Is it easy to find work?

[finy]

How easy is it for a British guy to find work if he can speak the language ok?

[Joppa]

Originally Posted by finy

How easy is it for a British guy to find work if he can speak the language ok?

Your age? Qualification and experience? Which part of France? French ability - spoken and written? Do you have any contact in France?
There are a whole series of factors that are involved in finding jobs, so you can't just say yes or no.
But most people find it very touch to get a job - there is already high unemployment for locals, esp younger people fresh out of school, college or uni, it costs employers a lot of money to employ permanent staff (social security contributions, minimum wage, working hours directive, holiday entitlement, trade union rights etc) so they aren't many vacancies and what there are tend to be temporary or seasonal jobs and your French must be really excellent - as fluent as native speakers - to be taken seriously, and French put a lot of emphasis on formal qualifications obtained in France. All this stacks up against non-French job seekers. It's so much better if you already have a lead in France through networking with existing contacts.
Teaching English is a possibility, but reputable language schools demand formal TESOL qualifications and relevant experience, and the job market has been shrinking as fewer people take language lessons because of the recession.

[finy]

Originally Posted by Joppa

Your age? Qualification and experience? Which part of France? French ability - spoken and written? Do you have any contact in France?
There are a whole series of factors that are involved in finding jobs, so you can't just say yes or no.
But most people find it very touch to get a job - there is already high unemployment for locals, esp younger people fresh out of school, college or uni, it costs employers a lot of money to employ permanent staff (social security contributions, minimum wage, working hours directive, holiday entitlement, trade union rights etc) so they aren't many vacancies and what there are tend to be temporary or seasonal jobs and your French must be really excellent - as fluent as native speakers - to be taken seriously, and French put a lot of emphasis on formal qualifications obtained in France. All this stacks up against non-French job seekers. It's so much better if you already have a lead in France through networking with existing contacts.
Teaching English is a possibility, but reputable language schools demand formal TESOL qualifications and relevant experience, and the job market has been shrinking as fewer people take language lessons because of the recession.

Hi, thanks for taking the time to reply.

Im 26 and a personal trainer and ex airforce.

Im hoping to move to a city (ex Paris) with a large population in order to get a job in a health club, hotel etc or set up my own freelance buisness.

My level of French is basic. I think its GCSE B level. Although im in the planning stages and im starting to teach myself aswell as start night school in the new year.

I dont have any contacts in France.

I plan on travelling to Prague early next year to complete a TEFL course. Is an Oxford TEFL acceptable to find work in language schools? This would be good to get some shifts while I tried to build up a client base.

Also, id try to get fruit picking/summer work etc.

Thank you

[Bevdeforges]

Any sort of English teaching qualification is better than nothing, but don't expect to get a good paying job teaching English. The abundance of refugees from the UK means that English teachers are a dime a dozen and that keeps the pay rate pretty low.

Setting up your own business (as a trainer or anything else) will take a certain level of familiarity with the language as the French don't offer forms in anything other than French. They also expect you to be properly registered in order to report your earnings and pay your cotisations (social insurances) and VAT (if applicable). While it's getting better, it's still a somewhat bureaucratic process.
Cheers,
Bev

[Caporciano]

Good luck with it.. providing you stick to large cities - should not be a problem. But I know of Brits say in Brittany & the only work they can secure is in a chicken factory! (The french seemed hardwired to look after their own - dare I say it..)

[contentedscot]

Hi - we left Edinburgh almost 3 years ago - but we're a different generation.

Unemployment in France for your age group is currently about 25%

Language schools are more interested in business experience compared to TEFL qualifications - most of their clients want business English.

I don't have a TEFL qualification and I am on the books of 2 reputable language schools - but if you don't speak much French you'll find their admin requirements quite onerous.

And as Bev says pay is not great - let's say net 15€ per hour if you are lucky. Broad accents are not always appreciated either - one Paris nanny agency (not that I'm suggesting this is for you) simply refuses to takes Scots females, even though there is a shortage of BBC English women for their clients.

Fruit picking is worse - think 9€ per hour - you're up against Eastern Europeans here. The season is short.

I've seen personal trainers offering their services for 7€ per hour. I would expect any hotel/health club to require you to have qualifications and insurance - but they might appreciate an English speaker for international guests.

Your best bet is to spend a few months in Paris if you can afford to - plenty of Irish, English and Scottish bars - just do the rounds and hope that someone likes you. Choose one you fancy and go there regularly.