Go France! French culture has taught me to be more punctual and organised
- Career Center
- Le 2 novembre 2022
Audencia's Career Center and Alumni teams are delighted to to bring you “Go France!”, the guide to working in France.
Following the success of the first guide in 2019, this new updated edition revisits advice from HR professionals, input from intercultural experts and shares yet more experiences of working in France for internationals. Alumni say they choose France for its corporate culture and impact-driven working environment but also for its croissants!“Go France!” is a valuable resource for students staying in France after their studies at Audencia.
This week, discover what Saurabh Srivastava from India has to say.
About Saurabh:
- GRADUATED FROM THE MSC SCPM PROGRAMME IN 2018
- FROM INDIA
- CURRENT POSITION SENIOR BUSINESS ANALYST – DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION (PROCUREMENT) AT UBISOFT IN PARIS
- NATIVE LANGUAGE HINDI
- DAILY WORKING LANGUAGES FRENCH AND ENGLISH
- OTHER LANGUAGES SPOKEN URDU
- FRENCH LEVEL ADVANCED (B2/C1)
- LIVING IN FRANCE SINCE 2017
Saurabh's key message: “French culture has taught me to be more punctual and organised."
My biggest challenge
I still remember my first project meeting which was conducted 100% in French. I understood literally nothing and at the end of the day I was just left with some complicated French vocabulary like, ‘feuille de route’, ‘compte-rendu’ etc.
Myths & realities
- MYTH That French people are lazy, that they only work 35 hours a week and that everyone takes a 2-hour lunch break every day.
- REALITY If you don’t speak the language, you’ll hit a wall! Be prepared to work hard! People are very efficient and organised here.
My advice & top tips
Master your French language skills: you will need them if you want to stay here in France. Be adaptable. There are always upsides and downsides to any culture. Pick the best from both (your home country and French culture) and leave the rest! Never forget who you are and where you come from! Stay connected to your roots. Keep in contact with your loved ones, family and friends. They are the ones who will always be by your side.
Quirky & cultural
Before coming to France, I heard the common stereotype, ‘French people are rude!’ However, this is not the case. French politeness caught me off guard! You will notice that French people are very polite. There’s always a merci or s’il vous plaît tacked onto any interactions you come across. Everyone is addressed as Madame or Monsieur. Even small daily acts of kindness like holding the door for the person behind you will win your heart.
And finally
I have noticed that French people complain a lot. I guess it’s very natural to complain in France.
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