any jobs going?

kayll · #1 (**permalink**) 14th May 2008, 11:20 AM

Bonjour everyone,
Just a note to say Hi and to tell anyone that may have been through what I may find myself in and thats wanting to move to France but would have to hit the ground running!,so to speak.
Idealy I would work either coaching tennis or painting portraits but obviously beggars can't be chosers.Any info as to how I can give this very long desire to give living in France a go would be much appreciated.So if there are any gite or hotel owners out there who need a tennis coach/waiter/handyman/portrait painter etc.?.
My spoken French is OK but Am working on that.Areas to live would be Provence or the Nice area as a first chose but have an open mind really.

Merci KAYLL

giantpanda · #2 (**permalink**) 14th May 2008, 11:39 AM

Hi!

If you do not benefit from an E106, you then have auite some problems in France with the fact that you would have to present a private Health Insurance ( costs over Euro 3500 per year per person) or have quite some reserves.

See the present red tape.

Etrangers en France - Service-public.fr

Coming to France, without a permanent job, would be a big risk. I appreciate that it would be difficult to find a job, if you are not on the spot.

Yours,

giantpanda

Bevdeforges · #3 (**permalink**) 14th May 2008, 01:21 PM

Hi Kayll - unfortunately, you're probably just a bit late to catch the hiring season for summer resorts and holiday camps. As I understand it, most hiring for the summer season usually takes place in the March-April time frame, but you could still ask around. It's seasonal work, but it might get you started.

Club Med certainly used to hire multi-talented folks - to teach sports during the day and then mount "spectacles" for the GMs in the evening. Wouldn't hurt to find their website and see if they are still taking applications.

A couple things you will find once you get to France - for one, the French are "qualification crazy" and for such things as a tennis coach or instructor are going to ask for some form of certification or qualification. (In some cases, it's the insurer who will require you to be somehow "qualified" to teach a sport to guests at a hotel or resort.)

Another "oddity" of life in France is that, if you wind up doing freelance work (like portrait painting or private tennis coaching) it can be a real runaround to find the proper "caisses" to pay up your cotisations (health and retirement insurance). But you definitely do want to get enrolled with the national health insurance program as soon as possible. And as Giant Panda has indicated, you should make sure you have some sort of interim coverage while you're looking for work - either your UK benefits, or find yourself a travel or expat policy to tide you over.
Cheers,
Bev

kayll · #4 (**permalink**) 16th May 2008, 03:26 PM

Hi Bev,Thanx for the reply,very helpful.Don't suppose you know anyone who wants their portrait painted out there do you?.Good Luck and thanx again Kayll

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bevdeforges

Hi Kayll - unfortunately, you're probably just a bit late to catch the hiring season for summer resorts and holiday camps. As I understand it, most hiring for the summer season usually takes place in the March-April time frame, but you could still ask around. It's seasonal work, but it might get you started.

Club Med certainly used to hire multi-talented folks - to teach sports during the day and then mount "spectacles" for the GMs in the evening. Wouldn't hurt to find their website and see if they are still taking applications.

A couple things you will find once you get to France - for one, the French are "qualification crazy" and for such things as a tennis coach or instructor are going to ask for some form of certification or qualification. (In some cases, it's the insurer who will require you to be somehow "qualified" to teach a sport to guests at a hotel or resort.)

Another "oddity" of life in France is that, if you wind up doing freelance work (like portrait painting or private tennis coaching) it can be a real runaround to find the proper "caisses" to pay up your cotisations (health and retirement insurance). But you definitely do want to get enrolled with the national health insurance program as soon as possible. And as Giant Panda has indicated, you should make sure you have some sort of interim coverage while you're looking for work - either your UK benefits, or find yourself a travel or expat policy to tide you over.
Cheers,
Bev

Bevdeforges · #5 (**permalink**) 16th May 2008, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kayll

Don't suppose you know anyone who wants their portrait painted out there do you?

My mom was a portrait painter. She'd come back and haunt me if I let someone else do the "honors" for me or my immediate family.

I did see someone recently set up to do portraits from one of those little stalls they put in the shopping malls. No idea how well he is doing or how long he'll be there - but his style reminded me of my mother's. Hey, it's a thought!
Cheers,
Bev

kayll · #6 (**permalink**) 19th May 2008, 09:10 AM

Hi Bev, What name did your Mum paint under and I'd love to see some of her work if its on the net?.I will be trying to get myself a web site soon.Nothing grandieose but then you can have a look at my stuff,if interested of course!?.The bloke in the mall,I wonder if he makes enough to survive?.How big is the town or village you live in?and are there many portraitists about?.Do you think there is a market for one?.Anyway,better get back to the easel now even though the weather here is fantastic.Here being Mumbles near Swansea.Where Catherine Zeta Jones says shes from but its the next village over,a place called West Cross!.There,a bit of hollywood gossip there too. Kayll

Bevdeforges · #7 (**permalink**) 19th May 2008, 12:51 PM

No, my mother's artwork is hardly online. She died 6 years ago, and wasn't exactly interested in computers... in fact I couldn't get either of my parents to even do e-mail with me.

As the the guy in the mall, he's brand new, so I doubt he knows yet if he can make a living that way. One thing I did notice is that he had posted examples of his work that were almost exclusively of children. (My mother had a real flair for doing children.) I suspect that's the main market - at least for the mall trade.

Malls in France are generally confined to the outskirts of towns. There is some talk of changing this, but change comes s-l-o-w-l-y to France. If there is a mall, there is a good sized population cluster in the area. The other possibility is to connect with the various fairs and festivals in an area.
Cheers,
Bev

kayll · #8 (**permalink**) 20th May 2008, 11:28 AM

Thanx Bev.More good info.When I get my disc of my work sorted I'll tell you and try and get to you so you can have a look. cheers Kayll

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bevdeforges

No, my mother's artwork is hardly online. She died 6 years ago, and wasn't exactly interested in computers... in fact I couldn't get either of my parents to even do e-mail with me.

As the the guy in the mall, he's brand new, so I doubt he knows yet if he can make a living that way. One thing I did notice is that he had posted examples of his work that were almost exclusively of children. (My mother had a real flair for doing children.) I suspect that's the main market - at least for the mall trade.

Malls in France are generally confined to the outskirts of towns. There is some talk of changing this, but change comes s-l-o-w-l-y to France. If there is a mall, there is a good sized population cluster in the area. The other possibility is to connect with the various fairs and festivals in an area.
Cheers,
Bev