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15
- Working in the country
Before leaving
You should take Portuguese lessons, or improve
your level. The quality of job you would like to
have may depend on how well you speak the
language.
With a French or international company
If your employer is a French or international
company you don't have to worry about formalities.
Usually the administrative services deal with all
the formalities concerning the expatriate staff.
Unless you are the only representative of your
company in the country (sales representative, or in
charge of a liaising office ...), in this case you
will have to deal with the formalities
yourself.
Preparing
for your departure and looking for a job :
You can start searching for information by writing
to French associations established in the country,
economic expansion services, commercial services of
foreign banks in France and French banks
abroad.
The
French consulate usually has a service dealing with
jobs and training, student grants and reinsertion
in France, and they can put you in touch with local
enterprises who are willing to accept French
personnel.
(See
also in the Practical Guide for the
Expatriate).
The
French Chamber of Commerce also offers information
about the job market, the most dynamic sectors of
the economy, and edits a bulletin for French
companies and local members. You could publish a
job application in this bulletin.
Documents
about the country are usually available in the
cultural service of the Angolan Embassy in
Paris.
While
you are hunting for information you could contact
companies directly by sending a spontaneous
candidacy proposing your services.
The
international departments of the Chambers of
Commerce and Industry often have information about
the country available. Directories and useful
dossiers from the country can be helpful in getting
information on sectors of activity and the local
economic life.
Where
to find job offers :
In the French press (Le Monde, Le France Soir,
Figaro, Moniteur du Bâtiment,...) for French
companies sending people abroad.
In
the international press, in nearly all the bigger
dailies there exists a page or a selection of job
offers (The European, The Guardian, Vacature,
Coriere della Sera, The Geneva Tribunal
..)
Leading
recruitment bureaus in Europe, and interim
companies sometimes offer international
jobs.
There
are several data banks specializing in job offers
abroad on Internet which are easily
accessible.
Writing
your CV and covering letter :
Your dossier is a determining element towards being
recruited, it is the first step towards obtaining
an interview.
The
CV should be very clear, typewritten, detailled,
preferably written in English and it should be
accompanied by a handwritten covering letter.
Certain countries do not accord much importance to
handwriting, but it is advisable to write the
letter by hand whichever country it is addressed
to.
If
the company is French or the subsidiary of a French
company, the CV and the covering letter should
still be written in the language of the
country.
Don't
forget to attach a recent photo, preferably one
where you are smiling.
Your
CV should be detailled, and have the addresses
and phone numbers of ex-employers on it so that the
company can easily verify the main points of your
candidacy. This can save you from sending a pile of
photocopies and documents with it. You can always
present these documents later during an interview
if necessary.
If
you are thinking of sending a false CV, you should
know that a study from the Florian Mantione
Institute shows that 45% of the employers check up
on CVs, that 34% of the candidates are eliminated
during this verification and that 60% of the
verifications are made with the previous
employer.
Whatever your reasons for 'adapting' your CV to
suit the ad, be warned that it won't help you
during the interview and could even cause you
prejudice.
The
questions to ask yourself before an expatriation
:
What exactly is the job?
What is the length of the contract?
Is it for the whole family or with bachelor
conditions?
What kind of life will you have locally?
Have you thought about when you get back, how you
will manage financially to fit in again?
Do you have the necessaries qualities to be an
expatriate?
Qualities
you need to succeed :
emotional stability (so you can react quickly
in any situation)
autonomy (you can make decisions on your own in any
circumstance)
being mobile and being available for your job,
being able to relocate quickly
being good at meeting people (don't forget that the
expatriate is also an ambassador for his country
whether in his professional or his social life.
being adaptable (you can easily adapt to different
cultures, climates and life styles. )
being able to accept and understand different
cultures and cultural differences
tolerance and respect of other people's way of life
and way of living should be a natural part of your
character.
Your
family and recruiting :
Your partner should have the same ambitions as
you. It is often an important factor in choosing an
expatriate.
In fact some recruitment bureaus or big firms when
they are recruiting, specially for long term
projects, insist on having an interview with the
wife to check that there are no problems in the
couple which could get worse abroad and maybe
disturb the mission.
Companies often propose that the whole family goes
together so that a good family balance is
kept.
During
the recruiting :
Punctuality and precision are appreciated
everywhere. Be on time for your
appointments.
Be
well dressed for your interview, whatever kind of
job you are trying for. Your appearance will weigh
with the interviewer.
First
interviews are often very short but can last
several hours if your candidacy is interesting,
depending on the post offered, and if you have to
do any psychotechnical (graphological analysis) or
aptitude tests.
