FRANCE

WORK AND TRAVEL

      
« WORK IN FRANCE »   2015   

 

 

As a student, the "Job Placement" program allows you to work on a paid job in France during your university holidays for a period of between 2 and 3 months employment.
Our partner will submit your application to many employers in order to get you hired.

 

Eligibility:

  • Be over 18 years old up to 26
  • Be a full time higher education student and be traveling during university holidays
  • Coming to France for at least 2 months
  • Have a first work experience in services
  • Have at least an « intermediate » level in French 

Job Placement program includes:

  • Telephone interview before you will be accepted for the program
  • Appointments with employers in order to be hired
  • The process of applying for temporary work permit, named APT (Autorisation Provisoire de Travail)
  • Orientation meeting in our Paris office upon arrival
  • Liability/housing insurance
  • Opening of a bank account at our Bank partner office
  • support all through the stay

 

To register:

You choose your travel dates but think to arrive in France preferably on a Sunday

To be available, application must be received as early as possible and at least 6 weeks before arrival and must include:

  • All pages of terms and conditions of sale signed
  • The application form typed and signed
  • A resume in French (under a word format) with a smiling ID photo specifically detailing all the tasks that have been assigned to your workplace
  • A letter, addressed to future employers, written in French and personalized. You must detail the various skills acquired during your previous work experience.
  • A letter addressed to the CEI in French, explaining your motivation to participate in this program in France, as well as any personal information you think useful to let us know.
  • A photocopy of the passport
  • A photocopy of the student card (year of studies must be clearly readable)
  • A translation in French of the student card
  • A photocopy of the “ISIC” card.
  • A full length photo 
  • A copy of your birth certificate translated into French by a recognised translator
  • The copy of the insurance covering illness/repatriation up to 30 000 € (may be sent with travel information)

Thank you to name each document with your name, surname and title of the document.
Example: SMITH John passport

The program fees are fixed at 1499 CAD, net price, per student for the placement.


Procedure:

After reception of your application, we will call you for an interview in French. This will allow us to assess your language skills and give you information about your stay and the various types of jobs possible. You will receive within 15 days a letter of acceptance on the program. Acceptance states that you have the level of French and skills necessary for the CEI to present your application to potential employers, it does not guarantee employment. Employers are the only makers of their hiring.

Your application will then be submitted to several employers. Check your e-mails and your voice mail, some employers may need to contact you directly. Respond to emails promptly and be smiling and motivated if they are calling you. If this happens, please let us know, we can help you prepare for your interview. After the interview, we will inform you of the decision of the employer as soon as possible.

The information you provide on the registration form and your letter addressed to CEI serves us as indication to your preferences, but we cannot in any way guarantee a place or a particular position. The letter of acceptance, with all the information about your stay, the type of Job and date of arrival in France, will be used as a contract.

Only bind us contractually information mentioned in the letter of acceptance of registration confirming your dates of availability for your stay in France. If no employer will hire you, no fee will be charged.

If we cannot handle your case, you will be notified within 15 days, no fee will be charged.

Upon your arrival, the CEI will organise for you a first appointment with an employer, interested by your profile and looking for staff. If you’re not hired after this first interview, the CEI will organize a second one (up to 3). As soon as you will be hired, the CEI will provide all necessary documents to get the “Autorisation Provisoire de Travail” named APT.

It may happen that an employer confirms your hiring before arrival. In that case, we will send you a copy of the employer letter as well as a presentation of the position offered and greeting conditions. You will need to return the documents signed to confirm that you have had all the information. By signing the documents, you promise that you are going to work with a professional attitude for the all planned period.

Then the CEI will apply for the APT and will give it to you upon your arrival in France.  

Length of working time: You are not allowed to work more than 90 days and may be hired from 2 months to 90 days anywhere in France. French law authorises you to work for a 90 days period but not all employers hire for such a long period. You must have an “Autorisation Provisoire de Travail” (named APT) to work legally in France.

 

Administrative services of the French government are the only ones authorized to issue a temporary work permit and the CEI has no authority in this area. The administration of labour may decide to refuse an APT without the CEI to intervene.

The APT cannot be issued for more than 90 days.

