Working in Paris

[thefrancofille]

^ I'll look into it. Thanks~

 

[madison01]

This isn't exactly the appropriate thread for my problem, but I think there are people here who could help me out!

I am going to France next fall to study for a year (ahhhh I can't wait to leave this place!!!) but I have no idea where I should go! I was considering the Critical Studies program at Sorbonne Nouvelle in Paris III, but I don't know anything about that school or the area. Is Sorbonne Nouvelle just another part of Sorbonne? Is it a good school? Any info would be extremely appreciated!

My other options are:
Sciences Po, Univ. of Bordeaux, of Toulouse, of Lyon

Do you have any recommendations? Ideally I would love to stay in Paris, because I love Paris, and also because I'm hoping to visit places like the UK, Belgium, Germany and such, which are closest to that city. But I have also heard stories from both friends and strangers about dirty, bothersome men in Paris (guys running after you, stalking you, talking to you, even grabbing you...) and it makes me a bit uneasy. I never encountered this when I visited, but is it just something you just have to get used to? Or is it rien?

I can handle other forms of rudeness though!
Thank you

 

[Juliana Ozol]

website

The best website to find a job/internship in Paris is
www.fashionjob.fr

If you're going to Paris to study, the schools have a department to help u with that. I got an internship at Balenciaga through my school, École de la chambre Syndicale de la couture parisienne.

There are 6 types of contracts in France,
CDI, CDD, Interim, Alternance, Stage and Free-lancer.

CDI means something like: contract with unspecified duration
CDD is something like: contract with specified duration
You usually start with and CDD and after get and CDI...

Stage is the internship, and is not often paid, but you need to be studying to get what they call "Convention de stage".

Interim and Free-lancer is almost the same, like it can last for one season and then they call you after one year for another season and it goes like this.

Alternance is when you're studying in an special program that allows you to go to school like 3 times a week and work in the company 2 times a week.

Good luck everyone!

 

[educo]

^^ Oh my lord it is my dream to atleast intern at Balenciaga!

 

[thefrancofille]

Juliana, KARMA to you dear. Thanks for the link! I hope it may help me.

 

[mode]

i don't really know where to post this, but i have read several different threads and none have helped completely...i want to go to school and eventually work in paris, but i am totally clueless. i want to work in the industry but not as a designer. can anyone who has lived in the us and successfully moved to paris help me? you can post or pm me

 

[stealthmodesteph]

I have a question- I really want to move to Paris to work. My dream job would be doing anything for Rick Owens but obviously I'll take anything I'm given! I have a degree in fashion design but unfortunately due to the industry here, have been working as a designer in active sports (not my dream job, but good experience.)

In the Paris fashion industry is it "experience is experience" or must it be the "right" experience? Basically do you think they would be open to hiring me even though currently I'm not working in a fashion-forward avante garde place though I have applicable skills?

I want to know if I should start developing a portfolio or even find a new job that reflects more so on the type of fashion house/brand I want to work for in Paris. What do you think?

 

[smartarse]

For Americans seeking employment in Paris:

You must be 25 yrs old and older to work full time in Paris. They won't accept anyone under. having to do with work visa regulations.

[exceptions: professional models]

 

[stealthmodesteph]

That's interesting- I didn't know that. Good thing that's not a problem for me!

 

[shoexgal]

it has always been my dream to live in paris and one day its going to happen. But I've found love..now its time to take him to paris

 

[vogue28]

I am thinking about moving to Paris after my 2 year course at college. I would be pleased to work in a clothes store in Paris, to keep me busy. The hardest thing would be leaving family and friends e.t.c but it's what I want to do

 

[elegantly_wasted]

i wonder what sort of prospects are available for psychology

 

[rinck]

i don't really know where to post this, but i have read several different threads and none have helped completely...i want to go to school and eventually work in paris, but i am totally clueless. i want to work in the industry but not as a designer. can anyone who has lived in the us and successfully moved to paris help me? you can post or pm me

if you are already in college, i would suggest doing a study abroad program. i did that and was over there for 3 months. that way your school will figure out housing, etc. and while you are there, getting to know the city or whatever, you can decide on what area you would like to live in, look at job prospects while you are there studying, but not be stranded over there with no school or job. i also had a friend who went to study over there and ended up au paring for a lady who worked at a fashion mag, and ended up getting an internship there. i hope any of this can help!

