Jobs

Finding a job in France isn’t easy, especially when you don’t speak the language well or know the culture. However, there are some solutions which we’ll summarise in this article. 

Expressions 

As in every language, there are several words for ‘job’ : travail, job, taff, boulot… You can also say ‘je vais bosser’ (‘I’m going to work’) as a more informal way to say ‘aller travailler’. 

Employment 

The key website for finding a job, a course, or simply obtaining more information related to these subjects is France Travail, the national job agency.

This is also where you can sign up for unemployment benefits, which is financial support you can receive from the state if you have already worked in France. 

Here is how to request unemployment benefits:

• You need to register with France Travail no later than 12 months after the end of your work contract, unless this period is extended. 
• Register online at francetravail.fr by clicking on the link ‘S’inscrire / Se réinscrire’. 
• You must be living in the national territory where the unemployment benefit rules apply. 
• This means that you won’t be able to receive unemployment benefits if you move abroad for more than a certain length of time, whether for work or holidays. 

Temporary work

You can also do temporary work, known as intérim. You’ll need to register with a temporary recruitment agency (agence d’intérim). Here’s a list of them: https://mes-commerces.marseille.fr/annuaire/ville/marseille-13/agences-d-interim-d-emploi

Casual work via apps 

Another possibility is to find casual work (like babysitting, petsitting, manual jobs, etc.) on smartphone applications or websites such as Yoopies or JobToday. With a quick search engine browse, you should be able to find something to suit you.  

Speculative applications 

You can also simply print off your CV and go and hand it in to shops, restaurants or other places you’d like to work. This is common practice in the catering and sales sectors in France. 

You can of course also send your CV by email or use LinkedIn, depending on the sector you’d like to work in. 

French employment laws 

In France, there are many laws which protect workers: a minimum salary, a 35-hour working week, paid holidays, etc… 

Here’s a summary: 

In France, there’s a minimum hourly wage, known as the SMIC (salaire minimum de croissance). 

Employees cannot legally be paid less than this amount. It applies to all salaried adults and all types of payment (whether based on time worked, performance, a task, commission or tips). The employer can be fined if they pay an employee less than the minimum wage. They might also be ordered to pay damages to the employee. 

The SMIC, or minimum wage, is 1801.80 euros gross per month, or 1426.30 euros net (when all social contributions and taxes have been deducted). 

Finally, every employee is entitled to holiday days (congés payés) paid by the employer. For every month worked, the employee is granted 2.5 holiday days, except in particular situations.  During their holidays, the employer pays the employee a holiday allowance (indemnité de congés payés).