiting agencies (Cabinets de recrutement)
- Actua, in French
- Artus, in French
- Interim, in French
- Interima, in French
- Maxiplan, in French
- Mcinterim, in French
- Partnaire, in French
- Talent up, in French
- Euro Deal, in French
- Sup Interim, in French
9. Classifieds websites
- Vivastreet, classifieds website
- Leboncoin, classifieds website
10. Job search websites
- Option cariere, job search engine
- Cadremploy, job vacancies throughot France
- Direct employ, job search website
- Jobted, job search engine
- Studentjob, job vacancies for student and young people
- Region jobs, popular website
11. Job search websites for specific professions
Hospitality
- L’hotellerie, hospitality jobs
- Cateterglobal, hospitality and catering jobs
- Pole-Chr, catering jobs
Finance
- Dogfinance, finance jobs
- Link finance, finance jobs
Commercial and Marketing
- Marketvente, marketing and commercial jobs
- Jobmarketing, marketing and commercial jobs
- Penelope, marketing and commercial jobs
Logistic
- Jobtransport, logistic jobs
Information and Tecnology
- Carriere-info, IT jobs
- Les Jedis, IT jobs
Translation
- Vidal, translation agency in Paris
- Finverbus, translation agency
Art and cultural
- Profilculture, cultural jobs
- Jobculture, cultural jobs
Health
- FHF (French hospital federation) job offers
Student jobs
Students, (including foreigners), in France can work while studying. The law allows students to work part-time during the school term. During the holidays they can work full time.
- Letudiant, website for students
- Studyrama, vacancies and internships for students
- Directetudiant, vacancies and internships for students
- Capcampus, job offers for students
Working in tourism in France
France is the country with the most tourists in the world (over 80 million per year). It goes without saying that the hospitality industry offers good employment opportunities. You can be a permanent employee in the big cities or work seasonally in the resorts (sea, mountains, etc.).
The most famous French resorts in the mountains are in the Alps, where you can find employment opportunities both in summer and winter. There are many jobs: waiters, cooks, bartenders, delivery staff, drivers, receptionists, ski instructors, cleaners, beauticians, entertainers, etc. You can apply online or submit your resume in person. With a minimum of experience it is quite easy to find a job.
The most famous French seaside destinations are on the Côte d’Azur: Nice, Cannes, Antibes, to name a few.
If you want to work with clients, you need to speak French well. On the other hand, if you work as a cook, cleaner, etc., a little knowledge of French will suffice. However, keep in mind that those who know the language will always be preferred.
To find jobs in tourism/hospitality, you can:
– Contact the companies
- You can ask the local tourist office for a list of hotels, cafes, restaurants, etc
- Vvf villages, jobs for tourism
– Job search websites
- Pole Emploi, official job searc website
- Paca Job, vacancies in the French Riviera and Provence
– Specific websites for job search
- Cateterglobal, job vacancies for hospitality industry
- Hotel Career, hospitality job vacancies
- Tourisme-espace, tourism, sport and cultural jobs vacancies
- Jobresto, job vacancies for hospitality industry
- Pole-Chr, job vacancies for hospitality industry
Amusement Park
- Disneyland, is the most popular tourist destination in Europe. It is located about 30 kilometers from Paris. Inside the park, in addition to countless attractions, there are 7 hotels, 55 restaurants and 13 bars. There is a need for staff in many areas, most jobs are seasonal (summer). Those who know languages have better chances to find a job
- Asterix, also this park is located about 30 km from Paris, heading north. It is the second largest amusement park in France. It has about 1.5 million visitors every year
- Futuroscope, is a multimedia park located north of Poitiers. It is the only place in France where there are all types of IMAX screens. In addition to the attractions, there are restaurants and hotels inside. It is visited by about 2 million visitors a year
Camping
- Capfun, is a company that owns 100 campsites and 17 tourist residences in France
- Lesalicourts, in Loire valley
- Camping-cheverny, in Loire valley
- Camping-jablines, in ile de France
- Lapascalinette, in Cote d’Azur
- Le-mas, in Cote d’Azur
- Lagrandemetairie in Brittany
- Eurocampjobs, British company
Hotel
- Accor Hotel, international French company owning: Fairmont, Sofitel, Novotel, Mercure, Ibis, F1 and others
- Astotel, hotel chain in Paris
- B&B Hotel, Hotel chain
- Luciene Barriere, Hotel and casino
- Tim hotel, hotel chain in Paris
- Zenithotel, Spanish hotel chain
