Please help. I want to move to France. I am basically sick of the job situation here at the moment...?

Question

I have a History of Art degree but can't get work. Everyone either doesn't reply or says I have no experience. (Same with many grads at the moment) so I was going to just go back to waitressing/cheffing etc to get me by until the economy picks up again. And I'd do some extra courses while I'm doing so. Only trouble is...if I go back into a job like that again in england I'm gonna sink into depression! I want to move away to France because I love it and have family and a friend there and I have an ambition to become fluent (I'm basic at the moment-A-Level standard French) BUT... How do I start looking for jobs when I can;t really speak the lingo. Do I need to find an English run business and then learnt the lingo while I'm there by socialising, and then obtain work with French people? How do I go about finding English run businesses. And finally, how long can I stay there? I presume you don't need a visa for France ? Thanks

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

Hate to be the bearer of worse news, but the unemployment rate in France is even higher than that in UK, US, etc.

If you are a citizen of any EU country, you can move freely throughout the EU. So British citizens can go to France. Do your homework at the library, research companies in France, research UK companies with offices in France, list the ones where you might have a chance at a career track, start networking, and try to get a referral into them for interviews. Go to France, interview, network, and see what you can dig up - if there is anything at all to dig.

A bachelors degree in Art History is among the truly useless degrees. If you wanted to work your way up to curator at an art museum, for example, you would need a masters degree at the absolute minimum, plus extensive expertise in some particular period, style, etc, of art.

Answer 2

If you are a British citizen then as a citizen of an EU member state you move freely through the EU & settle where you wish but if you settle permanently in France after 3 months you need to register with the authorities & possibly apply for their equivalent of the National Insurance Number.

Answer 3

Where in France do you want to be?

That said - you could maybe teach or class assist in English.

There are schools in France that have all classes in English. - International Schools

Just to make you aware you can claim unemployment benefit there as well.

I guess this is not a route you want to go down, but if it helps in the short term why not.

Are there any companies that have ART based holidays - not painting but tours around galleries maybe they could use you.

The courses you would do here - can you do them or similar in France -

I know this cannot be easy - I see so many graduates here that do not have jobs - after studying for years it must be heartbreaking.

Have hope - and work towards what you want.

Answer 4

You can stay in France as long as you want but problem is you probably wont get the type of jpb u want over there either, their economic situation is also bad and what makes it worse is your French is poor. Would you hire a French person in the UK who has a poor command of English? Be realistic.

Answer 5

Get a degree in something that has a potential for a employment

Answer 6

You can be Art teacher overseas at the military schools.
Check the jobs from the government for overseas.