Oh the woes of the WHV!!!
I'll try and keep it short, and I actually wanted to post this in my other thread for a bit of an update which I still might, but being and Australian on the WHV exchange program in Jura, let me drawback some curtains!! Overall, it seems a bit like the actual, official visa that takes a whole page in my passport is not enough to get your foot in the door of the "looking for work" band wagon over here. *sigh*
Firstly the information on the
ambafrance.au website says;
"- Once employment in France is found, Working Holiday Visa holders must apply for a Temporary Work Permit (autorisation provisoire de travail) at the nearest French Labour Department (Direction Départementale du Travail, de l’Emploi et de la Formation professionnelle).
- A work permit shall be granted for the duration of the position. "
I would imagine THIS part at least, is quite the same for everyone on the WHV in France. No worries, seems straightforward enough.
Anyway, after arriving and looking for work, there are the problems with the social securitie number of which not many people know what to do with you without it, which then required 2 visits to the local prefecture and the nice lady there printed off some document, went through it with me and finally said that "no you dont need the social securitie number as you have your insurance". Ok cool.
So afte alot of knobbing around, we went back on the hunt. Attempted to register at 2 employment agencies, Manpower and Adeco.
Manpower said they have to ask permission to list me from the prefecture (standard procedure) and the response was NO, they cant.
Adeco, well the girl at the desk, took my stuff and said that was that, all done. I havent heard back from her though, so I am doubtfull if it "went through" and is in effect.
I visited Pole Emploi, explained my story to them (WHV, living here, good for work until Dec 2012, have insurance, been told dont need SS number) and she said go right on ahead and make an account on their computers available there for the public, which I did on the spot.
So. Now I have a Pole Emploi account, maybe one with Adeco and thats that.
This sounds simple enough, but the problem is getting conflicting information, and also those in the power giving conflicting information.
The overall feeling I have, and this could be because I am unlucky, or in a "regional" area (Jura) and the people simply havent had a stranger on WHV ask them for work, is that yeah, I've jumped through the hoops to get into this situation with my WHV etc, and now because the system seems to be so broken, I cant get a job!!!
ALOT of companies tend to use agencies and the like for staffing from my experience, but it seems that I need to find and make a contract DIRECTLY with an employer, which is nearly impossible.
Come to France on your WHV, but good luck getting a job! You just might need it!
(I really wanted to swear alot during typing this to emphasize it a little (lot) but...I refrained for the sake losing my mind)
Bon route!