 

The Job:                  

 between 2 and 3 months, 30 hours a week minimum, everywhere in France

Types of positions


  • Restaurants
  • Waiters
  • Sellers
  • Dishwasher
  • Hotels
  • Reception
  • Housekeeping
  • Room Service
  • Cleaning 
  • Sales
  • Food
  • Shops
  • Department stores
  • Holidays resorts
  • Catering
  • Animation
  • Housekeeping
  • Versatile positions

The CEI will send your CV and cover letter to different employers, considering your skills and their needs. Employers are the only ones to decide who they want to hire. You will be going to work for the first employer who will retain your application and you can’t refuse a position. This offer may take place anywhere on the French territory

Host available jobs are essentially in the hotel and catering sectors. We have also opportunities in versatile positions in holiday resorts, cleaning positions and sales. Other sectors may hire for seasonal positions.

The level of French is always a very important benchmark for employers. For Jobs with direct contact with clients, you need to have an upper level of French.

Your previous work experiences are also very important for employers; they allow to showing your motivation, your flexibility and your interpersonal relationship skills which are very important in all occupations with clients. It is mandatory, in order to be hired in France to have a first work experience, if possible in catering or services.

It’s important to understand that you will be on the working market, competing with other persons. You must then well prepare your trip and be ready to make necessary efforts for a quick integration in the company. The employers need staff and must be sure that they can trust you to be part of the team and to take your responsibilities with a professional attitude.

Once you have been hired, you must respect dates and schedule at work.

 

Salary and schedule of work:

According to different positions, you will work between 30 and 39 hours a week. Occasional extra work may arise. Overtime is usually compensated (sometimes paid)

The minimum wage in France it at 9.53 € per hour (gross salary). Each month taxes are deducted from the gross salary for around 23%.

Calculation of salary

€ 9.53 X number of hours worked per month = GROSS salary

Gross salary - about 23% of gross = NET salary

NET salary is the salary that will be paid to you by your employer. 

The French government does not reimburse mandatory taxes deducted from salary.

The CEI can’t guarantee upon acceptation of files the numbers of working hours nor the schedule, both of which depends on each employer.

All salaries are paid by check or bank wire at the end of each month, sometimes at the beginning of the following month. It’s impossible to get money from the employer before the end of each working month.

We will give you the opportunity to open a bank account in France.

 

Bank account:

The CEI will open a bank account for you in our bank partner. This is mandatory in order to get the salary and each participant will have a withdrawal card. This card will allow you to get cash from cash dispenser and to pay goods.

This bank account will cost you 3 € for 1 year and fees include:

  • A credit card
  • An insurance for lost or theft of all your papers
  • An insurance for dishonest use
  • Internet access to your bank account
  • A liability/housing insurance
  • A savings account 

While in France, your salary will be paid directly on your bank account. You last salary will be paid by check. This check will be sent by your employer directly to the CEI who will put it on your personal bank account in France. The CEI will send you an e-mail to keep you informed about this operation.

You’ll be able then to transfer your money on to your personal bank account in home country. 

Accommodation:                   

You have 2 choices:

  • You look for accommodation by yourself
  • You ask the CEI to look for accommodation for you

confirm your choice by completing and signing the housing section on the registration form.

 

1/ You decide to look by yourself for a housing. We suggest you begin to look for one as soon as you have the hiring confirmation.

  • In all cases, you must have somewhere to live at least for your first week, but preferably for your entire stay. Be vigilant about the distances and transport and do not hesitate to consult the CEI in case of doubt. Pay attention to the transport at night if you work late. Employers can not under any circumstances adjust working hours to suit your home.
  • If you are working outside Paris, you have to spend the first night in Paris (possibly the first two, depending on your arrival time). The easiest way is to book a room in a youth hostel. The CEI can provide addresses. You will reach your workplace the next day or two.

 

2/ You apply for the CEI housing service

The housing service is to be taken at the time of registration and is non-refundable. Once your job will be confirmed, we will reserve an accessible hosting from your workplace in a student residence. We can offer you accommodation only in a student residence in a shared room. Monthly rents are between 450 € and 600 € per month.

We will send you a presentation of the residence to be returned signed up for approval.

 If you subscribe to the housing service, we will look primarily for an employer who provides housing. Rents in these cases are cheaper. If the employer provides accommodation, conditions will be provided with your job offer. In this case, the rent is deducted directly from wages. Note that no employer in Paris and suburbs provides housing. 

By applying to the housing service, you agree to accept housing proposed by the CEI and to stay in the residence for all the duration of your stay in France and to comply with the regulations.

