How to Start a Non-Teaching Career in France: Jalen’s Story
Before getting to know my Francophile wife, Maria, back in 2014, moving abroad as an American had never even been on my radar. Over time, however, living life à la française became a big goal for me. As my aspirations transitioned from wishful thinking to diligent planning, I scoured the internet for detailed accounts of how others made their French dream a reality. However, I was met time and time again with narratives of moving to France on a whim, beginning a relationship with an EU national, or becoming an English teacher. Since none of those options applied to me, I had to carve out my own path to France that I had yet to see executed. Now that I’ve got some experience of my own, allow me to share some detailed insight on how I started my career and young adult life as an American in France.
As an undergraduate student at the University of Mary Washington, I sharpened my various talents and passions on and off campus. I loved both my International Affairs and French majors and also enjoyed working different jobs, including being an Order Picker/Preparer for a large grocery store chain, a Summer Conference Assistant for University Events and Conferencing, and even a French Language Tutor.
When it came to coursework, I was most interested in anything dealing with foreign languages and international exchanges. I analyzed case studies in Business French, discussed the role of large multinational companies on the world stage in International Political Economy, and honed communication abilities in Advanced French, Intensive Spanish, and Beginner Italian. Upon graduation, I belonged to four national honor societies, was a scholarship recipient, and earned a 3.74 GPA, giving me a magna cum laude distinction. In my professional roles, I organized logistical aspects of large events, implemented best practices in the transport and storage of foodstuffs, orchestrated delivery and restocking activities, and developed my ability to liaise with others in a foreign language.
Following my undergraduate studies, I accepted an English teaching position in Bar-sur-Aube, France with the Teaching Assistant Program in France (TAPIF). TAPIF not only allowed me to make it onto French soil for the very first time, but also to get real-world experience working in an international environment. As a language assistant, I developed my students’ English and intercultural skills while putting my French-language competencies to good use. Although participating in TAPIF solidified my disinterest in becoming a teacher, it paved the way to another career that better combined my interests, know-how, and goals.
After an academic year with TAPIF, I returned to the classroom – but this time, it was for my master’s degree in Production, Logistics, and Procurement Management: Sustainable Logistics and Supply Chain Management at the Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne in Reims, France. The first year of my program was a core curriculum that included classes like Project Management, Key Aspects of Logistics, Cross-Cultural Communication, and Quantitative Data Analysis. The next year, however, was much more specialized. Classes such as Sustainable Warehouse Design and Management, International Logistics Strategy, Sustainable Transportation Network Design and Analysis, and Customs Operations really helped me to start thinking like an international supply chain professional.
Both years of my master’s degree incorporated invaluable hands-on experience in my field of study. I completed a four-month summer internship as a Logistics Intern and a year-long work-study scheme, known as an alternance in French, as a Logistics and Transport Assistant. My work experiences in the French Agri-food and Chemicals industries gave me the hard skills I needed to complement my classroom knowledge. I wrote a rapport de stage and a rapport d’alternance that summarized my professional training, and upon successful completion of all of my coursework, my degree culminated in defending my rapport d’alternance in front of a jury.
@the_francofile Want to know more about my experience? Ask me anything! 🇺🇸🇫🇷🚛 #logistics #logistique #supplychain #supplychainmanagment #GPLA #production #achats #business #businessstudent #businessgraduate #fac #diplome #mastersdegree #master #master2 #graduatedegree #frenchschool #americaninfrance #americanabroad #studyabroad #studyinfrance #mastersabroad #moveabroad #liveabroad #workabroad #lifeinfrance #frenchlife #expat #expatlife #immigration #immigrant #etrangerenfrance #internationalstudent #etudiantetranger #foreignstudent #internship #internshipabroad #stage #alternance #learnfrench #speakfrench #languagelearning ♬ well this is gonna be my personality – Ted Nivison
After graduating with honors, I began my quest to become a young professional in France. My job search consisted of sending out 25 applications to companies specialized in Logistics and Supply Chain solutions and to companies in various sectors hiring in their Supply Chain and Operations departments. I aimed to land a position in either Agri-food or Luxury, and began recruitment processes with companies in both sectors. Although there were many interesting roles up for grabs, I ended up picking the one that fit me best.
My job is a fully-remote Logistics role at an innovative, multinational company in the Agri-food sector. The duties I perform combine all of the best elements of my higher education and work experience in both the United States and France. I even get to speak in several languages on a daily basis while contributing to the exchange of goods and ideas internationally. I had always imagined the possibility of having to settle for a mediocre first job to begin my career, but am excited to report that I landed a job in France that continues to exceed my expectations.
My path to starting a career in France as an American isn’t what most people expect – I didn’t move to France to learn French, I didn’t do a master’s degree taught in English, I didn’t opt for a French private school, I didn’t pursue an English-teaching career, and I didn’t enter into a relationship with an EU national. Instead, I trusted the vision and chipped away, and I’m glad to have achieved this important step in my journey. Most of all, however, I am happy to be able to share my experiences in a way that helps others to achieve their own French dream. Would you like to begin a career in France? Want to know more about my journey as an American abroad? Let me know in a comment!
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