This is the fourth part of my series on moving to Paris.
As a major European capital, Paris has a diverse and active employment market. Many companies have their French, European, or even global headquarters here, which makes for great opportunities in the managerial and secretarial sectors. As Paris is a major leisure and business tourist center, there are also many jobs to be had in hotels, restaurants, and museums.
If you’re coming from the UK, congratulations! As EU citizens you have full working and residence rights in all of France, so you can bypass the next section.
Do I need a visa to work in Paris?
If you’re from outside of the EU, then the answer is absolutely yes! So how do you get one of these bad boys?
In order to get a work visa, you’ll need an employer to sponsor you for the visa. For them, they’ll have to pay a tax and be willing to go through a procedure that could take up to six months. They’ll also need to prove that they weren’t able to find someone in the local job market to fill the position.
Working without a visa is not recommended. In France, working is heavily regulated and the penalties for the employee as for the employer are very heavy. Workers without a visa are generally in low skilled, backroom employment, and are generally easily replaceable.
So how can I find a job in Paris?
Thanks to the internet, it’s quite easy to put up your French CV onto an online job search site such as Monster.fr or Talents.fr. I’d also recommend uploading it to the Pole Emploi website, which is the government agency that looks after job seekers.
Also, if you have contacts in Paris, use them! Networking is quite important in filling jobs in France, and who you know is almost as important as what you know. Many jobs are filled before the advertisement is even published.
Where are the jobs located in Paris?
The jobs could really be anywhere in the region, although the major commercial centres aren’t always within the city limits. There are many offices in western Paris, particularly in the 1st, 2nd, 8th, and 16th arrondissements. However, you can also find many jobs in La Defense or even to the north around Stade de France.
Do you work in Paris? How did you get your job? Share your story below!
Recent Comments