1. First the international degree,
now the job
William C. Holmberg, a former 'exchange student' at
the HEC School of Management in Paris, explains his
personal strategy for turning his international degree
into an actual salary in France.
Expat Tales are real-life stories on making the move to France and learning to thrive
here. We hope these stories will provide tips and help make connections among our
readers.
In an age when governments, non-profits and businesses need to hire future leaders
with truly global experience, education and perspectives, why is it still so very hard
for foreign students to get jobs directly after earning an advanced degree outside
their home country?
Stories of ambitious and accomplished students trying –- and failing -- for six to
twelve months trying to get hired in foreign markets are common.
Success requires an understanding of the primary obstacles plus a personalized
strategy to get hired locally after graduation.
After finishing my coursework at the HEC School of Management, I did become one
of the lucky few and here is the strategy I followed to make it happen.
The three big obstacles
Based on the observations of my fellow students, as well as my own, I believe there
are three main barriers to getting hired locally after finishing part or all of an
advanced degree abroad.
While having a work visa and language proficiency may seem obvious, they aren't as
straightforward as they seem: the way you speak, dress, eat and shake hands can all
William C. Holmberg

2. kill your chances.
OBSTACLE #1
While the requirements for a work visa vary by country, in most cases it takes a lot
of time, money and patience anywhere in the world to get one.
Being married to a local national solves, or accelerates, the process. Regardless of
political clout or truly outstanding credentials, if a Paris bank knows their annual visa
quota is almost used up, they will simply choose a local candidate. If you need a
work visa to stay in the country of your degree program, consider including
immigration law as part of your studies and start the process early.
OBSTACLE #2
Congratulations on your new work visa! Don't forget to take note of all the
limitations. If you did not become fluent in the local language while completing
complex forms and interviews with state officials, you'll need to skip more
sightseeing trips to work on grammar, pronunciation and your accent for job
interviewing.
OBSTACLE #3
Well done on your practice interviews! You're ready for the real thing, or at least
sending out cover letters en masse in the local language. Don't forget to get a native
French speaker to proof-read everything and don't forget that many French
companies still expect cover letters, la lettre de motivation, to be written long-hand.
Now you must learn the local protocols of communication, behavior, les 'faux-pas',
dress codes and everything else to conform locally.
William 'Bill' Holmberg is
a recent graduate of the
Fletcher School of Law
and Diplomacy at Tufts
University and
participated in the
exchange program of the
HEC School of
Management in France.
He now lives, and works,
in Paris.

3. Scared yet? Unless one is bi-cultural (not the same
thing as bilingual), this process will be ten times
harder than in your native country.
To help myself on this front, I engaged a professional career coach who is an expert
on Anglophone/Francophone communications and career development to help me
adjust the way I presented myself and answered questions in interviews.
It was certainly hard to conform to a new ‘protocol’.
Among the lessons I learned was that when interviewing in France, one needs to be
fairly cold and straight-forward.
For example, I had to unlearn the American habits of smiling, speaking positively on
experiences and goals as well as elaborating on stories and giving more information
that what is asked for; all of these can be negatives in front of a traditional French
interviewer.
Your vocabulary also needs to be carefully groomed in advance.
Certain words like ‘ambitious‘, in French 'ambitieux', should be substituted by
‘motivé’; the former would be perceived as having a manipulative edge, as if you
were out for the boss' job.
Moderate your expectations
Many MBA candidates, for example, look at the placement statistics of schools abroad
and may be attracted by my school's program, for example, when they see that 58
percent of non-European students found employment in Europe.
But remember that these 'international' degrees are defined by the diversity of the
A lecture room at HEC -- fellow
students now, competitors later

4. student body diversity. The implication that such a degree will help you secure a local
job easily is misleading.
Half of MBA candidates pursue the degree so they can switch sector or function, but
this kind of mobility is a tough sell in France. Often the big recruiters in the
consulting and finance sectors do understand this-- others have to be convinced in
the cover letter.
Strategies to success
Here are some specific tactics to consider:
• 50 percent of internships lead to a full-time offer, even abroad. Your best
chances are with a company from your home country operating in your
dream city.
• Remember that your personal network and not Monster.com is most likely to
lead to a job offer. So, exploit all friends, family, gym partners, etcetera to
get introductions to decision makers in your dream organization.
• If you are in France but really want to work in Italy, do an exchange program
there to network, interview and of course enjoy la dolce vita.
• Only about 10 percent of fresh MBAs find jobs through headhunters so don't
count on them.
• Do not simply translate your existing CV into the other language but
customize it to match the expected formatting preferences and information
requirements. For example, French CVs often include age, marital status, and
a photo, none of which would appear on an American resume.
And if you do get an offer...
• Just like any other market, if a manager knows the labor market will offer a
foreigner far fewer options than a local, he might offer a lower-than-market
salary to a candidate with few viable alternatives. Be prepared to take the
first offer you get and at a lower salary than you might want.
Guide to work
permits in France
Help Wanted: To find
a job in France

5. •
• Remember that integration takes time. No matter where you end up, be
ready to be treated like a foreigner for a long time.
Feel free to email Bill with your experience at: wholmberg@yahoo.com
November 2005
Copyright Expatica
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Expat Tale?
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6. •
• Remember that integration takes time. No matter where you end up, be
ready to be treated like a foreigner for a long time.
Feel free to email Bill with your experience at: wholmberg@yahoo.com
November 2005
Copyright Expatica
Would you like to tell an
Expat Tale?
Contact us at:
feedback@expatica.com