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15
- Working in Chile
The language
:
It is advisable to take Spanish lessons or improve
your level.
The possibility of finding a good job will depend
on how well you speak the language.
There are several language institutes in France
which can quickly bring you up to a decent
level.
Formalities to
be completed if you are working for a French
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.
The Trade
Commission in Chile, or the CFCE in Paris can
furnish you with a list of French companies
established in Chile.
Documents about
the country are usually available in the cultural
service of the Chilean Embassy in Paris.
You can however
prepare your trip in a more precise manner by
making a personal appointment with the
Franco-Chilean Chamber of Commerce in order to
complete your information and get professional
advice.
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.
Specialized
organizations such as the ANPE and APEC, the
APECITA and the OMI can also be of help. There are
often ANPE delegates or OMI services locally in the
bigger towns.
Where to find
job offers :
In the French press (Le Monde, Le France Soir,
Figaro, Moniteur du Bâtiment, expat magazine
...)
for French companies sending people
abroad.
In the local
press (Aspi, Hoy and El Mercurio).
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 the language of the country 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 move 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.
It is often difficult to compare salaries with
European ones.
The standard of living that you find abroad is not
always similar to the one you know in Europe 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 European 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.
16
- Formalities to be completed
You need a valid
passport, which is still valid for at least 6
months.
You have to have
a tourist card which is delivered by the airline
company or the consulate, the cost of this card is
22 euros.
If you are
staying less than 3 months it is not necessary to
have a visa.
17
- Health & Medecine
Hygiene condition
in the country :
Generally the climate is healthy. There is a risk
of viral hepatitis.
Vaccination :
No vaccination is obligatory, but we strongly
recommend that you get vaccinated against smallpox
and typhoid as well as hepatitis A and B. Check
that your tetanos and polio vaccins are up to
date.
Doctors and
medicine :
The medical staff is highly qualified and often
speak French.
You can find most of the medicine
locally.
To avoid typhoid
or viral hepatitis it is advisable to filter the
water or to drink bottled water.
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