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Before the pandemic began in 2020, the French market was booming and the number of vacancies was constantly growing. The unemployment rate fell to a 10-year low in the previous year. However, the country was among the most affected by the coronavirus crisis. But unlike America, which temporarily stopped issuing several types of work visas, France seems to have decided to go a different route. The country has recalled the "Passport-talent" system, which gives advantages to qualified specialists and investors when moving. In addition, in the spring of 2020, president Macron announced plans to turn his country into a "nation of startups" and allocate €4 billion for their development. And this plan will also require foreign specialists.
However, there is a great need for simple physical labor in the country. But here the competition for employees is huge due to people from French-speaking countries in Africa and Asia, who are already on the territory of the state and therefore have an advantage.
Where to find a job? The answer to this question is not obvious. On the one hand, it is clear that most vacancies are in major cities, and statistics confirm this: Paris and Lyon are considered the most promising. On the other hand, analysts urge to pay attention to relatively small cities: there are fewer vacancies, but housing is noticeably cheaper and the cost of living is lower. Besancon, Orleans and Saint-Etienne are leading the rankings. However, the choice of city largely depends on what specialty you have and what kind of job you are applying for.
1. Highly qualified employees with experience in their field who can apply for a Blue Card. The main difficulty is to interest the employer. This is not easy to do, because the full documentation falls on their shoulders.
In addition, they must convince the state that you are vital to it, and there is no better candidate in France and the EU countries. The fact is that a foreigner should be paid a salary at least 1.5 times higher than the minimum. That's at least €2,200 a month. This is a very good income for France, which the locals will agree to. That is why there is high competition here.
2. Technical and IT specialists who are included in the list of scarce professionals. It is also more than possible for them to pass all the procedures. The list has not changed since 2008, you can get acquainted with it at any local employment agency.
This includes about 30 positions, including specialists in the field of construction, mechanical engineering, processing, Metalworking, etc. That is, people with a narrow specialization. Plus, there are no salary requirements (but not lower than the minimum in the country) and the employer does not need to prove to the authorities that they need you.
3. Research fellow. Foreigners with a master's degree or higher can work in France as researchers or University teachers. To apply for such a job, the employer must be an educational / research organization, sign a contract with a potential employee and register it with the local administration. Next, a separate type of long-term visa Protocol d'accueil is issued for a year.
4. Au Pair. The international program allows young people aged 18-30 to work in the country as domestic staff in French families. In fact, it is difficult to call it work. A foreigner lives in a family and provides the necessary assistance: looks after children, cleans the house, prepares simple meals for the child, sometimes does Laundry and goes to the store (in General-no more than 30 hours a week). Evening child care is the exception rather than the rule. There are also 1.5 days off per week and 2 weeks of vacation.
The situation is more difficult with low-skilled and seasonal workers who do not have special knowledge. Applying for any French company, such visitors can claim either low pay (at the minimum level), or hard physical labor. But, on the other hand, it is a great opportunity to get used to the country a little, improve the French language, make useful acquaintances and understand whether you want to stay here or not.
There are a number of large verified sites for job search in France:
Additional sources:
Specialized websites:
You can also search for jobs in local periodicals, but the popularity of this method has fallen sharply with the advent of specialized sites. However, in 2020 some newspapers still publish ads from employers:
If you don't want to waste time on independent searches, contact the services of specialized recruitment agencies. For a full list of those in France, see the PagesJaunes website.
If you are interested in working in the food industry, you should know that in France there are several large chains that are constantly recruiting employees: Bistro Romain, Oh!.. Poivrier, Pomme de Pain, Pizza Hut. Therefore, if you come to France in person, do not forget to look here. You can also go to the sites of these institutions and search for current vacancies there. And if you want to have fun and communicate with children, go to the website of the French Park Asterix.
An internship in France is a great way to see life in the country from the inside: get to know people, the local way of life, the specifics of working in companies, practice and improve your language. But only the following categories of people can go to it:
When you are accepted for an internship, you are awarded a Convention de stage contract, which is certified by the D. I. R. E. C. C. T. E (local labor Inspectorate). If you fall into one of the above categories, there are usually no problems with certification.
Student programs of this type offer a monthly stipend of €500, as well as accommodation and meals at the expense of the host party. The internship lasts at least three months. If you are preparing documents and looking for a company that is ready to take you through an agency, please note that the cost of such services is around €1,700-2,000 (without air tickets).
If you are studying in a different field, you can search for internship programs in France, for example, on the GoAbroad website.
Please note that it takes a long time to find a job in the country. And the best option before accessing Internet resources is to go to the city you are interested in and methodically bypass the local institutions where you would like to work: look at the HR Department, contact the manager and administrator, leaving your resume and contacts. This approach often saves you months of searches on the web.
First of all, you need to find a suitable job, successfully pass the interview and sign an employment contract. There are two types of contracts in France:
The contract is then sent to the local Ministry of Labor and the office of immigration and integration OFII. If approval is received from these organizations, the documents are sent to the French Consulate of your country to apply for a work visa.
