Paris Working

If you're looking to stay in France for longer than just a vacation, you'll probably need to find a way to gagne de l'argent. As with volunteering, work opportunities tend to fall into two categories. Some travelers want long-term jobs that allow them to integrate into a community, while others seek out short-term jobs to finance the next leg of their travels. With France's 7.4% unemployment rate, long-term jobs are currently hard to come by. Travelers without EU citizenship face a particular challenge when searching for a job in France: only employers who cannot find qualified workers in the EU may petition to bring in a long-term worker who is not an EU citizen. If you're undeterred by the less-than-welcoming attitude toward foreign workers, you may want to try a job that requires English-language skills, as bilingual candidates have a better chance of finding work. Working as an au pair or teaching English are both popular long-term employment options. If you're in the market for a short-term stint, be on the lookout for a service or agricultural job.

Classified advertisements in newspapers and online are good resources for international job-seekers. Agence Nationale pour l'Emploi ( www.anpe.fr) has listings for many skilled and unskilled jobs alike, while Agence pour l'Emploi de Cadres ( www.apec.fr) catalogues professional job listings. Michael Page ( www.michaelpage.fr) is another job recruiting agency with offices in major French cities as well as international locations. The American Chamber of Commerce ( www.amchamfrance.org), located in Paris, fosters Franco-American business relations, and is currently generating an online job and internship directory. Note that working abroad often requires a special work visa.

Short-Term Work

Many travelers try their hand at odd jobs for a few weeks at a time to help pay for another month or two of touring around. Seasonal work can be found in the hotel and restaurant businesses, in markets ...more

Long-Term Work

As we mentioned, it can be tricky finding long-term work in France. American firms, however, are a more likely bet. A listing of American firms in France is available for purchase American Chamber of Commerce ...more

Further Reading On Beyond Tourism Alternatives to the Peace Corps: A Guide of Global Volunteer Opportunities, edited by Paul Backhurst. Food First, 2005 (US$12). The Back Door Guide ...more