There are many ways for foreign graduates to find work in France. Depending on your nationality, you may need a temporary resident permit.
Working after graduation
Before starting to look for a job, identify the type of position you're looking for. Then prepare your CV and a cover letter to meet French expectations.
- Keep an eye on sites with job opportunities and create email alerts by saving your search criteria. The APEC (the Management Employment Association) site lists job ads for graduates. Otherwise, the Pôle Emploi agency assists all job-seekers, regardless of their level of studies. Make sure you check them regularly.
- Get help looking for work. Alumni associations, Bureau d’Aide à l’Insertion Professionnelle (BAIP - Professional Insertion Assistance Offices), company relations services, recruitment forums... Many establishments offer graduates help in finding work.
- Take the time to update your CV and adapt it to the job offer you are applying for.
- Be sure to send in spontaneous applications to companies that interest you so they get to know you.
- Be careful with your e-reputation and the information about you that everyone can access. Recruiters are more and more frequently using the social networks to form an idea about the applicants.
- Go to job fairs to meet recruiters. CV and cover letter in hand, you will have several interviews in one day. As you won't have much time to win them over, make sure you are well prepared.
- Activate your professional networks. Let those around you know that you are looking for work and find out about the companies that are recruiting in your field. The professional social networks, such as LinkedIn, will let you put your CV online, maintain and develop a professional network (former classmates, colleagues, counterparts…) and respond to job offers. Alumni networks such as AFRAN or France Alumni are highly-effective tools when it comes to finding work or for learning about the companies that interest you.
Use your end-of-studies internship well ! The end-of-studies internship is often mandatory. It lets you develop some understanding of the work world and apply the theory and skills you learnt during your years of studying. If your programme does not require an internship, nothing is stopping you from doing one anyway, with the support of your institution: it is a good way to pad out your CV and develop a professional network that you can later mobilise.
Start a company in France
There are many statutes, assistance programs and specialised structures to help students and graduates start a company easily in France, regardless of their project or their nationality.
Taking advantage of the student-entrepreneur status
The student-entrepreneur status lets you benefit from a support structure, supervision and training. It also lets graduates under 28 years of age continue to benefit from student Social Security coverage.
The student-entrepreneur status is designed for students or graduates from the French system of higher education that wish to work on a company project within a PEPITE (Pôle Etudiant Pour l’Innovation, le Transfert et l’Entrepreneuriat - Student Cluster for Innovation, Transfer and Entrepreneurship). Located on university campuses, the 30 PEPITEs bring together institutes of higher education, companies and networks of associations in order to encourage entrepreneurship amongst students and graduates.
Creating your company with the micro-entreprise status
Formerly called the auto-entreprise, the micro-entreprise is a simplified fiscal, accounting and social structure for individual entrepreneurs. The main constraint with this structure is the turnover threshold that you must not exceed; it differs depending on the type of business. Furthermore, the micro-entrepreneur status can be used with a paid activity or if unemployment benefits are being received. It is a practical structure that is relatively free of restrictions when you want to start a company with a minimum amount of personal risk. Find out more from Agence France entrepreneur.
Don't remain isolated when starting your company
Contact the Chamber of Commerce and Industry or the chamber of Arts and Craftsmanship in your region. They provide free advice, organise training, and even offer logistics solutions for people starting companies.
There are specialised structures and ressources specifically for graduates seeking to start a company
- the youth information network of the CIDJ (Centre d'information et de documentation jeunesse Youth Information and Documentation Centre);
- local missions of the Ministry of Labour, that work to help young people aged 16 to 25 find work;
- the network of groups of creators that provides support for young entrepreneurs aged 16 to 25;
- the movement for young people and student entrepreneurs (MoovJee) that supports young people starting companies through a mentoring programme and a competition.
- You can also turn to associations of former company heads, such as Ecti, Egée and AGIRabcd, to benefit from their experience and networks. They can provide personalised assistance on a voluntary basis.
- The French government launched a website dedicated to foreign entrepreneurs willing to start a company in France : mycompanyinfrance.fr. All information is available in English.
Immigration rules
- European students: Foreign students with European citizenship may stay in France to look for work or start a company after they graduate. They can stay as long as they like. If they are under 28, they can also work as an international contractor (volontaire international) in a French administrative office or company abroad.
- Non-European students: To stay in France after graduating, non-European students must have a promise of employment or a work contract and be paid at least 1.5 times the minimum wage (€1828,5 net per month in 2020). Without the promise of employment, a foreign, non-European graduate may request an Autorisation Provisoire de Séjour (APS - temporary resident permit) valid for twelve months and non-renewable, while they seek employment in France. To do this, they must have a professional Bachelor's or a Master's-level degree or be in the process of starting a company (in this case, to stay longer you must apply for a temporary freelance-entrepreneur residency permit when your APS expires).
- The "skills and talents" permit (3 years, renewable) aims to facilitate the entry into France of foreigners who are likely to contribute in a significant and sustained way to the economic development or intellectual, scientific, cultural, humanitarian, or athletic advancement of France or their country of origin. The permit is granted in view of the content, nature, and interest of the applicant's plans. Holders of the permit may engage in any form of professional activity that is consistent with the plans stated in the application.
For more information, check the dedicated page on Campus France Global.