You’re looking for a job in Paris? Mômji are one of the country’s leading employers and is on hand with 8 tips to help you get your perfect job.
It’s easy to see why working in Paris appeals to so many English-speakers every year. Probably the continent’s most iconic city, Paris is full of history, the best cuisine and beautiful areas to live. Easily accessible on public transport from the centre and outskirts, as well as having high-speed train connections to the far-ends of the country and abroad, it’s very much the centre of Europe.
On paper, finding job openings in the French capital is notoriously tricky. There’s a lot of competition for each role and if your French-speaking skills aren’t fluent – that battle is even tougher. However, if you know the right things and prepare yourself well, finding a job when you're a non French Speaker is definitely an achievable task.
Check out these 8 tips and speed up your Paris job search.
1 – SORT YOUR VISA
If you’re from Europe (specifically the EEU/EEA), then you don’t need a visa to work in Paris. Already, that gives you an advantage in saving time applying for one.
However, if you’re looking to work in Paris and are coming from another country, you’ll need to apply for a work and a residence visa. You can find all the information you need here and the applications should be sent off at the same time. It is crucial to be aware of your application process and status. For an employer, a candidate who isn’t informed about the need for a visa could show you aren’t taking the job seriously and are slow to complete tasks. Make sure you’re on top of your visa status.
2 – UPDATE YOUR CV
The CV in Paris is a completely different beast to that of the UK or other countries. One side of A4 is normally recommended, two sides at a push – any longer and your potential employer is likely to not take the time reading it. Spend time making your CV as concise, yet detailed, as possible. Paris does merit its sleek reputation and your CV should be efficient to match that.
Another difference in France is that a lot of applicants include a headshot on the CV. It’s a controversial idea for those not used to doing so, but making sure you have a professional photo there could well make your application seem better thought through. If you don’t feel uncomfortable doing so, however, it is not a deal-breaker.
3 – START YOUR SEARCH ONLINE
Even if you’re not already in Paris, there’s no excuse for not starting your job search. A lot of candidates want to wait until arriving in the capital to work out what’s going on, but you can get ahead of the game by browsing jobs online first.
As well as our English Speaking jobs in Paris, there’s a host of job websites that you can access anywhere to browse opportunities. Indeed, The Local and L’Etudiant are all great for English-speakers and if you’re looking to use your English to teach children you can find a job with Mômji.
4 – USE YOUR NETWORK
Word of mouth is one of the best ways of coming across Parisian opportunities. Although the city is huge, news travels fast between friends and family – you’ll often hear Parisians discussing something they heard from a friend of a friend on café terraces of an evening.
If you know anyone at all in Paris or might have friends or family who do, it’s worth letting them know about your job search and what you’re looking for. Having eyes and ears on the street is sure to boost your chances of coming across a hidden job opportunity in Paris.
5 – GET OUT AND ABOUT
As great as using a network is, it’s obviously even better if you can do the groundwork yourself. Job websites are a fantastic resource, but if you are in Paris and able to get out and about, you never know what you might come across. Advertising in windows and on boards in shops are still popular in Paris so be sure to keep your eyes open when exploring ‘la vie parisienne’.
6 – HAVE YOUR HOUSING SORTED
If job openings are at a premium, it’s important to be ready to start ASAP. If a company needs a role filling quickly, and you need a couple of weeks to sort out accommodation, you can be sure there’s another applicant already raring to go.
Even if you haven’t found a room to rent yet, being willing to spend a few nights in a hotel or hostel to get started ASAP is a good idea. Housing in Paris is another battle, get some tips on our article 10 tips for housing in Paris, but an important one to have sorted when taking job interview.
7 – CHECK THE JOB REQUIREMENTS
Sometimes, when applying for jobs, a desire to be invited to interview can lead to sending off cover letters to every advertisement you see. Really, this is a gross waste of time.
It’s important to be concise in your job search. In every description check the number of years experience and qualifications required. It may cut down the applications you send off, but you’re better off investing more time in opportunities that actually match your profile than speculative applications.
8 – TRY ENGLISH SPEAKING COMPANIES
If you’re looking for a job in Paris and have a mother tongue level of English, you’re at an advantage. There’s a lot of companies looking for English-speakers and Parisians wanting to learn English too.
If you’ve got the language skill, you should flaunt it. Mômji employs thousands of English speakers in Paris every year and could be exactly what you’re looking for. Apply here for our babysitting and teaching jobs.
