Internships in France

An internship in France - your first step towards a cool career  

Taking an internship is a smart way to start a long and promising career. It is a clever way of gaining relevant practical knowledge to the function of a business, and internships are also frequently identified as the best way to land a full-time job. internships are a convenient way to test off different career paths, enabling a student to see which industry could be attractive to explore after graduation. 

More than providing valuable and relevant experience, an internship extends your professional network, which may be one of the most valuable currencies in a modern working environment. The specific characteristics of internships, such as their duration, type, and whether or not there are paid, tend to vary. This is usually based on industry and/or company size. 

Tip: Get started on the application process for your internship by using the Graduateland CV Builder to update your CV. Both your CV and your cover letter should be tailored to the job description.

Living and working in France

France is Europe’s second-largest economy and the capital Paris is not only considered the world’s most important fashion hub but is also home to companies from various industries. This makes the country one of the most popular destinations for students and graduates in search for internships.

While much of the country’s economic activity is centered around Paris, there is also a range of options in other regions. France is a quite urbanised country, therefore, cities such as  Lyon, Marseille, and Strasbourg offer various opportunities to hunt for jobs either at private companies or within the public sector. France is known for its employee-friendly labour laws that include a minimum wage (even for interns), a 35-hour working-week (though this is a hotly debated subject) and a number of other standard contract settings and benefits.  

Being able to speak French at least at a conversational level is a prerequisite for the majority of jobs offered by employers in France, so taking a language course before applying for internships is highly recommendable for non-native speakers.

Tip: Be aware that the requirements for job applications in France may be different from what you are used to. So spend some time finding out how a standard French CV looks and how to formulate a cover letter for French companies.

Also, prepare for the way that job interviews are usually conducted in France.