If everything went smoothly, you were approved by the local authorities and you received a visa, after moving you need to register with OFII and, if the period of stay exceeds three months, get a residence permit. One of the conditions for the issue is a signed CAI admission and integration agreement, which involves taking special courses in the French language and local values.
Visas that allow you to work in France can be short-term (up to 90 days) and long-term (national, but with the right to move around the territory of the European Union).
Long-term visa
There are different types of such a visa: a specific one is selected depending on the conditions and the position you are applying for. But not all of these visas give you the right to work. Only the following:
1. Working OFII. The term is one year with the right to extend. You will need a contract with your employer (for at least three months) and a work permit.
2. By the Au Pair program. Issued for 6-18 months, can not be extended. To get it, you need a contract signed with the host family, proof of registration for French language courses and a document stating that you are a student or employee.
3. Student. Validity period - from 6 months. After completing your studies, you can apply for a visa for six months to find a job. A mandatory document - proof that you have entered a French university. But keep in mind that you can work no more than 24 hours a week on this visa (up to 60% of the officially established standard of working time per year).
4. For researchers (protocole d'accueil). It is valid for one year and can be extended. You will need a contract with an employer that is accredited as a research or training organization.
5. For talents (compétences et talents). Term – up to three years, can be extended. One of the two types of long-term visas that does not give the right to a residence permit, allows you to issue only a temporary stay. Issued for the implementation of a creative or scientific project and allows you to work only within its framework. To get it, you will need to confirm the relevant qualifications and prove that you have property in your home country.
6. For working on vacation (vacances-travail). It is issued only once for four months, but can be extended up to a year in case of employment. This is the second option of a long-term visa, which does not issue a permanent residence permit. You can only apply for a temporary one. Mandatory requirement - age 18-30 years. Allows you to search for a job in the country, study and work for any company.
7. Blue Card. Validity period - 1-3 years, can be extended. But the first two years must work for the employer specified in the contract. Requirements: a contract with the company for a period of at least one year, a sought-after specialty (higher education or work experience of at least 5 years), a guaranteed salary – 1.5 times higher than the average.
Among all types, the most popular is the OFII visa. To get it, the applicant and the employer enter into a contract, which is transmitted to the D. I. R. E. C. C. T. E. through this service, a preliminary work permit is issued. Then the documents are sent to OFII and the Embassy of the employee's country. On average, it takes 2-5 months between signing the contract and getting a work visa.
A procedure for obtaining an Au Pair visa is simple, which is also in demand. In this case, the final work permit is issued by the D. I. R. E. C. C. T. E.
Short stay visa
A Schengen visa that provides the right to work in the country. It is easier to get it than a long-term one, but a contract with the employer and D. I. R. E. C. C. T. E. approval will still be required. Also, a number of additional documents: a certificate from your current place of work (if you have one), documents confirming the existence of savings and property.
In 2020, the following specialists were most often searched for:
According to analysts, these professions will be in demand in the next five years.
Seasonal workers are also in demand: every year the country is visited by about 100,000 foreigners who participate in the harvest. Earnings for such people vary between €1,200-2,000.
Many vacancies are also offered in the tourism sector: cafes, bars, hotels, campsites, ski resorts, etc. You will work as waiters, maids, cashiers, assistant cooks, etc. In many cases, knowledge of the language is required. The salary is around €1,500-3,000.
The minimum wage in France in 2020 is €1,539. 4 per month, the average salary is €4,130 per month. This indicator is one of the highest in the European Union.
As a rule, the income of a foreign employee is registered for a year in advance in the employment contract. In addition, the 13th salary is paid. The official working week is 35 hours, but in fact employees of private companies work about 40 hours.
The level of wages in professions:
Salaries seem to be quite good, but keep in mind that the cost of living in France is not small. For example, renting a one-bedroom apartment in Toulouse and Nice will cost from €500-600 per month, in Paris – from €600 in remote areas, from €1,000 – in the center. Add in the utility bills of €150-250. Food in stores and food in cafes are not cheap. In the 2020 ranking, France was ranked among the most expensive European countries.
The salary tax varies from 0% to 49% depending on its size. For example, income less than €6,000 per year is not taxed, and if it is between €26,500 and €70,000, the rate is already 30%. Plus, every month the employer deducts 15.5% for social security (medical, pension insurance).
Consider working in other countries:
As you can see, getting a job in France is more than realistic. It is only a question of patience and the level of income that the employer offers. If you are looking for a job in a popular specialty, you can count on decent wages and good social security. It will not take much effort to find jobs that are designed for the season or do not require special skills. Even knowledge of French is not always required. But in this case, keep in mind that the working conditions will be grueling (for example, at the harvest), and the salary is not the highest. Nevertheless, it is a good option to earn extra money, change the environment, get acquainted with a new country and look at local life.
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