France: Job market

• What are my chances of getting a job?
• Where can I work?
• What’s it like working in France?
• What are the next steps?

What are my chances of getting a job?

You are most likely to find work with multinational or major national employers. A significant number of overseas graduates in France are working as teaching assistants or language teachers. Around 75-80% of French students go into employment directly after graduation.

• Typical problems encountered: speaking French with a heavy foreign accent can present problems and job seekers from overseas will not have the same access to social networks available to French graduates through their family and friends.
• How to improve your chances: you may have to get work experience in your home country before working in France and improve your spoken and written French.
• Language requirements: the ability to speak rudimentary French is essential in most organisations in France. In some international companies, particularly if you have a strong technical background (e.g. computing and engineering), it may be possible to get by with English, at least in the workplace. You will need to check individual company requirements. Learning French before you go to France is a good idea and information on courses can be found from most local educational establishments. Learndirect has a searchable database of courses in the UK. Your university may also run modules in some foreign languages, including French. Self-study and distance learning courses are available through Eurotalk Interactive, Key Languages and the Open University (OU).

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Where can I work?

• Major industries: transport, telecommunications, agriculture/agri-foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, banking/insurance, aerospace and construction.
• Recent growth areas: the private sector as a result of changes to economic policy, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
• Industries in decline: agriculture, construction and telecommunications.
• Shortage occupations: specialists in the medical, energy and agricultural sectors.
• Major companies: Carrefour, Sodexho Alliance, Veolia Environnement, Peugeot Groupe, Saint Gobain, AXA Group, Accor, EDF, Suez Group, Crédit Agricole.
• Search for more companies: Kompass France, Ask Alix (France), Bottin - French business directory, French Yellow Pages, Societe.com. The French Chamber of Commerce in Great Britain and the Franco British Chamber of Commerce and Industry can also provide information about companies operating in France as well as French companies operating in the UK.
• Major cities: Paris - the capital and largest city, Lyon, Lille, Marseille.

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What’s it like working in France?

• Average working hours: 35-48 hours a week.
• Holidays: up to 37 days a year.
• Average graduate starting salary: variable depending on the institution attended, the degree subject and the classification, and range from €21,000 to €40,000.
• Tax rates: rates of income tax range from 14% to 30%, depending on your level of income.
• Working practices and customs: generally quite formal and professional. It is important to be punctual, well organised and polite. As a rule, the French compartmentalise their professional and private lives, so try to avoid being over friendly at work. The French generally deliberate longer over business decisions and they do not appreciate the ‘hard-sell’ approach to business.

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What are the next steps?

• Find out how to apply for jobs in France.
• Search for a job using these vacancy sources.
• Look for work experience opportunities.
• Find out more about living in France in country overview.

	Written by higher education careers professionals	Date:  Autumn 2008
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