Method of Application : The French CV is on one A4 page size only. It is more concise than the English version. The purpose of the CV is to provide factual, concise information, avoid English abbreviations and spelling mistakes.

The covering letter « lettre de motivation » is handwritten and individually prepared for each company. In the covering letter, you should express your wish to work in the company. The letter should be formal and respectful in style with, if possible, some precise information about the company you want to apply to.

Evaluation of Skills : To be sure that your qualifications corresponds to their French equivalents, the UK National Recognition Information Centre (UK NARIC, Services for international students seeking information on comparability between international and UK qualifications) will advise you  :

• UK NARIC, ECCTIS 2000 Ltd, Oriel House, Oriel Road, Cheltenham,
  Gloucestershire,GL50 1XP
  01242 260 010
  01242 258 611
  e-mail :naric@ecctis2000.co.uk

The prospective job seekers should consult the association relevant to their profession for the exact conditions for acceptance in France. You can do this at one of the 40 European Documentation Centres (EDC) in the UK. To find the address of the nearest one, contact :

• The Commission of the EC,
  Information Centre,
  8 Storey’s Gate,
  LONDON SW1P 3AT
  0207 973 19 92

Salaries : France has a minimum wage legislation known as the SMIC (Salaire Minimum Interprofessionel de Croissance). The rate of the SMIC is indexed to the cost of living and increases periodically (usually at the beginning of the summer).

Currently (July 2006) the rate is Euros 8.27 gross per hour, 1254.31 gross per month for 35 hours. At the age of 16 and 17 the rate is Euros 6.61 gross per hour. Between the age of 17 and 18 the rate is Euros 7.44 gross per hour. You are allowed to work 169 hours per month. In most of the companies, the legal week will be 35 hours at the end of this year, about 150 hours per month.

Contract of Employment : Minimum working age in France is 16. Once you have accepted a job, you will have to sign a contract of employment (contrat de travail). There are two main types of contracts :

Fixed term contract (Contrat à durée déterminée):

All foreign employees are entitled to a translated copy of the contract in their first language, upon which he can rely in case of discordance between the two versions. It must also be written in French ; the date of termination must be given in the contract. This contract can be for temporary employment if for a specific purpose but fixed term generally means for a maximum period of 24 months. The contract may be renewed twice, but for a period exceeding the original contract or 24 months total. There is no minimum period for the contract.

Indefinite term contract (Contract à durée indéterminée):

Any foreign employee is entitled to a translated copy of the contract. It must be in written in French. Most indefinite terms of the contracts include a trial period, usually 3 months, after which the contract becomes binding on both parties. The indefinite term contract of employment should detail the job title, duties and responsibilities, hours of work, rate of pay and terms of dismissal involved in the position.

EURES (European Employment Services) is a computerised, pan-European job information network, which have a specially trained Euro Adviser. EURES is available through U.K. Job Centres, alternatively you can obtain a list of the Euro-Advisers in France at the A.N.P.E. (Agence Nationale Pour L’Emploi, French equivalent of the British Job Centre).

At any Chamber of Commerce, you can have access to the list of french investments. The Chambers of Commerce in UK and in France have separate yearbooks, contact them if you would like further information :

• Chambre de Commerce française de Grande-Bretagne
  21 Dartmouth Street, Westminster
  LONDON SW1H 9BP
  020 7304 40 40
  020 7304 70 34

• Franco-British Chamber of Commerce & Industry,
  31 rue Boissy d’Anglas
  Paris 75008
  00 33 1 53 30 81 32
  00 33 1 53 30 81 35

The "Agence Nationale Pour l’Emploi" (ANPE) is the French equivalent to U.K. Job Centres. EU nationals from outside France are entitled to use the ANPE on equal terms with the French nationals. Each city in France has its own ANPE more or less specialised in particular areas of employment. For instance, the ANPE of Albertville (French Alps) deals with seasonal jobs for ski resorts. ANPEs are listed in the yellow pages under the title "Administration du travail et de l’emploi". A list of ANPEs throughout France is available from the Head office : A.N.P.E. - 4 rue Galilée – 93198 Noisy-le-Grand - ' 00 33 1 49 31 75 74.

In France, there are no private employment agencies, but there are temporary employment agencies (Agences de Travail temporaire or Agences d’interim) and most have branches in several cities. The addresses are listed in the yellow pages under the title "Travail temporaire".

Others possibilities : Professional journals and magazines are possible sources of job vacancies abroad, from British companies wishing to set up offices elsewhere in Europe to foreign firms advertising for staff. An exhaustive list of trade magazines can be found in media directories in major UK reference libraries.

UK professional associations are useful contact points for their member with regards to practising elsewhere in Europe.