Démission

Finding a job in France is difficult. European Law states that the qualifications you obtained in your own country should be recognised in another country, in practice it is not always that easy. In France my qualifications were recognised but I decided that just to be sure I should try and get a few qualifications here as well. The easiest job to find for an English person is as an English teacher, either in primary schools or in the university. I did both. My first job I found through the British Council. It was lovely working with the children and I learnt many things. Working at the university was even better because I was paid a salary over the two years of my fixed contract even though I only actually taught from October through to December and February through to end of April and had little else to do in between those periods except to invigilate a few exams. Unlike the hard working "real" teachers, there was only a bit of preparation and no one asked to see my lesson plans. Although, coming from a family of teachers, I had in fact planned and prepared my lessons, no one actually came to check what it was I was teaching. Whilst I loved teaching I did not want to be a teacher all my life as I had obtained qualifications in another field and wanted to pursue a career in that field. My contract in Bordeaux ran out after two years and under French law could not be renewed, nor could I apply to be a language assistant in another university. Having seen a friend spend a year on the dole in Bordeaux, trying to find work, I knew I had no choice but to leave Bordeaux and go to Paris to find work.

I spent an entire summer applying for jobs around France. I had the requisite qualifications (both French and English) but not the experience. In France, most people gain work experience by doing unpaid or low paid internships. Some internships pay 300 euros a month, which given that a tiny bedroom flat in Paris would cost me 500 euros a month, was just not possible. I had a friend who now has a good job in a company and who, after leaving university, spent around 2 years going from one internship to another before finally finding a job. He lived in a tiny "chambre de bonne" (maid's room) but luckily his grandma had a lovely big apartment two floors down so whilst he slept in his own room he could use his grandma's flat to eat, wash, etc. Doing internships was not an option for me. I couldn't possibly survive without a job. The day I arrived in Paris I had some savings, a room in a flat sharing with some American girls which would cost me 600 Euros a month and no job. I then spent three days visiting every recruitment agency in that area and handing out my CV. Back in the UK I had spent summers temping as an administrative assistant in a company and then twice as a legal secretary in two law firms. I had also during my studies worked in bars, restaurants and shops. This boded well for me on my CV. I must be able to find some kind of work in Paris, I thought. Yet, out of all the agencies to which I gave my CV, very few called me back. One, a British recruitment agency got back to me fairly quickly. I went over to see meet with the manager of this agency. After having done a couple of typing tests, in French and English, as well as a proof reading exercise, I was interviewed by the manager. "You're over qualified for anything I may have for you. My clients are looking for bilingual secretaries or bilingual assistants. Given your qualifications, would you be happy working in such a role". "I'm here to find a job, any job. I need to work. If you can find me a job then I'd be happy to do that job" I said. "Ok then, we'll see what we can do" she said. About a week later she had lined up two interviews for me in two law firms. The first one I didn't get but the second I did. For the last year and a half I have been working as an assistant in a law firm.

The time has now come to move on to other things. I have been offered a job in a company and will be starting shortly. Over the last 18 months I have learnt many things, not least about the work environment and culture in France.

I have now handed in my resignation. If finding work was difficult, leaving is just as difficult. Until now I had never resigned before. Jobs had always come to an end or it was understood that I wouldn't be staying long so it was ok when I left but now I have actually had to give notice and deal with my colleagues' reactions.

And so I take another step further into the working world in France in the hope that I'll not only be able to have a fulfilling life in France but a fulfilling career as well!