Job seeking in France - how was your experience?

[Belgianchox]

I'm soon moving to France (Savoie), which means giving up a job i really like in marketing here in belgium. I'm wondering what the job market in France is like generally, outside of Paris, and hoping to hear of other peoples experiences in finding work, positive or otherwise. I speak fluent french, and need to work, staying at home long term is not really an option. If anyone has any thoughts I'm all ears!

Hi Belgianchox.
It is harder over here than the UK, unemployment is higher, salaries are lower (but childcare is cheaper!) Used to work in publishing/PR in the UK. Not much call for that sort of thing in rural France! I went to the ANPE (job centre) and found a bilingual office job within a month. The work is not the most fascinating but the boss has young children and is sympathetic so I think I'll stick with this for a little while.
If you are a manager, you can also try the APEC which is the equivalent of the ANPE but for 'cadres'.
You can already start looking: www.anpe.fr
www.apec.fr
Those are the state agencies. Of course there are lots of private employment agencies too - Manpower etc

Hi, thanks for taking the time to post. I have never actually worked in the uk, i studied there and then left to work abroad, so no experience of the uk job market at all, tho from what i gather from friends I would earn more there, but as you mention the cost of childcare (and living generally i think) is so much higher.
Here in belgium the cost of living is very reasonable and earnings ok, even tho we're taxed a lot, more so than in france. I think im just worried there won't be much in teh way of professional opportunity for me there. But i will see, we are going because DH has a much better work opportunity there. So i'm kind of hoping something will fall into place for me. Thanks for the tips, I will have a look asap.

I hope it works out!

Hi I've just seen your other thread...if your dh is a local to st jean de M then by word of mouth you should easily fine a job, be that in the ski resorts, Moutiers , Albertville or further afield. I'm sure once you put the word out you'll be snapped up as a bilingual. I live just on the other side in the Meribel valley. I do hope you like it.Good luck.