Testimony of Toby:
During my university degree, I had the chance to spend six months working abroad in Paris. My internship at Mômji became the most unforgettable period of my degree and was an eye-opening experience I’d recommend to anyone.
So, you’re thinking about finding a job in Paris? From job sites to bank accounts to housing and more, there’s plenty to consider. Here’s my story and all the information you need to prepare yourself.
How to find the job?
Finding an internship or a job in Paris is a time-consuming process. For every 10 applications I sent off, I’d hear back from one… and normally that would be a rejection. It’s a numbers game and you’ve got to put the work in to find a role. The good news is, there are plenty of companies looking to hire English-speaking interns.
When applying, you’ll often be asked for a CV and ‘Lettre de Motivation’ or ‘Cover Letter’. For French roles especially, make sure your CV is in French and laid out appropriately. There are many examples online.
Personally, the majority of my searches took place on indeed.fr. Know what industry you’d like to work in and do choose something relevant to your future – it’s important to focus your search. Other sites such as Glassdoor and LinkedIn are good to peruse too.
The convention de stage…
If you’re at a University in the U.K. and benefitting from an Erasmus scheme, you should have access to a ‘convention de stage’. This is the paperwork that companies will ask for in order to employ you.
Once I found my internship, I had to get the job approved by my university, which may or may not be the case depending on the institution. After that, my ‘convention de stage’ was sent out and signed by the employer.
Clearly, if you’re looking for a job in France and are not on Erasmus or exchange, the contract negotiation may be more difficult. If it’s just a part-time role you’re on the search for, many formalities will be dropped and it’ll be easier to sort. Each situation will be different.
Opening a bank account…
Finding a bank account in France is a thought that drives fear into may a foreigner journeying over to the French capital to work. The problem is, that many French banks require you to be there in person to open an account. Thus, many people wait until arrival to set one up. Waiting can be stressful, but it’s something the majority of people go through.
For me, I opened an account with Britline which could be done over the phone from home.
You do need to be over 18 years of age, a UK, Ireland or France resident and either i) an existing or future French property owner or ii) a regular visitor to France. The account offered is a lower level of a ‘carte bleu’, and can be used across Europe without extra payments, although there are certain restrictions on the number of transactions.
The best account depends on the person and the type of work you’re undertaking. Be sure to spend some time researching all the options.
Sorting your accommodation…
Similarly to a bank account, finding accommodation is something some people looking for work in France leave until the last minute. There are scammers out there, we were made all too aware of that pre-departure at university, and the number of options can be overwhelming.
Luckily, I had the chance to spend a weekend in Paris before arrival. This provided the chance to visit a few listings and suss out the landlords and ladies. Some were actually looking for someone to move in ASAP and wouldn’t wait for me. However, eventually, I found someone with openings at the right time. The site I had success through was homestay.paris.
There are some other great sites out there too. BeMyNest tries to pair you with a host and other bigger businesses like Housing Anywhere are more focused on studios.
If you are planning on sorting housing when you arrive in Paris, then find a hostel, hotel or AirBnB in advance. Once in Paris, you may well find a room and have moved in the day after – things move quickly.
Preparing for your first day…
When I think back to my first day at work, I was very nervous. Though, that’s just natural. If you’re working in French, prepare to make mistakes, these will iron themselves out after a few weeks. That’s what happened with me.
There are ways to ease the nerves. I walked myself to work the day before I started to make sure I knew the route, what to expect and how long it would take. Know the names of the people you’re working with in advance and ask for the dress code so you look the part.
Here at Mômji, we work with thousands of English speakers looking for jobs in Paris. Our part-time babysitting roles are paid, flexible and rewarding. Are you ready to join the movement? Apply with our online form.
