Working in France

Working in France
Different possibilities

You are a member of the EU/EEA/Switzerland:

  • You do not need a work permit

You are not a member of the EU/EEA/Switzerland (except Algeria) and you have a validated visa/a valid residence permit as “Student” or “Student – Mobility”:

  • You can work as an employee for maximum 60% of the average annual hours, which means 964 hours per year without asking for a work authorization.

You are Algerian:

  • The work authorization is mandatory. You may work for maximum 50% of the average annual hours of the sector your are employed in.

CAUTION: If you do not respect the maximum hours limitation, you put your visa/residence permit at risk to be revoked or not renewed. In order to be allowed to exceed the maximum of hours, your employer must ask for a work authorization (autorisation de travail), before you reach the limit.

 

Student jobs are very often in contact with the public (customers etc.).
It is therefore needed to be able to speak French.

 

Advice n° 1: Log in to your Intranet > Jobs étudiants

 

Intranet UCLy

 

Advice n°2: Browse our non-exhautive list of websites

Caution: The UCLy has no partnership or agreement with these compagnies. This list is given for indication purposes.

List of websites to find a job

Advice n°3: Get to know Info-Jeunes

Info-Jeunes is an organisation specialised in student jobs.
Their booklet “Trouver un job” (only in French) gives information about the different kinds of contracts, writing a CV and cover, preparing for a job interview and lists websites to look for a job.

Info-Jeunes organises workshops to help you write a CV / cover letter in French and look for a student job. Don’t hesitate to visit their offices.

Advice n°4: Go directly in restaurants, shops etc.

Bring your CV and cover letter.
Don’t hesitate to return after few days to ask after your application and to show your motivation.

 

The equivalent of a B2 level in French is usually required to find an alternance or an internship in France.

Alternance

There are 2 kinds of alternance:

Contrat d’apprentissage (apprenticeship):

  • Can be signed during your 1st year in France, only if you are enrolled in a Master degree or equivalent (Programme Grandes Ecoles)
  • Aimed at the 16-29 years old group
  • Or at 35 years old mamimum if:
    • Your apprenticeship allows you to get a higher degree as already achieved
    • Your previous apprenticeship was broken due to circumstances beyond your control
    • Your previous apprenticeship was broken due to health reasons (temporary physical unfitness)
  • Non-European students: if your contract is over the working limit of 964h/year, your employer has mandatory to obtain:
    • Whether the validation from OPCO (official agency for work and competencies);
    • or the temporary work permit (Autorisation Provisoire de Travail).

 

Contrat de professionnalisation (professional training contract):

  • Can be signed after a year in a full time study (formation initiale)
  • Aimed at the 16-25 years old group
  • Or from 26 years old if:
    • You are a job seeker (registrered at Pôle Emploi*)
    • You benefit from the RSA (Earned income supplement from Pôle Emploi) / AAH (Adult with disabilities allowance from the CAF/MSA) / ASS (Specific Solidarity Allowance from Pôle Emploi)
    • You just finish a contrat unique d’insertion (CUI)
  • Non-European students: if your contract is over the time working limit of 964h/year, your employer has to ask for a temporary work permit (Autorisation Provisoire de Travail) on https://administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr/particuliers/#/ > “I would like to apply for a permit” (“Demander une autorisation de travail”)

 

*Caution: As “Student” visa/residence card holder, you mandatory have to fill 2 conditions to get registered to Pôle Emploi:

  • You have had a Autorisation de Travail
  • You contract was broken due to your employer (dismisal/layoff for example)

 

Internship

In France, internship are oversee by the Employment Code.

Having a internship agreement is mandatory. This document, verified by the Prefet, is signed between: the intern, his/her educational or training institution and the host company/institution.

The internship can last maximum 6 months a year.

If the internship lasts more than 2 consecutive months (meaning 7 hours a day during 44 days), the host company/institution mandatory has to compensate the intern (minimum 4,05€ per attendance hours ).

If the internship is discontinuous, the host company/institution mandatory has to compensate the intern (minimum 4,05€ per attendance hours) from the 309th hour of internship.

The time working as an intern is not count in the 964h/year working limit.