 

[BetteT]

The word from Pippa Jeffries, an Austrailan model who has worked in various countries says:

Unless you hold a valid French work permit (I am not sure about EU/Schengen passports), you CANNOT legally earn money working .... in France.

So if you want to work there, make sure you have checked all of that out, well in advance.

 

[Meg]

^
Yes I agree. I think so many people underestimate this aspect. They think they can just move about and knock on doors for two weeks and someone will hire them. Yes, fashion is an artistic industry and people might be more willing to take a chance on certain people, but it's incredibly difficult. I'm not sure if France has a special 'artistic' designation like the US and UK do but regardless, it's incredibly hard to get a visa, I would imagine even more so with the French bureaucracy. Depending on which country you hold citizenship for, it might be worthwhile to look into a working holiday maker visa.

Even then, be prepared for people to not want to hire you based on your country or origin. This is something that happens everywhere, UK, France, Canada, USA, etc. Don't think because you come from a 'western' country people will have any preference for you over someone else. They won't. This might be less of an issue with fashion houses comprised of people from various countries, but when I was first starting out in the UK (with a visa) I encountered a lot of closed doors based on my nationality (Canadian). Even if you understand this to be true, a lot of people don't realize how difficult it is going on two months with no work. Even if you have money left to support you, it's incredibly demoralizing in combination with being overwhelmed with a new environment. Being an immigrant is tough, tough work.

 

[Raven_McCoy]

It's next to impossible to live in Paris without legal documents. You can't rent an apartment without a French bank account and insurance, and they're not going to give either of those things to you without seeing your passport.

I don't been to be a buzzkill, but anyone who thinks of moving to the city of lights REALLY needs to push romantic dreams aside and think about it realistically. If you don't have an EU passport, a working visa or a direct job offer you should really re-evaluate.

Living expenses are through the roof compared to North America, not as crazy as London but you wouldn't believe how fast those American dollars disappear as Euros. And if you don't speak a word of French it's very difficult. You can't expect people to be speaking English in the land of - well, French! Don't underestimate how lonely it can feel leaving behind your friends/ family/ comfort zone for a culture you don't understand (it's not all baguettes and Chanel!) and being an immigrant.

It's a beautiful city to visit but it's not for everyone to live there. If you are going to make the leap, talk to your embassy and see what your options are. Legal is the way to go

 

[mynn_plastic]

Anyone can tell me about the jobs in Paris, if it's well paid....and what expetations I can have about going to Paris??

tks

 

[Raven_McCoy]

^In the fashion industry or otherwise? Though it depends what you're doing, generally anyone who works in the fashion industry is notoriously underpaid in Paris... I'd say it's the worst for stylists. Everyone says Paris is where the creativity is and NYC is where the money is. It's hard to tell though now that NYC is in a recession and so many mags are folding.

 

[mynn_plastic]

I'm brazilian and I wanna get my postgraduate in Paris, London and I could get it even in NYC. But I'm confused about where is the best city to go.

I really would like to go to Paris but, I'm not sure about that city is a good place to start my career. I'm ambiscious and I wanna be a great designer, I need to do the most I can to have the best oportunities apart from my talent.

I've been thinking in getting the postgraduate at Institut Français de la mode, or even at Saint Martins but people from there are frightening me about the expectations that I can have and I'm really confused.

The fashion brazilian isn't great enough and I'm happier working in a country whose fashion is developed. Anyone could help me?

 

[Anjo]

Mynn plastic, I would say NYC but then I'm biased.

Getting a job in Paris is certainly not a piece of cake, but it helps if you have someone- a school, for example, or a placement agency- on your side.

What Americans need to understand is, employment in France is far, far less fluid than in the US. Unemployment is a real problem here, taking on new employees is almost insanely expensive for businesses (they pay a big percent of employee salary in taxes to the government) and even if you're French and you have a university degree it isn't easy to find a job. If you're American and you think you can just come over and get hired, well, it's delusional. You need a carte de long sejour, and to get that you need a good reason to be in France, more than just "I wanted to move." You need connections to get you a job, you need good French, and you need an apartment god what a nightmare apartment-hunting is. One of my friends looked at more than 70 apartments before he found one that would take him.