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| Business
Etiquette |
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The further south you go in France the more tolerant of
lateness the people are. Whilst punctuality should always
be your goal, being ten minutes late for a meeting will
generally not be frowned upon.
- Remember when scheduling appointments that France virtually
comes to a standstill in August when many French workers
take their holidays.
- Solid personal relationships are important in French
business culture as long term goals and objectives are
an important part of this.
- Heated discussion and negotiation are a normal aspect
of French business culture. The French enjoy confrontational
discussion and you should take these oppurtunities to
show off your intellect and knowledge during such discussions.
The ability to argue your case competently and with informed
opinion will gain respect in France, regardless of whether
your opinions differ.
- Discussions may often change direction radicaly throughout
their duration, this is normal in French business culture.
- During discussion and negotiation the French like to
treat proceedings on a rather intellectual level and therefore,
ensure that your proposal is carefully planned and organised.
Any elements that require further explanation or reasoning
will be directly questioned by the French.
- The French are responsive to new ideas and suggestions,
however they will not entertain ideas that overstep French
cultural boundaries.
- Decision making is often only made by those in the highest
authority in France. Power and position are very important
in this culture.
- Women are treated as equals in France, both socially
and in business.
- Always knock before entering a room and close the door
when leaving. - A-Z of Tourism www.a-zoftourism.com |
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| Economy
France
is in the midst of a gradual transition, from a well-to-do
modern economy that has featured extensive government
ownership and intervention to one that relies more on
market mechanisms. The government has partially or fully
privatized many large companies, banks, and insurers,
but still retains large stakes in several leading firms,
including Air France, France Telecom, and Renault, and
remains dominant in some sectors, particularly the power,
public transport, and defense industries. The telecommunications
sector is gradually being opened to competition. France's
leaders remain committed to a capitalism in which they
maintain social equity by means of laws, tax policies,
and social spending that reduce income disparity and
the impact of free markets on public health and welfare.
The government has lowered income taxes and introduced
measures to boost employment but has done little to
reform an overly expensive pension system, rigid labor
market, and restrictive bureaucracy which discourage
hiring and make the tax burden one of the highest in
Europe. In addition to the tax burden, the reduction
of the workweek to 35 hours has drawn criticism for
lowering the competitiveness of French businesses. The
current economic slowdown has thrown the government's
goal of balancing the budget by 2004 off track. - CIA
World Fact Book |
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| Cultural
Information |
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Excerpted
from the France Career Guide
- To the outsider living in France, the cultural pride
of the French can seem arrogant. The French culture
and politics are closely related, and it is best not
to engage in conversation about these unless you are
quite knowledgeable about the subject.
- The French place a great importance on etiquette.
When meeting someone for the first time, a brief handshake
is customary; in business, the person of higher ranking
should initiate this, and men should wait for women
to be the first to extend their hands. In social circles,
it is customary to kiss each cheek or touch cheeks and
kiss the air. The French are known for their direct
eye contact, and maintaining eye contact is expected
during business.
- The French are known for their sense of style, and
even their casual clothes are more formal than in many
other countries. As a guide to how to dress, follow
the lead of your superiors in business.
- Their cuisine is something else the French take great
pride in, and with good reason. A French meal can take
hours and hours, and dinners tend to be late. The person
who initiates the invitation typically pays for the
meal. - Goinglobal.com |
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| Cultural
Etiquette |
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Speak at a closer distance.
- Chewing gum in public is seen as vulgar.
- Slapping an open palm over a closed fist is offensive.
- Do not put your hands in your pockets when in public.
- Snapping your fingers, especially in public is also
considered offensive.
- Eating while walking down the street is frowned upon
although you will still see people doing this.
- The "O.K." sign (forming a circle with the
thumb and forefinger) means "zero" or "useless"
in France.
- Today, the courtesy title "Mademoiselle"
is rarely used and should be avoided.
- French will sometimes introduce themselves by first
saying their surname, followed by their first name.
- For casual contacts such as waiters, titles such as
"Monsieur" or "Madame" will do fine.
When entering a store or restaurant, you may say "bonjour"
or "bonsoir", and "au revoir" upon
leaving.
- When you speak their language, be gracious if the
French correct your mistakes in grammar or pronunciation.
- It is highly recommended that you learn some basic
French and use it whenever you can.
Good posture is considered a sign of breeding in French
culture.
- Expect to be greeted by a handshake; kissing on the
cheeks across genders is also common. |
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| Resumes/CV'S |
| Excerpted
from the France Career Guide
A
job application in France should begin with a one page,
handwritten cover letter (your handwriting may be used
for character analysis). Include your resume with a
photograph attached, but no other enclosures.
Your resume itself should be relatively short, with
a maximum of two pages. If you are a new job seeker,
it may be even shorter. Begin with personal information:
name, address, phone, and e-mail. Personal data, such
as birth date, marital status and children are optional.
Begin the section on education with your most recent
study, and then list all schools attended, ending with
your high (secondary) school. Give the name and location
of each, your areas of study, degrees and dates of attendance.
Also, mention any additional courses, internships or
specialized training.
In the "Work Experience" section, list for
each position the dates, the name, location, size and
type of company, and your title(s) and responsibilities.
If you have many years of work experience, the education
section follows your employment history.
At the end of the resume, you should list special competencies
(such as level of expertise in foreign language, and
computer skills), professional affiliations and volunteer
experience, if relevant. State that references are "available
on request." - Goinglobal.com
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| Interviewing
Advice |
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Excerpted
from the France Career Guide
When
preparing for an interview, it is a good idea to do
background research on the company, its culture and
current emphases relative to your own skills and experience.
Dress appropriately. French business attire is conservative.
Since the French place a good deal of emphasis on hierarchy,
you should be familiar with the titles of your interviewers
before the meeting. It is an asset to have an acquaintance
in common. It serves, to break the ice at the beginning
of the meeting, and it can be extremely helpful in business
interactions.
When responding to questions, be yourself. It is bad
form to brag about your great deeds, or be defensive
about your failures. You may well be asked rather personal
questions, such as your plans to have a child. (For
mothers-to-be, an eighteen-week maternity leave costs
the company a temporary replacement.) During the interview,
you should ask questions too, about any special job
requirements, such as the need to drive, travel, or
speak a foreign language. Men are expected to wear dark
tailored suits; women also wear well-tailored suits,
and a minimum of make-up and jewelry.
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| Leading
Newspaper |
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French-news.com
- for residents and lovers of France - www.french-news.com
List
of French Newspapers - www.onlinenewspapers.com/
france.htm
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Useful
Links
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American University in Paris - www.aup.fr/main.htm
Job
search site for MBAs across the world - www.foreignmba.com
A-Z
of Tourism - www.a-zoftourism.com
French
Embassy in the US - www.info-france-usa.org
US
Embassy in France - www.amb-usa.fr
American Chamber of Commerce
in France - www.amchamfrance.org
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