If you’re an international student in France, I’d first like to congratulate you. Based on personal experience, I know you’ve likely been through hell to get this far. Between visa applications, tuition being due and searching for affordable housing, studying in France is an uphill battle. Unfortunately, the journey only gets harder when you have to start looking for an internship or apprenticeship. As much as I would love to promise some sort of magical trick or technique that would instantly secure the job of your dreams, that would be wildly dishonest. The truth is, even French students are struggling to find positions. What I can do in this post is share the things I’ve learned about job-hunting in France, which I believe ultimately helped me secure an internship and apprenticeship during my studies.
Start Early
At the time of writing this post, it’s late-January. Which is an excellent time to start looking for a job if you want to work an internship this summer, or have an apprenticeship lined up for the upcoming school year. As I mentioned before, even French students struggle to find jobs. So the competition is fierce, more so for foreigners. Therefore, having as much time as possible is a huge advantage. Especially when you consider that everyone goes on vacation in August, so the recruitment process will also shut down. Additionally, if you do find a position, there’s paperwork that has to go through you, your school and the company. Getting the right signature, the right stamp and getting it in the right hands will take some time.
You Have to be Enrolled in School
On the subject of paperwork, I wasn’t sure whether this needed to be said. But I also didn’t want to take for granted any readers who may not know. You have to be enrolled in school to participate in internships and apprenticeships in France. Your contract with the company also needs to be signed by your school. The reason I’m bringing this up is because if you’re not from France, or you come from the English-speaking world, your idea of internships may be very different.
When I was working internships (both paid and unpaid), it was an arrangement between me and the company, and had nothing to do with my school. I’ve also arranged to work in an informal capacity (unpaid of course) just to get experience in the field I was interested in. You can’t do any of that in France. You have to be in school, and you have to have a signed contract between all three parties. Which is a good thing because it ensures interns are paid and have legally-recognized rights. However, if you’re someone who’s just really ambitious and wants to get experience and may not be in a capacity to be in school or don’t wanna involve your school, this could be limiting. Those are my two cents.
It’s All Online
Let’s address the obvious: job listing have been online for YEARS. But at least in Jamaica, you can still buy a newspaper and check the Classifieds. Granted, I don’t buy newspapers in France, so the same may be true here. Anyways, companies use platforms like LinkedIn, Welcome to the Jungle, Indeed, JobTeaser and even their own website to list openings. Profil Culture is a site for arts, media and communications jobs and was integral to finding my first internship. You can set up alerts for the types of jobs you’re looking for. I’d also suggest checking regularly, but not on too many sites because it can get overwhelming. When you do find a position you want to apply for, you upload your CV and cover letter and hit send.
Redo Your CV
On the topic of job applications and CVs, you likely have to overhaul yours. I made a rookie mistake when I started job-hunting. I translated my English CV directly into French – which makes sense when you’re in France. However, a friend of mine looked at it and commented how the language was correct, but the format was very English. And that thought never occurred to me. While I was solely focused on the text and language, contextual factors such as style also mattered. They could be sending subtle signals to potential employers that could impact whether I was hired.
French CVs allow you to take liberties that English CVs tend to steer away from. A coloured banner or a photograph tends to be the norm – even though I’m weary about the latter. It also needs to fit on one page, and of course be in French.
It’s Easier to Apply in France
The harsh reality is that though the entire application process takes place online, it’s so much easier to apply for jobs when you’re already in France. In part because it’s a guarantee that you can start working immediately. But I also think there’s a perceived risk of sponsoring a visa, which is a huge hassle for companies. Or that you won’t show up, and they’d have wasted their time and have to find someone else anyways. So applying when you’re in the country is one less barrier to being hired.
Now, I also understand the other side of this. You may be applying for jobs in France from your home country and your visa application is stalled because you need a job to demonstrate proof of income. While I don’t have a solution, I would advise that you keep trying. Location isn’t an impossible hurdle to overcome, so don’t let it stop you from applying. Just be ready for some lacklustre responses – if you get any.
Apply Everywhere
If you’ve been job hunting for a while, I’m sure you’ve realized how hard it is to get an interview. To get a response. Hell, to get your application seen by a human being. If you’re serious about (read: desperate) getting a job, you can’t afford to be picky. And you’ll never know what will stick. When it comes to job applications, just send ‘em and forget ‘em. If they respond, run with it. If they don’t, let it go.
Use Your Network (Yes, You Have One)
This piece of advice may sound crazy, because you’re a foreigner moving to France and you feel like you don’t know anybody. Chances are, you know more people than you realize. If, like me, you started out as a language assistant, keep in touch with your old colleagues and let them know you’re on the look out for a job. If you’re a part of a diaspora network, also put some feelers out there. You’re in enrolled in school, and your classmates may have already found jobs, ask if their company is hiring for other positions or check the website. Then ask your classmate to submit your CV directly to HR.
There are probably countless other examples that are specific to your life. These are the ones specific to mine that saw actual results. The point is that maybe you know somebody, who knows somebody, (who knows somebody) that can open you to opportunities. In the words of Dr Meg Jay, author of ‘The Defining Decade’, these are your ‘weak ties’. And if I’ve learned anything about living and studying and working in France, it’s that you have to be the squeaky wheel.
Rejection is Par for the Course
No amount of job-hunting tips will ease the pain and despair that comes with rejection. As a foreigner, it can feel like a step backwards, and like your entire life hangs in the balance. As hard as it is, and as hard as it may be to write that next cover letter or look at that job site, you have to keep going. Not because it’ll guarantee a job, but because you’ll regret giving up on yourself.
At the end of the day, finding a job as a foreigner is less about competence and more about luck. Trust me, I know how unhelpful that is, but it’s true. So as you keep searching, I hope you’re also feeling lucky.
And remember: you only need one yes.
