It’s helpful when you are studying in a foreign country like France, UK, and Canada, and you want to keep living thereafter your graduation. You will get a work permit so easily because of the work experience during studying. Working in France while studying is simple and possible, plus it’s a great way for you to practice your French. Speaking French will be very easy to attend to customers or flow with your colleagues.
Your working rights as an international student in France
Let’s start off by learning a few rules on working as a student in France:
Every student has the right to work while studying in France.
However, if you’re not a European student you will need a student residence permit to be allowed to work, and you can generally work fewer hours per week (part-time).
You are entitled to the minimum wage.
Regardless of your residential status, you are entitled by law to minimum wage, also known as the SMIC (Salaire Minimum Interprofessionnel de Croissance).
It is €9.76 gross per hour as of January 1st, 2018. This wage is gross; you have to deduct mandatory social charges (about 20%) to find out how much you really take: €7.61/hour.
If you work 10 hours per week for the minimum wage, you will earn about €78 net.
Work at your host university.
In France, foreign students can also work at their host University or Institute. The work contracts last up to 12 months from September 1st to August 31st. They do work such as:
- Receiving students at the start of their academic year
- Cultural sports and activities
- Tutorials
- Assistance for students with disabilities etc.
Basically, your job would be contributing to the well-being and social atmosphere of the University. You would also have your working hours added to your timetable and classes in order to help you get a job in the future.
Do an Internship as part of your program.
Some degrees, in order to prepare for them, require you to complete an internship first. Both foreign students and French students are subject to the same rules as follow:
- The internship must be contractual, the establishment host has to sign the contract for the student.
- If the internship lasts more than two months, the student must be paid €577,50 per month.
How to working in France
Learn the Language
The general thing you need to do is to learn French as the language and speak good English.
In order to get a job in France, you have to know French. Most companies look to hire English-speaking employees, and knowing French is not much important but they are very rare, therefore learn it.
If you’ve been studying in France for some time now, it won’t be as difficult since you’re probably going to be studying French at University. You can also start learning French in online language apps such as Duolingo and Babbel. Also take courses from Académie Française or Leboncoin. Sart making French friends, pick up a French grammar book, anything that will help you learn the language.
Make a French CV
his means making your CV a little more complicated than you’re used to. The more experience and higher levels of employment – the longer the description. There’s also debate on whether or not to put a picture in your CV since most French agencies will require one, if they do, put a simple professional picture of you (an ID kind of picture) nothing too eye-catching like holding something (a drink, a book) or wearing bright clothes and/or makeup.
Be flexible to Working in France while Studying
Searching for a good job right away is almost impossible anywhere, especially in a foreign country where you don’t speak the language fluently. Simple jobs like waitressing or teaching can be helpful for you to fill up your CV with experience, and slowly get a job you really want until you learn the language. Also working on campus will also help to get good experience and CV. Most people work on campus in France as a cleaner, teaching, or set up a mini business on campus.
Look in the right places to Working in France while Studying
Sites like Erasmusu, Monster, Keljob, Recruit, Pole Emploi, The APEC, and Cadremploi are a good way to start looking for available jobs for you. You can also use Linkedin and Facebook to connect with people and agencies.
Make preparations
This means getting your paperwork ready and carrying it with you at all times in case you need it. Documents like:
- Your CV
- Copies of your Passports
- Health Card
- Visas
- Working papers
- Old payslips
- Household bills
- Any other document that the employer might ask from you
The French employment system is more difficult so you need to research the differences in work contracts and what applies to you.
Best student jobs in France
There are a lot of good jobs in France to work as a student but we will only list out a few of them.
- Café jobs
You will not only be working in cafés but also in malls, restaurants, any place that offers service. France is a large country with plenty of cafés shops, which means they are always looking for new help. Especially English-speaking people that would add more diversity to the staff. - Assistant at a University
As a student, you can apply to get a research assistantship or a graduate assistantship at a University. The job would entail attending tutorials with professors, writing in literature, assisting in research, and help the professor’s needs. - Other jobs at Universities
As we said before that you can take Internships at your host University by helping with the morale of the students. But you can also get a job at a University like working at the university’s international office or the marketing office, they always have job posts on their websites so find any University that will be good for you, and see if there is a vacancy for you.
Working in France after graduation
So you want to keep working and living in France after graduation. Maybe it’s the buttery croissants or the astonishing architecture, whatever it is there are solutions if you still want to work in France after you graduate.
