Today I got a question from a Secrets of Paris reader (a friend of a friend, in fact) that is similar to many I have received in the past, so I thought I’d share this Q&A with all of you!
Hello Heather,
My name is Jan, and I am moving to Paris in a few months because of my boyfriend’s job. We will be living there for 6 months, a year or longer…depending on the job. I have desperately been seeking employment in Paris. I have my masters in TESOL with 4 years of experience. I was wondering if you have any suggestions or help to offer me. I have applied to several jobs, all of them said that while I am qualified, they are unable to give me a job bc I am not a EU citizen and don’t have a work visa. I thought the job would give you the visa but I guess not? At this point, I would do any type of job, just something to make a little extra money while living there. Since we are not married, his company will not do anything….and I’m not even sure if they would be able to get me a work visa if we were married. Any information you could provide me with with me so very helpful.
Thank you so much for your time,
Jan
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Hi Jan,
My advice? Sell your car, raid your piggy bank, or have a few bake sales before you leave the US, then live off that money while in Paris and just try to enjoy being here. Why? Because you are going to make yourself miserable trying to find work.
Even for the French, the job market is very tight. Always has been. There isn’t the same kind of job flexibility here like there is in the US. Most people do the same job they’ve always done, and for which they have a degree that they studied for since their first year in high school. Of course, once you get a job here, it’s practically impossible to lose it. So employers take few chances when hiring.
Even if you find work, getting a visa as an non-EU resident is almost impossible because the employer has to prove to the government that no other French nor EU citizen can do the same job (for example, English teachers are competing with the Irish, and Spanish teachers are competing with the Spanish). Finally, because you’re only in the country for a relatively short time, it makes employers even less interested in submitting the tedious paperwork (a process that could, optimistically speaking, take up to six months to get approved even if you did convince them of your case).
Not that I want to be a big humbug, I just have seen too many people ruin what could be a great experience discovering a new place by trying to wade through one of THE most difficult processes of living here. Why do you think that I own my own company? It was easier than getting a job, and I have a visa, speak fluent French, and have lived here 13 years. 😉
Of course, if you want to risk working under the table part time, there are some jobs such as teaching or tutoring privately or babysitting. If you can find some freelance translation work in the US that lets you work from Paris, then that may be an easier option for you. Some opportunities may fall in your lap, so be open to them, but don’t rely on it.
I hope this helps you a little bit. Do try and at least live here a few months without TRYING to find work. Enjoy it while you can. 😉
Regards,
Heather
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If anyone else has constructive recommendations for Jan, please do comment below.