France welcomes you… well, they speak French yes, but they understand English. They are socialists, but they have a “capitalist” sense of business, and above all, the government is pushing the economy forward. So, France, what a delicious challenge!

When you decide to work overseas, you must be ready to face new situations that you don’t need to deal with when you stay “at home”. It can be quite challenging. However, if you do it in the right way, oh, how terrific the experience can be! Obviously you need to have the professional perspective in mind, but the personal one has an enormous importance in this decision as well.

What a comfort it is to have a public health insurance, state schools, governmental help if you are unemployed, five weeks holidays… all what this socialist country can give you. Don’t forget the famous French way of cooking, the beautiful beaches, the lovely mountains and wonderful cities. What about all this “way of life” with a “capitalist” sense of business? Here is a tip, never say to the French that they are capitalists, just talk about their industries (here go three examples: Dassault Aviation, Renault or L’Oréal) and they will be delighted to talk about the strength of their economy.

Did you know that France is the country with the best rate of production per person? The French value high standards, they are willing to be prosperous and they are hard workers. They have a strong feeling of business and they understand very well the power of a bigger Europe. They hate to admit that, because they love to complain about everything. Complaining is the national hobby).

Today the government is conservative (UMP) and it is trying hard to push forward the economy. Nicholas Sarkozi, Minister of Finance, with his team, is increasing the household capacity of expenses, controlling macroeconomic rates, and building an optimistic sense of growth. Looking at the European development plus the internal situation, France seems to be a good place to be and, most of all, it gives you the opportunity to continue your own growth.

About Author
Kristian Harrison was born in Brazil in 1963, and has lived in Europe since 1989. Coaching, a modern and very efficient approach to support projects and challenges, is a way of sharing his energy, motivation and experience with other people. A Member of the International Coach Federation (ICF), he is getting his certification at COACH U, the world’s leading coach training organization, during 2004.