The Paris Diary: How to get a Full-Time Job as an American in Paris
by Elena Chen
Two weeks ago I received my first job offer in Paris. Paris, France. I am American by nationality, Hong Kong by childhood and spent most of my adult life bouncing around Europe and the US studying and working. It’s been a very sweet ride and nostalgia often comes knocking on the door, reminding me it’s been too long since I’ve last visited the city I used to live in. This summer, 3 years into my French language learning journey, I landed my very first adult, full-time, benefits included work contract in a long time. I’ve been working on and off, freelance and part-time, for myself and for clients for the better part of the last 10 years. For a lot of my friends who pursue creative ventures, this is the lifestyle they prefer. I have, for better or worse, adopted it as my own. Now that I’m trying out a 9-5 for the first time (previous full-time gigs had rather flexible schedules), I wanted to share what it entailed to secure a job as a foreigner in Paris.
*Excerpt via Dear City Girl Substack
