Job options in france for a non-french speaker?

Question

im a 18yo guy from australia, doing a diploma of business management at TAFE (finishes at the end of year)

Im wondering if there are any decent jobs in france for a young australian who doesnt know any french??

(im considering going there because my gf is going there next year to teach english, she has been there many times and knows fluent french... if i choose to go with her, what jobs can i do?)

Answer 1

Well you might not like this job very much but you could do a garbage man

Answer 2

The unemployment rate here in France is very high. Even the French themselves are jobless let alone a foreigner. Plus you don't speak French and you are not European, so you can't even claim RMI in La Caf. The chance of your finding a job is very slim.

Many people are crazy to go to visit or live in France, but in fact life is very hard in France. It's a life of paper work and rendez-vous ( appointment, you have to make a appointment for everything ) and inconvenient opening hours for all offices and shops. Things are proceeding very slowly and ineffectively, you want to apply for a cheque book, you wait for 3 months .( while 5 days in UK ) Here we have a saying, people age quickly if they live in France. ( except the rich ones of course )

Answer 3

You really have to be able to speak the language. If you can't you're pretty much limited to manual labor

Answer 4

First off - make sure you have the proper paper work.  If you are not a member of the EU getting any kind of a job will be a real problem - even if you were fluent!

Your job opportunities will be limited if you can't speak the language.  Take a few intensive courses and learn French.  If you are going to be living there, you should speak the language.  The French don't like it when people expect them to speak English.  However, they love it when people attempt to learn French.   You will be treated much better by the French if you speak the language.  In addition, you will learn a lot more.  You plan on being in Business - why wouldn't you want to have a second language?

Also - being that you are still a student - could you put off your graduation and maybe arrange an internship in France?  France is pretty good about having student exchanges.  Just a thought.  Check with schools around you for study abroad and international internship programs.

Answer 5

You can find some little jobs, if you don't wanna stay for a long time, but I think that for a "decent job" as you say, in "business management", you have to talk french...sorry

Answer 6

Au pair, work at the Australian Embassy (requires some level of french), Volunteer work,

My advice - learn the language and double you eligibility.

Answer 7

It's hard. but you should have a look at job offering of FUSAC

http://www.fusac.fr/

It could help. Good luck

Answer 8

If you are going to be in a big city, what about an Australian bar or restaurant, maybe busboy in any restaurant.

What about an Australian bank or business.

good luck

Answer 9

I'm a French major. I have lived in France and hosted NINE exchange students.They DO NOT love it when you  try to speak French. In fact, they will switch to English if your French is substandard. I would suggest that you become an exchange student, because you aren't going to get  a job (of any kind, even a garbage man, much less an au pair [they will CERTAINLY expect you to communicate with the family & children in their native tongue]) with no French. Contrary to  our chauvanistic fantasies, the rest of the world DOES NOT speak English.

Also, it will be virtually impossible to gain permission to work in France. The requirements are stringint, much as they are here in the States for immigrants. I do wish you the best of luck; I would LOVE to live and work in France.

Answer 10

try looking up companies that are international, you will have more luck there, otherwise you need to speak french - even for jobs like trashman!

(there are a lot of companies that work with the US so you may have hope there)

Answer 11

Your chances of getting a job are just about zero, unless you have a EU passport.  

France is part of the Schengen zone (Google that one) and, if travelling on an Australia passport, you can only stay in this area for 90 days out of every 180 days.  So basically a 3 month period, and if you stay longer you will be considered an illegal resident and can be deported if you come to the notice of authorities ie seek medical treatment, have an accident, get into any trouble.

The is another option, and that's to get a Working Holiday Visa for France.  You will need to apply for this in Australia, and to the French Embassy.  Allow some months for it to be approved.  But again, getting a job in France will be problematic as you don't speak the language, and there are plenty of people from poorer EU countries you will be employed ahead of you

Answer 12

You can be a " fils au père" : a sort of babysitter who is here to teach your language at the baby (you speak only english and you don't have to speak french even with the family). You live in his family. It's not really great  but I don't have any other ideas.

If she's going there next year, you can have lessons to learn basics. Then you could have a job in a restaurant or in a hotel.

You won't have problem about visa, etc cause the french government "like" foreigners who aren't from north Africa. Sarkozy, the president is racist against arabic people ( I hope he won't still be the president in 5 years ) but if you're it will be ok for you.

Answer 13

Well, i'm kind of in the same boat. I have family there, it is very hard getting a job there if you do not speak french. Imagine some one french going to australia and trying to find a job its a little difficult if that person doesnt know the native language.

First, learn french. If you go to wikipedia.com and look under learn french, they have a whole section on the basics, also I bought a audio cd to help me a have it in my car and play it every where I go.

Second, decide on the city you want to live. If your on a budget get rid of the idea of living in Paris, look for surrounding cities or other cities in france.

Third, Get a basic job like busboy, dish washer, cleaning services. Jobs you dont need to speak french but can pick up as you go along. these jobs would have to be payed under the table.

Fourth, establish residency and apply for citizen ship. This is going to be hard and you might even have to go back to your country and then return because of the time limit you have there.

Its not as easy as it seems to live in a different counrty but its possible. If you really want to live in france you'll find your way.

PS. I would advice you to take a vacation there first. France is beautiful but its not for everyone, you might get there and think maybe its not for you.  fly to france and take a train to maybe 4 countries and see which you like and feel comfortable.

Answer 14

Not a whole lot. The only jobs I know are to teach English, but then again you need to have some level of French in order to communicate on a daily basis. And also, I've heard it's hard to get a job if you are a foreigner, unless you are marrying a French citizen.