Be
careful not to appear pretentious about your
know-how and don't exaggerate your professional
competence.
Don't
forget that nowadays the job market is a chronic
problem nearly all over the world, so take an
interview appointment seriously, jobs are not easy
to come by.
Emphasize
your real competence, your ease of adaption, your
mobility, your ability to work in a team, your
readiness to pool your experience.
The
company and the expatriate :
A lot of countries abroad like to have, and to
show that they have, expatriates on their
staff.
International personnel often bring in experience
and knowledge which can be very advantageous for a
company.
Salaries
- Salary requirements :
If the candidate doesn't know the prospective
country, it isn't always easy to negotiate a
salary, especially if the amount has already been
mentionned on the ad.
However, there is nothing to stop you from showing
your previous salary and from discussing the salary
offered. The recruiting agent or the employer may
appreciate knowing what for you is the minimum.
The standard of living that you find abroad is not
always similar to the one you know in your own
country and sometimes if the salary is much higher
you will find that the cost of living is also.
This is one of the reasons, and there are several,
including social security conditions, why it is
better to go abroad with a French company.
French companies sending people overseas budget for
differences in the cost of living. They can
reassure the expatriate that his purchasing power
will at least be the same as in France.
The 'basic French salary' can be paid either in
France or abroad, it is usually a choice, and an
allowance is paid for living expenses
(accomodation, food,...) This compensation is based
on the cost of living in the country.
Taxes
(see the page in the expatriate guide)
If you are employed locally you will have to pay
taxes in the country.
If you have an international contract your salary
can be negotiated free of taxes.
In some countries income tax is deducted at source
by the company.
Accomodation
- company car - other fringe benefits :
It is nearly impossible to negotiate for a company
house if you are employed locally. Getting a car
depends on your job and your level in the
company.
In a local company it will be very difficult to
negotiate a paid return ticket to France every
year.
There again, if you are an expatriate working for a
French company you will get fringe benefits, a
house, car, travel allowance, return flights to
France ...
Usually international contracts give 15 days leave
in France every 3 months.
Working
conditions :
These are the local ones with all the attenuating
advantages and disadvantages if you are working for
a local company.
The expatriate is often considered as an immigrant
and has to deal himself with the local
formalities.
On
the administrative side the expatriate does not
have to worry about the formalities concerning the
police, customs, immigration, income tax, visa or
consular declaration. French or European companies
abroad always have an administrative department
which completes all the formalities for its
personnel and deals with any problems which could
arise.
Foreign
companies remain subject to the laws of the country
in which they are working.
Attitude
towards foreign investment
The lowest limit for a foreign investor is fixed a
250,000 dollars. Fiscal and customs duties
advantages can be accorded, but there are still
some restraints : it is forbidden to invest in
certain domains such as defence or in some sectors
reserved for the State (port administration
...)
Other
activities have to be controlled by the State
(mostly public) or open to foreign operators via
temporary concessions.
The level of technical training is very
low.
16
- Formalities
Passport necessary for everyone except Angolan
citizens who have an identity card marked 'born in
Angola'.
Visa
necessary for everyone, Angolans included,
except for
- transit passengers who don't leave the
airport
This visa is delivered by the Angolan
representatives in Brussels, Luxemburg, Holland,
France (Paris), Italy (Rome), Portugal (Lisbon),
Sweden (Stockhom)
Exit permit is also necessary for all
visitors. To be asked on arrival from the same
authorities who gave the entry permit.
17 - Health
A risk of malaria all year, more particularly from
November to April. Take a treatment with you -
there exists a resistence to Nivaquine and
Chloroquine.
Vaccinations :
Yellow fever : obligatory.
Cholera : obligatory
Household
pets (cats and dogs) must have an anti-rabies
shot.
Medicine :
Anti-diarrhea, only drink water that has been
boiled and disinfected, or filtered or bottled
water with a sealed cap.
Wash
fruit and vegetables in disinfected water and only
eat well cooked foodstuffs.
Precautions :
It is a good idea to take a medical kit with
you which should contain :
1 - instruments : pointed scissors, thermometer,
tweezers, safety pin, syringes and sterile
needles.
2 - antiseptics and dressings : a local antiseptic,
sterile compresses, plasters, a crepe bandage,
antibiotic cream, antiseptic eyedrops.
3 - medicine : anti-malaria tablets and treatment,
antidiarrhea pills, paracetamol, wide acting
antibiotics, anti-allergics (if you are prone to
allergies), a sleeping draught and any other pills
that you take regularly.
4 - various : water sterilization tablets
(Micropure, Hydroclonazone), sun cream, antispectic
cream, ear plugs, contraceptives.
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