Shall I take the job?

Question

I have been offered a job in Paris for a few months, which is great, because I don't want to stay there longer than 6 months anyway. The only problem is the salary: 900 Euros a month for 31 hours a week.
Does anyone know the legal minimum wage in France?
Shall I take the job? Please state reasons for your opinion and if you have any information, I would be very grateful for it.

Just wanted to clarify, I am earning 900 Euros a month, not a week.

The company is providing 2 weeks hotel at the beginning so that I can look for a place to live. They are a voluntary organisation that has not much money, so that will be all they will be able to provide.

Living is not provided/

Answer 1

I would say don't take the job, hold out for something (much) better paid. You are well below the minimum wage level, and the company are probably trying to employ you illegally as an intern (position should only be open to EU citizens unless specific skills are required and are not available locally) because you won't appreciate how little money you are making. Paris is the most expensive place to live in France, and on that money you would have few options on where to live, none of them too attractive:

1, sublet from someone who's going abroad for a while; illegal, uncertain, no security.
2, share a flat with 20 Polish, Bulgarian, Chinese, Vietnamese or Romanian construction workers; some of my Polish friends do this, works out at about 3.5 sq metres per person.
3, live well over an hour outside of Paris in a tiny studio (if you can find one available and a landlord who will rent to you for such a short time).
4, If you have a friend there already, pay half their rent to sleep on the floor.
None of those tempt you?
After around 25% social security payments are taken off (and bearing in mind that you will have to keep some money back to pay income tax later, but not a lot) you probably couldn't afford to get anything other than what I've put above, and even then you'd have to be very careful with your money. Paris is a very depressing place to be broke, so don't come unless you have the money to have fun!

Answer 2

I live in Paris and your salary sounds normal. It is about SMIC (minimum wage) which is very normal to get if you are young, have no experience, etc., especially considering it's a volunteer organization. Salaries in France are generally much lower than they are in, say, the States, but the French also have excellent benefits, such as excellent medical care. It's possible that the organization is offering you a salary similar to what they'd offer to a French national, but will you get all of the benefits, too? And is it 900 net of tax?

As to whether you can afford to live in Paris on 900 net, I'd definitely say it's doable so long as you economize well. You can find an apt share for less than 400/mo (and I know many who pay alot less, like 300). Eating out is VERY expensive in Paris, so plan to cook at home. You'll need to reduce your entertainment expenses, but depending on what you like, this isn't so hard. If you're here during the summer, there are a ton of free activities (movies in the park, music festivals). Some museums are free one day a month. If you like to go clubbing, there are ladies' nights (free admission & drinks). And generally I find that French people entertain quite alot at home - they'd rather cook a great meal than pay for one, and one can share with friends a nice bottle of wine that costs 5 euro.

Considering you are working only 31 hours/week, you could take on side work to supplement your income. As an English speaker, you can do translation or proof-reading work. Alot of French families like having English speaking babysitters so their kids learn English. I think alot of this work is outside of the tax system, i.e., not necessarily legal.... but it's very common.

I love Paris so naturally my advice to you is to take the job! The only things I'd add is that to prepare yourself for start-up expenses (eg plane ticket, apt security deposit), open a bank account as soon as you can to facilitate spending the euros you earn, and do as much research on how to save money as possible before arriving, because there are alot of ways!

Finally, Good luck!

Answer 3

First, I would take it, it is a great opportunity to work in a foreign country. In terms of money it's possible, but you have to be smart about your finances. Paris is an expensive city.

When looking for a place, AVOID any agency. First, they will charge you a large agency fee for the flat, and they only approve 1/3 of your salary as permissible to use towards rent. Thus, you could only spend 300 euros a month on rent/utilities/electricity/etc. A flat at that price in Paris is practically impossible to find, or it is a closet.

The best solution is to look for someone looking for a roommate, or someone who is willing to rent out a room in their flat for a low monthy rent. You can find announcement in the FUSAC (free magazine in Paris), their website fusac.fr or you can try at the American Church. There is an announcement board there for such things (i.e. short term rentals, or room rentals).

If you figure that you could get a room for about 300-400 euros a month, then you have 600-500 euros a month left to live on. That is possible, but don't try to have any major shopping sprees. But, you should have enough to buy food, and go out a bit.

Hope this helps.

Answer 4

Paris is an exciting, beautiful and inspiring place to live. But it comes with a price tag. The cost of living is much higher than the average French index. Rent is high and so is food and general supplies. Public transport is OK when compared to cut throat UK but still quite hefty.

