Things Must Be Improving....

[expat]

Is there work in France? I thought their ridiculous employment laws strangled anything that was remotely productive at conception.

The UK must be truly fubar'd if France is a viable option.

There is work in France. Traditionally they didn't like contractors (if you were any good they'd want you to be employed, and if not they wouldn't want you at all) but I think they're coming to see the advantages (compared to hiring). They also tend not to outsource so much.

But they still don't pay much: French salaries are lower but the social benefits are much greater so it kind of balances, however they seem not to have grasped that contractors need a higher rate because they don't get a lot of benefits. I worked there last year but it was the lowest rate I have had in the 21st century (except for the alternative rate of zero, which is why I took it). After paying my UK mortgage and expenses and tax etc, I literally didn't have enough left for even Easyjet flights and cheap hotels, so I slept in a van parked on the street.

Brussels slumdog is right though, the French agencies are in London.

[stek]

I think you are reading too much into this. The agents over in mainland Europe are just a lot more polite and will actually return your call and respond to your emails. Strange concept if you are used to dealing with UK agents, I know..

I've been blasting my CV all over CH/DE for months now, but agree today may be a blip....

[XperTest]

I think you are reading too much into this. The agents over in mainland Europe are just a lot more polite and will actually return your call and respond to your emails. Strange concept if you are used to dealing with UK agents, I know..

[Brussels Slumdog]

Avoiding French Employment rules

Is there work in France? I thought their ridiculous employment laws strangled anything that was remotely productive at conception.

The UK must be truly fubar'd if France is a viable option.

That is why most of the contract work in France is obtained via agencies
based in UK staffed by French speakers.

The last time I worked in France by contract was based on English Law so their laws had nothing to do with me.

[stek]

Three out of four now for CH/DE....

Still nowt from the Frechies but that's Mers-El-Kabir for you. Grudge or what?

[gingerjedi]

Is there work in France? I thought their ridiculous employment laws strangled anything that was remotely productive at conception.

The UK must be truly fubar'd if France is a viable option.

[stek]

Chanced a role in CH, IB experience required, I have none - unless you count slightly more relaxed Insurance Actuaries in odd moods...

Got a nice call from the agent in CH giving my CV mad props but the ClientCo would want IB etc. Blimey. She did say things (in CH anyway) are picking up rapidly so hopefully I'll be on the émigré bandwagon soon..

Not long ago that application would have disappeared down the usual black hole and no sign of agent. In fact, applied for six CH/DE roles in last hour, calls back from two already, one knock back, one next stage. Woo!

Well, four CH/DE roles, two FR ones, heard nowt from the Frogs....