Go France! Seek advice from people who have been in your place in the past

We are delighted to bring you “Go France”, the guide for international students looking to work in France!

Devised and compiled by Audencia’s Career Centre and Alumni team, with the support of the School's student reporters, “Go France” is a valuable resource for internationals considering a career in France after their studies. Starting with HR professionals’ top tips and debunking the myths and realities of the workplace, Go France also showcases the experiences of more than 20 international alumni who have aced the challenge of finding a job in France.

This week, discover what Vidhi Khare, IMM 17, has to say.

About Vidhi

• Graduated from the IMM 17 programme
• Originally from India
• Working as Head of IT at RATP in Paris
• Daily working language ▶ English
• Native language (s) ▶ English
• Level of French ▶ Elementary
• Other languages spoken ▶ Hindi
• Other degrees ▶ Bachelor of Engineering

Vidhi's key advice

Learn French, make contacts, seek advice from people who have been in your place in the past and learn from other people's mistakes.

How it all started

My professional path has been very exciting. I worked in India for 6 years before coming to study in France. I got my internship in one of the most reputed companies in France and there has been no looking back since.

Myths & realities

Realities: There are some pleasant and some hard realities about working in France. A few that I think are important to mention are:

• Working really hard
• Apéro with colleagues
• Work life balance
• Gender pay gap (sad but true at many workplaces)
• Getting stuck in traffic and demonstrations

Myths: People outside France say that even if you don’t work you can still survive. NO, that is so not true!! If you plan to stay in France, be prepared to work harder than ever.

My biggest challenge

The main challenges I’ve encountered in France have been my French language skills (I’m still learning) and the amount of paperwork (visa related) for expats.

Speaking French

I take classes and it has really helped.

Amusing story

We follow a lot French culture at work I suppose, and greeting each other in the morning is taken quite seriously. I’ve stopped counting how many people I "bise" (kiss) when I arrive in the office, especially if I’ve been away for a few days.
 

Advice and top tips

It's important to understand the French culture and be a part of it. You have to let some old habits go and accept what comes your way here.