Working abroad in France

Working in France can be an amazing opportunity to develop your career, and one that you should definitely take if you have the time, the skills and the ability to speak French.

As a vast, diverse country in the heart of Europe, with the sixth highest GDP in the world, there are few countries that provide a greater variety of lucrative, enriching work opportunities. Whether you want to earn money while enjoying a holiday in the Riviera, or are hoping to get your foot on the ladder of a career in France, there are plenty of exciting, unique jobs to be found.

Depending on whereabouts in France you want to work, and what kind of work you wish to undertake, it's worth checking out local job boards online to see what kind of work is available.

On a national level, the APEC (the Association Pour l'Emploi des Cadres) and Pôle Emploi (Employment Centre) websites are great resources for finding jobs in France, as they list ads from a wide variety of sectors. You can use these websites to customise your search criteria and sign up for email alerts when a new job opportunity appears.

If you are not a resident of France, Switzerland or an EU/EEA nation, you will need a permit to work in the country. A short-stay visa, which will give you permission to stay in France for 90 days or fewer, typically does not permit you the right to work in France, but a long-stay visa will allow you to gain employment. Generally, your employer will sort out a work visa once they have offered you the job.

Depending on the line of work you are interested in and your qualifications, there are certain specialty visas that may apply to you. Additionally, if you are studying in France, your student visa may permit you to work part-time.

Most work opportunities in France will require you to have at least some understanding on the language, although the exact level of French will depend on the position. Application forms will tend to specify how much French they expect you to know, however you can generally expect more customer-facing jobs to have higher expectations of French language proficiency.

Chalets will typically employ workers for the ski season, which lasts from winter to spring. There are lots of different jobs to choose from, depending on the chalet, from host to chef to general assistant.

Working at a chalet is a unique experience. You'll be given accommodation and often provided with meals too. It's a great to make friends as you earn money, though being stuck in the mountains isn't for everyone.

Given the nature of the job, guests can be quite demanding and may expect you to have a sound knowledge of skiing, so that's something to bear in mind!

Paris frequently tops the charts for highest number of tourists in the world, but France is full of cities with fascinating histories and countless tourists who want to learn about them. Even if you yourself are one of these tourists, you can put your bilingual skills to use as a tour guide. English-language tour guides are not the only ones in high demand. Spanish, Chinese, German, Dutch and Italian are all popular too.

There are different types of jobs entailed by the title 'translator'. You could be an interpreter, who live translates French into English - or vice versa - for an audience. Or you could translate documents for companies. Much translation work of this sort is freelance, meaning you will be free to move location and work at your own hours.

France is perhaps more famous for its vineyards than any other country in the world. From burgundy to chardonnay, So many of the most famous come from France, and working on a vineyard is an amazing and highly rewarding opportunity for those who want to get away from the city.

While France is one of the top tourism destinations in the world, it also has one of the lowest numbers of people who can speak English in Europe. English teachers are therefore in high demand, and if you can speak both French and English, your language skills will be considered particularly valuable all over the country.

There are numerous ways to teach English, from being employed by a school or college to working as a private tutor. Apps like iTalki allow you to teach on a freelance basis.

Working in a bar is a great way to improve your French communication skills - provided you are already reasonably fluent, of course. You’ll need to be prepared to take orders from, and be asked questions by. drunk French speakers in a loud environment. But it’s also a good and quick way to earn money while soaking up the French nightlife. Cities such as Paris, Marseille and Lyon in particular are famous for their nightlife.

Wherever there are people, there are restaurants. Indeed, Paris alone has nearly 50,000 restaurants. Waiters are always needed to take and deliver orders. Most waiting roles don't require many qualifications, and restaurants are often happy to take on waiters on a temporary basis, making it a suitable job for those who don't plan on staying in France for long.

It's important that your French is up to scratch, however, as this is a communication-based role. This is something employers will be looking out for during the interview. But if you can land a waiter role, it's a fantastic opportunity to make a bit of money while immersing yourself in the culinary culture of a country renowned around the world for its food.

'Au pair' is French for 'equal to', meaning that someone in this position is supposed to feel an equal among the rest of the household. Their job is to take on a share of the family's responsibility, which typically involves looking after a child. Au pairs will often live with the host family, meaning accommodation and food are taken care - which makes the job ideal for newcomers or visitors to France looking for a place to stay.

That doesn't necessarily mean you're always at work, however. Many au pair jobs are part-time, and allow for a good deal of flexibility.

You can find listings for au pairs in France at websites such as aurpair.com or TEFL Plus.