Find jobs

 How to find a job? In France more than in many other countries, the search for a job can be a real obstacle course. Employers are looking for a young, highly qualified, experienced, specialised and operational candidate. If you are not all this, get ready for a full-time job: job hunting! Networking and Internet are now the most efficient tools for your search, but this page will give you some other tips.

• Answer an ad

Where to find them? You can find job offers in the small ads just about everywhere, from your local shop to Internet: the possibilities are endless but the following tend to be the most profitable:> NewspapersAs from Monday morning, check classified ads in the main national and regional newspapers. They usually have a special column with job ads once or twice a week. For example : On Mondays: Le Figaro, France-Soir, Le Parisien, Libération On Tuesdays: Les Echos, Le Monde Economie On Wednesdays: Le Parisien, Télérama, Expansion, Carrières et Emplois On Thursdays: Le Nouvel Observateur, L’Express, Le Moniteur du Commerce International On Fridays: Libération, Informatique Magazine Read also the specialised press of your professional sector: newspapers, newsletters, magazines… Most of them have a special column with job offers.  > Specialised websites Even if the employment crisis has affected websites specialised in job searching, they still hold a in dominant position on the labour market. Here are some of them: www.cadreemploi.fr  (jobs for executives) www.monster.fr www.lerucher.com   www.emploi.org (a broad selection of websites specialised in job search, in various sectors)   www.emploi.iledefrance.fr (portal for jobs in the Paris area) www.keljob.com http://emploi.journaldunet.com (jobs for professionals in multimedia, Internet,…) www.expat.org (international jobs) www.paris-jeunes-emploi.org  (portal for youth jobs in Paris) www.recrut.com  

www.letudiant.fr

www.cyber-emploi-centre.com (a broad selection of websites specialised in job search)

www.action-emploi.net

www.emailjob.com www.sourcea.fr (jobs in the service sector)

www.directemploi.com > Ads published on the companies' or organisations' websites 70% of big companies have a recruitment section on their website, where you can find job ads and apply for a position. This method takes quite some time, as you first need to select a list of interesting companies (Use a company directory: see above), then to visit each website, but it can pay off.

Some tips when applying for a position Once you have decided what kind of job you want and picked some ads, you should carry out your application campaign by writing to all of the companies you have selected. Your letter of application should be clear, hand-written and should always be accompanied by your CV. If you are applying by e-mail, write a short, clear letter and attach your CV. It is better to send the CV as an attachment rather than adding it to the end of the letter. You should always follow up the written application a few days later with a phone call to the Human Resources Department or to the person in charge of recruitment, in order to check that your application has been received and read. This is an opportunity to try to get an interview.

If you are applying to shops, hotels and restaurants or other tourism companies, it’s a good idea to go in person and leave your CV.

• Send an unsolicited application

The labour market is divided in two parts: the visible and the invisible. The visible part includes all the job ads you find on Internet, in the newspapers or through employment agencies. The invisible part represents all the recruitments that occur without any published ad: by unsolicited application or networking. 45% of candidates land a job this way.  Where to get informed?

The first thing to do is to gather as much information as possible on the sector you’re interested in: what are the main companies? What is the employment situation?  You will get this information from Internet or from the French Economic Missions based in your country. The Economic Missions supply information about investment in France and the French market. They are not initially aimed at individuals, yet they can give you contacts and tips. Another interesting source of information are the French Chambers of Commerce in your country. As they aim at supporting French companies abroad, they can give you some useful contacts. You should also check trade fairs near your place of residence. If there are French companies, you can go in person and leave your CV, or at least get some information. Finally, use the company directories that are to be found on Internet. They will provide you with a precious list of companies that operate in your sector. Contact those companies directly and show them the increase in value you can bring: your language competences, you knowledge of a foreign country, your different experience… Useful websites: List of French Economic Missions worldwide: www.missioneco.org List of French Chambers of Commerce worldwide: www.uccife.org Company directories: www.kompass.fr , www.indexa.fr , www.pagespro.com, www.europages.fr

List of trade fairs: www.biztradeshows.com

• Use the services of employment agencies

EURES network Set up in 1993, EURES is a co-operation network between the European Commission and the Public Employment Services of the EEA Member States (EU countries plus Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) and other partner organisations. Switzerland also takes part in EURES co-operation. The purpose of EURES is to provide information, advice and recruitment/placement (job-matching) services for the benefit of workers and employers as well as any citizen wishing to benefit from the principle of the free movement of persons. In addition to its job mobility portal where you can find job offers and advice on workers’ mobility, EURES has a human network of more than 700 EURES advisers across Europe. Information and jobs on: http://europa.eu./eures  A public institution, Pôle Emploi is France’s national employment agency.  Throughout France local agencies help French employers fill job vacancies and aid job seekers in finding suitable employment.  Information and jobs on: www.pole-emploi.fr
APEC (Agence Pour l’Emploi des Cadres)  APEC is the managerial ( cadres ) division of  Pôle Emploi. It provides employment opportunities throughout France for young graduates and executives. Information and jobs on: www.apec.fr     

APECITA (Agence pour l’Emploi des Cadres, Ingénieurs et Techniciens de l’Agriculture)

APECITA is the employment agency specialised in agriculture, food-processing and environment. It provides employment opportunities for both technicians or engineers. Information and jobs on: www.apecita.com 

• Use your own network   

Many recruitments are made through personal connections and alumni networks. Effective networking is a great way to find out about opportunities and 'get a foot in the door'. Thus the advice is to take advantage of every possible contact that you have, from friends, colleagues and classmates. Even the most casual acquaintances can sometimes point you towards a potential job lead. Persistence and confidence are vital ingredients to a successful job search. Source: CIDJ Photos: © F. de la Mure / Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and Goodshoot.com