France is a famously popular destination for American expatriates, yet it is infamous for its bureaucracy, snobbery and even its occasional anti-American sentiment. This doesn't mean you have no hope of landing a job here, but it

More Resources For more tips on getting a job in Paris, check out Rose Marie Burke's article in Paris Voice, "Ten Tips for Linking Up to a Job in Paris." For more insight into the trials of job seeking expats in Paris, check out Gabrielle Parnes' "Paris Journal," a thoughtful account of her the author's first weeks in Paris and her ongoing job search.

does mean you should take note of the experiences of several expatriates who have already waited for an hour in the line at the prefecture, only to be told that they need to come back with stacks of papers they threw out months ago. These are tips from expatriates who have navigated their way though the turbulent waters of a French job search and lived to tell the tale...

1. Learn the Language.

If you plan to work at a French company in an entry or mid-level position, language skills are crucial. Whether you are looking for a position as an English teacher or seeking another job that allows you to conduct business almost entirely in English, you need to understand French communication styles. "The French are very diplomatic," explains Beth Dora Barany, a writer and English teacher who moved to France with her husband to work on a historical novel set in 19th- century Paris. For Barany, the French communication style even translates into her work as an English teacher: "If you're speaking English with them, you have to be kind of delicate with them."

2. Leave Your Brazen Confidence at Home.

This diplomatic and polite communication style of the French calls for some adjustments to American interviewing protocol. "In terms of finding work, what we consider to be the standard closing of "'I look forward to hearing from you,' might seem arrogant," explains Barany. I look forward to your call is very American and presumptuous. They would not end like that," she continues.

Rose Marie Burke, a freelance journalist living in Paris offers a similar tip, advising against sending thank-you notes, "It's just not done," she says.

3. Network.

Anyone who has ever braved the French job market will tell you that networking is of the essence. In part, this is because French labor laws make it difficult for companies to fire employees, so they are not willing to take chances when it comes to hiring. Allow yourself plenty of time to find a job, because the search will require you to take advantage of every connection you have and to forge new connections.

4. Be Realistic.

Getting a job overseas is no small feat, and as you send out curricula vitae, be aware that you are in for a long, trying process. If you do not have a work permit, do not expect any miracles, but do be persistent in your efforts to find ways to obtain a work visa. Be aware that, although English speakers are in great demand, many are armed with European citizenship.

5. Do Not Get Sidetracked.

If you find yourself working just to work while hot on the trail for a job, be wary of putting up with a job you don't like. It may be better to work on forging connections for the ideal job than to get too immersed in a job at the wrong company or in the wrong field. "I think that the old saying, 'If there's a will there's a way' holds true here in France," says Burke. It may seem impossible but it's not impossible -- it's very difficult. If you're persistent and knowledgeable, it usually pays off. What doesn't pay off is to be overoptimistic, to be unrealistically hopeful, and then maybe waste two or three years here doing this or that and not doing what you came here to do."