The price of the housing service is at 140 €, non-refundable.

A guarantee deposit of 300 € has to be paid at the first time of your application and will be given back after departure, except in case of damages or early leaving. If the deposit asked by the landlord is higher than 300 €, the CEI will send a new deposit invoice which has to be paid before arrival.

 

If you work outside Paris, you must spend the 1st night (possibly the first two, depending on your arrival time) in Paris, in a youth hostel, booked and paid by the CEI.

Please inform the CEI, if you do not need the night in the youth hostel in Paris, you may have to pay for the no show.

You will reach your work place the next day or two

 

Important information: Whatever the housing you’ll stay in, you must pay to enter the housing the first monthly rent + the guarantee deposit. The deposit may be equivalent to one month rent. It means that for a monthly rent at 400 €, you may have to pay 800 € to enter the housing. If you do not have enough money, you won’t enter the housing. Some residences require payment of the entire stay before entering the house. The deposit is given back upon departure except in case of damages or early leaving. The amount of any repairs is deducted from the deposit.

 

Budget

To make your stay successful, you must prepare your trip with much care.

You must have enough funds for living expenses and housing before you get your first salary. Salaries are paid at the end of the month. Neither the CEI, nor your employer can lend you any money.

You may think of having around 200 € per week as an average for food, local transport and entertainment.

 

Rent housing varies between de 450 € and 600 € per month and landlords ask for a 1 month deposit. Don’t forget costs of transport for the students who go working outside Paris.

Financial difficulties can have a real impact on your work and cause you to lose your job.

You must have at least 1500 € with you upon arrival to stay out of trouble.

 

Arrival in France:

 

ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST ARRIVE IN PARIS AND ATTEND THE ORIENTATION MEETING

We must know your exact date, time and place of arrival at least 2 weeks before your arrival.

 

Whatever your workplace, you must come to Paris where you will be welcomed by the team of CEI. You will participate in a meeting and you will sign the opening of your bank account documents. You must attend this orientation meeting; you cannot go directly to your workplace.

We will arrange an appointment at the office, when we’ll have confirmation of your arrival (place and time of arrival) and we will also give you all needed information to reach the CEI and / or place of residence. It is imperative to adhere strictly to this schedule. Information on French society, the world of work, your bank account and many other aspects will be given during the meeting.

 

Transfer to country towns:

If you are going to work outside Paris, you reach your workplace after the information meeting. We’ll define with your employer, the date and time of your trip and we will provide this information prior to your arrival. Whenever possible, please buy your ticket online before you leave home. Your employer will pick you up at the train station.

 

Practical advices:

The CEI team will do its best to make your stay comfortable so it’s very important that you keep us informed about any difficulties you may encounter and follow our advices. If problems whatsoever, you must immediately notify the CEI. However, it’s important to understand that once at your work place, you are responsible of your own work. You must do necessary efforts to adapt yourself to your new environment and the new culture as quickly as possible.

The CEI office is open from Monday to Friday, between 9 a.m. till 12.30 p.m. (except on bank holidays) and the CEI team will receive participants by appointment.

 

For your comfort, think to bring light luggage.

 

Legislation:

Each participant to the Job program undertakes to follow all the rules and regulations as laid down by the CEI.

Failure to do so will result in the candidate being expelled from the program. Any candidate expelled from the program will under no circumstances be entitled to a refund.

 

In your work place, it is French Employment Law that takes precedence. Each candidate undertakes to respect this law as they do the following:

  • Interview times
  • The dress code required by the company. You’ll have all precision on the presentation of the Job but you must in all cases have a pants / skirt black and white shirt
  • Dates of contract
  • Working hours
  • Working conditions
  • The rules lay down by the company 

Insurance:

The CEI automatically provides all participants liability insurance but you must be in possession of a medical insurance that covers you up to € 30,000 and “repatriation insurance”.

The CEI shall in no event be liable for any loss or damage occurring during your stay in France.

Cancellation of the housing service
Housing service is not refundable

The deposit may be refund in case of cancellation more than 2 weeks before arrival, but depends on the rules of each residence. 

Program break by the CEI

You will be expelled from the program if:

  • You refuse a position which matches your competences
  • You leave your employment.
  • You are laid off. 

If you are fired or if you quit your job without having informed us before, the CEI will in no case offer another post.


For more informations please contact us: info@ontimeta.com