So you might end up in one of the gritty and underdeveloped outer suburbs, where rent is cheaper (somewhat), commuting into work for ever and in the end not really enjoying your stay.

You seem quite switched on and the language barrier doesn't seem to be a problem (hence the job offer in the first place). My advice would be not to limit yourself before you go: Look for a job that pays you appropriately and that isn't limited in time - you can always leave! Who knows, you might enjoy it so much that you want to take another job?

When I moved to London in 1995 I only wanted to stay for a year. I'm still here!!

Answer 5

Monica,

Today's exchange rate is $1.3021 per Euro, 900 Euro comes to $1,171.8903...per month!

That's not much...considering you'll be living and working in Paris. Is the company going to provide room and board as well?

I would look into housing allowances...as well as relocation assistance.

Added 2/2/07 @ 0545 EDT:

I read your addendum...and if it were ME, I would really, really have to give it thought. It's tough enough to find a place to live in the U.S., in any metropolitan area...Paris is crowded, and as other here have pointed out, apartments are expensive...what happens if you DON'T find accommodations in two weeks? Likely you would be at the mercy of the local economy. You would likely jump at ANY opportunity for housing, desparate for ANYWHERE to call home. Very few people make good decisions out of desparation.

The salary...according to a Parisienne who responded, is average. It might be good for someone who is established in that economy (has a home, car, etc.) but I would really start to wonder if I could survive with that salary. I still would look into relocation assistance (are they going to pay for the plane ticket to get you there, are they going to kick in to get your stuff moved there, will they pay for a plane ticket home should things, God Forbid, NOT work out...are they going to pay for your ticket home at the end of six months...???)

I would need the RIGHT answers to those questions before I would contemplate the move. I understand that you're not considering this to get rich...you're there to work and absorb the French culture, and develop a worldly view. Nothing wrong with that...should you starve for it and start to resent things should things not work out the way you thought they might?

Answer 6

Le montant brut du SMIC horaire au 1er juillet 2006 est fixé à 8,27 €. Le taux horaire du SMIC brut est augmenté au 1er juillet 2006. Il passe de 8,03 euros à 8,27 euros (+ 3,05 %).

It means that 8,03 is the minimum per hour you can have but you have to multiply it by 31 hours and take off about 20 % of taxes (maybe they are other laws for foreign people but in france it's obliged (social security, enemployement etc......)

To live in Paris i think's it's a bit light :o)))) because when you rent it's very very expensive. Maybe you should find an association for foreign people, or share a flat, perhaps they have flats, but i don't know. The suburb is less expensive but still be.

I'm going to see if i can find adresses for you but i'm not sure.....

In france when you don't win enough money you can have helps from the state (money) for renting a flat but i don't know if you can have it when you are foreigner, i think yes. I'm going to see

Sorry for my english :o)))))))))))))))))))

Answer 7

It doesnt sound liek alot of money, how will you afford to live over there?

And if you're living in Paris, you at least want money to go shopping on the weekend?

Work here for a real wage and then go to Paris for a weekend where you can really appreciate it as a tourist.

Answer 8

do what ur heart tells u to do.
I just checked,the minimum wage i france is around 1,220€
but if you're going to work there and u got a place to stay,all paied,u are still getting a good salary.Unlike people think,its not sooo expensive in Paris or at any other country,unless u expect to go to dinner everyday and buy clothing all the time.Rented houses and aparts are expensive,but groceries arent.And for clothing,there are cheap shops with good quality clothing.
Now,its up to you to decide.Paris is a wonderfull city,and you can travel to the whole europe with low fares.ull love it!!

Answer 9

Do you like the job?

Do you like Paris?

While you are there is it possible to find other work to supplement this income?

In dollars that's about 250 usd per week for 31 hours.

Hey, if you want to take it you an always live on the cheap (share a flat with a few others).

I'd say its more about whether you like the job, like Paris and feel that it is on your path to whatever you are wanting to do with your life -

Its obviously not about getting rich. But I'm sure you can live on it, especially if you supplement it and/or live modestly.

.

Answer 10

In France the min wage is €8.27 an hour which for a 31 hour week equals €256.37 which would equal about €1050 per month, so the wage your are offered is way below the minimum!

Are you certain this is a monthly rate? not weekly, also is your board and living paid for? if the latter it is a good offer.