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Speak French? Want to work from home? Here’s a job for you

Moving abroad can truly transform your life. You learn about yourself, perhaps learn a new language, adapt to a new culture and lifestyle. But it can be hard to find work.

Speak French? Want to work from home? Here’s a job for you

Maybe your language skills are a bit rusty. Perhaps there just aren’t enough jobs to go around in your field.

There are a number of obstacles – but if you’re looking for work opportunities in France, here are 6 reasons working as an online advertising assessor with Lionbridge might just be perfect for you…

1. You can work from home

Or the local café while scarfing down croissants, if that suits your fancy.

At Lionbridge you will be working to help improve the quality of internet services. For example, you might be reviewing online ads for quality.

I love working with the ads programme,” says Belinda, who works with Lionbridge from the US. “The ability to work from my home instead of hussling off to an office cubical brings an enjoyable way to work.”

The only things you need to work with Lionbridge are a computer, an Android smartphone and an internet connection. At home, at your mother-in-law’s, at the beach, on a vineyard…the possibilities are endless. No one wants to waste a way in a cubicle anyway.

2. Set your own hours

More time for joie de vivre! That also makes it easier to fit in things like spontaneous lunch with your friends or picking up the kids from nursery.

Working with Lionbridge you are a freelancer or independent contractor, and can choose what hours work best for you. If you only want to work two days a week, go for it. If you’d rather spread out the workload and have a “regular job” to do each morning, that works too!

I love the flexibility that comes with working for Lionbridge,” says Laura, who works with Lionbridge in Germany. “It allows me to make my own schedule, be here when my kids get home from school, and still contribute to our family financially.”

3. Practice your language skills

You do have to be fluent in French for this job, but hey – you’ve been meaning to get more practice anyways, right?

Although you can work from wherever you like, you do have to be living in France to work with Lionbridge, and you should have lived there for at least three years. If that’s you, welcome!

4. Multi-task

Another nice thing about being an independent contractor is that you can choose what to work with. Think a certain assignment sounds tedious? Don’t take it. On the other hand, if you like to juggle, that works, too!

5. Competitive pay

The pay rates at Lionbridge are good, plus there are no fees for joining. Just remember that as a contractor you are responsible to pay your own taxes.

6. It’s a great transition

Sometimes you just need a little extra work in between jobs, or while you look for something else. We get that. At Lionbridge you if you choose to leave your roles, you just need to give the company one day's notice.

Or as Belinda notes, “Life isn’t always predictable. The flexibility is perfect for me.”

So just like that you can be ready to move on to new things!

Interested? Find out more or apply now

This article was produced by The Local and sponsored by Lionbridge. 

For members

WORKING IN FRANCE

How to get a summer job in France

As the summer holidays approach in France, many employers are looking for seasonal workers - so if you're looking for a summer job, here's how to go about it.

How to get a summer job in France

There are thousands of employment offers in France – a simple internet search for jobs d’été came up with numerous jobs boards offering work in France, while the government-backed Centre d’Information et de Documentation pour la Jeunesse (CIDJ) offers advice and information on all aspects of life for young people in France, including finding seasonal work and summer placements.

Sectors including agriculture, hospitality and tourism are always recruiting in the summer, seeking fruit-pickers, holiday camp workers and serving/hotel staff.

But what are the rules for people seeking summer jobs?

READ ALSO Vendange: What you really sign up for when you agree to help with the French wine harvest

Age

Children from the age of 16 (under certain circumstances, the age limit drops to 14) who are legally resident in France can work as long as they have written authorisation from their parents or legal guardians. A model authorisation letter is available here

Those under the age of 18 cannot undertake certain jobs for health and safety reasons.

In the following circumstances, children as young as 14 or 15 can work during school holidays.

  • The holidays must last at least 14 days;
  • The child must work no more than half the days of the holiday – so, if a vacation period is two weeks, they can work for no more than one of those weeks;
  • The child is given ‘light duties’ that offer no risk to their safety, health, or development;
  • From the age of 15 and if the child has completed their troisieme education, a minor can register for an apprenticeship. 

Salary

Salary is usually paid monthly and will have a payslip. For those aged 18 and over, pay will be at least equal to the minimum wage.

 For those aged 14 to 17, who have less than six months’ professional experience, the minimum allowed rate is 80 percent of the minimum wage. For those aged 17 to 18, the rate rises to a minimum of 90 percent of France’s minimum wage.

  • The minimum wage in France is currently €10.85 gross per hour (€1,645.58 gross per month based on a 35-hour week);
  • the employment contract is fixed-term and can take different forms (fixed-term contract, seasonal employment contract, temporary employment contract, etc);
  • Seasonal employees are subject to the same obligations as the other employees of the company and have access to the same benefits (canteens, breaks, etc.).

Under 18s have certain additional protections:

  • between the ages of 14 and 16, during school holidays, employees on any contract cannot work more than 35 hours per week nor more than 7 hours per day;
  • They cannot work at night;
  • Those aged 14 to under 16 working during their school holidays can only be assigned to work which is not likely to harm their safety, their health or development.

Right to work in France

If you’re a French citizen or hold permanent residency in France then you have the right to work, but for foreigners there are extra restrictions.

Anyone who holds the passport of a EU/EEA country or Switzerland, is free to work in France or to travel to France seeking work without needing a visa or work permit.

Most other people will need permission to work in France – even if it’s only for a short period or for casual work such as grape-picking. Depending on your country of origin you may need a visa – everything you need to know about that is here.

In addition to the visa, you may also need a work permit, which is the responsibility of the employer.  To employ anyone in France for less than 90 days, an employer must get a temporary work permit – before the prospective employee applies for a short stay visa. This permit is then sent to the embassy at which the employee is applying for a visa.

If you come from countries including the UK, USA and Canada you can spend up to 90 days in France without a visa – but you may still need a work (convention d’accueil) if you want to work while you are here.

READ ALSO Six official websites to know if you’re planning to work in France

Certain countries have specific ‘seasonal worker’ visas on offer, for certain sectors which allows – for example – Canadians to come to France and work the ski season. 

Cash-in-hand jobs

Certain sectors which have a lot of casual workers – for example seasonal fruit-picking – do have cash-in-hand jobs, known in France as marché noir (black market) or simply travail au black (working on the black, or working illegally). 

This is of course illegal and working this way carries risks – as well as the possibility of losing your job if labour inspectors turn up you are also in a vulnerable position. If your employer suddenly decides not to pay you, or make unexpected deductions from your wages, there is very little you can do about it since you won’t have any kind of work contract. 

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