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Country card | France

  • Language proficiency: to work in France, speaking French is essential. Although some sectors might occasionally be willing to recruit non-French speakers (mostly in IT and engineering), it is highly recommended to have, at least, a CEFR B1/B2 in French to have a reasonable chance to be hired.
  • Networking: leveraging platforms like LinkedIn or your local alumni networks to get in touch with fellow students now working in France can help
  • Internships: internships play an important part in France. Many industries value internships as a pathway to full-time roles. 
  • Recognition of qualifications: so as to work in France, in some cases, it may be helpful to have your diploma from your home country recognised. The ENIC-NARIC France Centre can guide you through this process. 

Find out more:  

  • APEC (Association Pour l’Emploi des Cadres): for executive positions, including internships and entry-level positions for young graduates | Features: Career advice, CV workshops, and personalized job matching.
  • Welcome to the Jungle: for startups, tech companies, and creative industries | Features: Company profiles with detailed insights, job offers for internships and entry-level roles.
  • Indeed France: a wide range of job postings, including entry-level jobs | Features: Advanced search filters for internships, contract types, and experience levels.
  • Jobteaser : dedicated to students and recent graduates | Features: Job offers, internships, graduate programs, and career resources.
  • HelloWork : for regional job opportunities, including entry-level roles and internships | Features: Tailored searches by location, industry, and level of experience.
  • Studyrama Jobs and L’Étudiant:  jobs for students and young graduates, including part-time, entry-level roles and internships
  • My Job Glasses: for networking and mentoring for young graduates | Features: allows students to connect with professionals in their field.
  • France Travail (National Employment Agency): comprehensive job listings for all levels, including young graduates | Features: Government resources for job seekers.
  • Corporate Career Pages: many companies in France have dedicated career pages that post graduate programs and entry-level opportunities (Examples: L’Oréal, Capgemini, Total Energies, BNP Paribas…).

The National Institute for Statistics and Economic Studies (Institut National de la Statistique et des Etudes Economiques – INSEE) provides a comprehensive set of data on wage levels in France, taking into account a large number of variables. Find out more here: in French / in English

Concerning UT Capitole disciplines in particular, the latest survey on graduates’ professional integration will give you more details about our graduates’ salaries, 30 months after graduation (in French – click on the “Information” tab at the bottom of the page):

France is a large country including many dynamic business sectors, some of which stand out:

  • Technology and digital industry (French Tech)
  • Renewable & Energy Environmental Transition (solar and wind power, green hydrogen, etc.)
  • Healthcare & Biotechnology (strong pharmaceutical industry)
  • Luxury goods & Cosmetics (Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Hermès, L’Oréal, etc.)
  • Agri-food Industry (high quality food, wine and organic products with strong export demand)
  • Tourism & Hospitality (still world’s top tourist destination)

Occitanie – the Toulouse Region – is the world leader in aeronautics and the European leader in the space sector, with 800 companies and 86 000 jobs. But the region’s strengths are not limited to this sector. France’s second-largest region in terms of agricultural employment and the leading region in terms of the number of organic farms, Occitanie has also invested in green energy. It is the number one region for offshore wind energy potential, number 2 for photovoltaic and hydro-electricity production, and number 3 for wind power. Tourism is also an important part of the region’s economy (10% of regional GDP), thanks in particular to the spa industry and the open-air hotel industry (ranked no. 1 in France).

Source: Chambre de commerce et d’insdustrie

Internships are available throughout the year, although students may find less competition between September and March. Most internships last between one and six months, depending on the organisation and study programme. 

Internships are open to both undergraduate and postgraduate students and are available in full-time and part-time formats. French is the primary working language , but numerous international companies and research institutions also offer placements in English. 

Compensation depends on the length of the internship. Placements lasting less than two months may be unpaid, while internships of more than two months are legally required to provide a monthly allowance, which is currently around €630 per month. 

Most internship vacancies are filled through standard recruitment processes.In addition, networking through universities, career fairs, alumni, and professional contacts can significantly improve your chances of securing a placement. 

International students from outside the European Union should check the French immigration requirements before starting an internship.  

UT Capitole Career Center (in French)

Careers in France (in English)