Based on the popular blog ‘Stuff White People Like‘, Paris wine guide Olivier Magny takes you through Parisian quicks and tics – an absolute must read for anyone trying to understand what makes Parisians Parisians.
http://www.o-chateau.com/blog/
The Paris Blog
The Paris blog aggregates several blogs written by expats in Paris. It’s always on top of what’s going on in Paris.
Gridskipper Paris
If you’re looking for ideas of where to go this weekend, you’ll be spoilt for choice going through Gridskipper’s Paris archives.
http://gridskipper.com/tag/paris
I V Y Paris News
Artist’s group I V Y paris keeps you up to date on the Paris cultural scene. Keep an eye out for their monthly events!
Swagger Paris
When you get to Paris, you’ll probably want to go through your wardrobe. Chic, cool, bobo, or absolutely ridiculous, you’ll find inspiration to find your own Parisian look.
Moving to a new place where you may not know many people is never easy, even less so when you don’t speak the language and the city is a big as Paris. And the truth is, the city can sometimes feel like an isolating place.
But there’s no need to sit at home alone feeling lonely! Last week I told you about the Pastas parties, but there are a whole host of things you can do to get out and meet people!
Kunveno Exchange
For the culturally and globally minded amongst you, Kunveno helps expats to feel at home in Europe and loves to share events that its members suggest.
Angloinfo
One of the largest directories of information for English-speaking expats around the world, Angloinfo has a host of links to organisations, clubs, and associations in the Paris area. There’s sure to be something for you!
http://paris.angloinfo.com/af/4/paris-&-ile-de-france-community-life-paris-and-ile-de-france.html
Meetups
Meetup.com has loads of groups that meet up on a regular basis around all sorts of themes and interests.
http://www.meetup.com/fr/cities/fr/paris/groups/
Language Exchanges
If you need to practice you’re French, a language exchange is a perfect way to brush up on your language skills while helping others to learn English or another language. Try the two links below!
http://letthemtalk.com/parler-in-the-park.html
Are you looking to meet people in Paris? Are you organising an event? Let us know below!
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!
To start your search, there’s no better place than the internet to get an idea of what’s on offer. There are many websites in French and a few in English to get you started.
FUSAC (http://fusac.fr/en/annonces_categories.php)
Paris’s most popular English-language classifieds newspaper also has an online section dedicated to housing offers. The emphasis here is on Paris, and you’re certain to find a landlord who speaks English, and is more likely to be understanding of your situation. But be advised: the places listed go quickly, often even by the time the print edition hits the presses.
De Particulier à Particulier (http://www.pap.fr)
The PAP is one of France’s most popular property classifieds papers, and also has a website in English. With PAP, you deal directly with the landlords and avoid estate agents’ charges (1-2 months’ rent).
Craigslist (http://geo.craigslist.org/iso/fr)
America’s favourite classifieds website is also available in France. It’s not particularly well known here, and you have to look out for scams. It’s a good place to start if you’re looking for something short-term while you get your bearings. You do need to be wary of scams, however, and you should be aware that subletting is technically illegal in France.
SeLoger.co.uk (http://www.seloger.co.uk)
The English-language version of another popular French property website will be able to help you find a place. However, unlike the PAP, most ads are placed by estate agents so you will be charged fees. These are listed along with the apartments.
ColocationFrance.fr (http://www.colocationfrance.fr)
This website is dedicated to helping you find a roommate. It’s only in French, so to use you will need a certain background in the language to navigate the site. Having a roommate is a good way to learn the language, and you can always see if you can’t give your roomy English lessons in exchange for lower rent.
Have you used any of these websites? Do you know of any others? Let us know what you think in the comments!