staying in france, help help help xox?

Question

I'm going to france for at least one month in March

I don't know how to look for a job, or find cheap accomodation, I've searched google and tryed lots of abroad job sites but can't find anything.

I wan't to stay around dieppe/la havre, its mainly to learn french and save up a bit of money would be good as well!

I'm just looking for a labour job, maybe for accomodation and food, or just washing dishes and staying in a cheap hotel or something.

help me please! x

Answer 1

March is early for tourist season, but you might find a hotel or restaurant willing to hire you while their normal staf is on holiday.
If I where in your place I would e-mail to all hotels and restaurants in the town/area.
Write the e-mail in French, or have someone translate most of the e-mail in French and admit that you are not speaking it in a last paragraph, French people are more likely to ignore a message if it comes in a different language than their own. (But so would you if you where hiring staff.)

Also contact the tourist information offices in the area and ask them for ideas and maybe also help.
If you speak a bit of French already, writing for help in the local language would help, but most people in tourist trade do speak a bit of English.

If you find a hostel, you can ask about staying with them and work for the cost of your bed. You would still have time to get a job somewhere else too.

But realize, most employers are not looking for someone staying only a month, they spend time to train you to the job even when it is a simple one, so they expect you to stay longer.
If you are able to stay longer, say so in your first contact. (If you can promise to stay on if they like the way you work, they are more willing to take the risk.)

If you are from outside the European Union you will have to get a work permit, and to get one will be near impossible. If so, expect not to be able to get any legal work, and illegal work will be bad and poorly paid.

Try to get a copy of the Lonely Planet guide France (or if it exist a more local version) and use that to find cheap acommodation. Sometimes they also list possibilities for work and what you need to have (permits) to work in the country.

Answer 2

You poor thing , don't get caught in the riots.