|
Working
in the country
There are
36 million people in the country's labour
force.
36% of them are employed in the government, public
works companies and the armed forces, 34% work in
agriculture and the private sector and factories
employ 20%
Some 2,500,000 Egyptians are expatriated (mainly in
Saudi Arabia and in other Arab states in the Gulf),
and the country lacks qualified personnel.
The language :
It is advisable to take Arab (or at least English)
lessons or improve your level. The possibility of
finding a good job will depend on how well you
speak the language.
There are several language institutes in France
which can quickly bring you up to a decent
level.
Formalities to
be completed if you are working for a French
company :
If your employer is a French or international
company you don't have to worry about
formalities.
Usually the administrative services deal with all
the formalities concerning the expatriate
staff.
Unless you are the only representative of your
company in the country (sales representative, or in
charge of a liaising office ...), in this case you
will have to deal with the formalities
yourself.
Preparing for
your departure and looking for a job :
You can start searching for information by writing
to French associations established in the country,
economic expansion services, commercial services of
foreign banks in France and French banks
abroad.
The French
consulate usually has a service dealing with jobs
and training, student grants and reinsertion in
France, and they can put you in touch with local
enterprises who are willing to accept French
personnel.
(See also in
the Practical Guide for the Expatriate).
The French Chamber of Commerce also offers
information about the job market, the most dynamic
sectors of the economy, and edits a bulletin for
French companies and local members.
You could publish a job application in this
bulletin.
The Trade
Commission in Cairo, or the CFCE in Paris can
furnish you with a list of French companies
established in Egypt.
Documents about the
country are usually available in the cultural
service of the Egyptian Embassy in
Paris.
You can however
prepare your trip in a more precise manner by
making a personal appointment with the
Franco-Egyptian Chamber of Commerce in order to
complete your information and get professional
advice.
While you are
hunting for information you could contact companies
directly by sending a spontaneous candidacy
proposing your services.
The international
departments of the Chambers of Commerce and
Industry often have information about the country
available. Directories and useful dossiers from the
country can be helpful in getting information on
sectors of activity and the local economic life.
Where to find
job offers :
In the French press :
Le Monde, Le France Soir, Figaro, Moniteur du
Bâtiment, ... for French companies sending
people abroad.
In the local press
:
Al Ahram, Akhbar Al-Yom, Le Journal d’Egypte,
Al-Mussawar, etc...
In the
international press, in nearly all the bigger
dailies there exists a page or a selection of job
offers (The European, The Guardian, Vacature,
Coriere della Sera, The Geneva Tribunal
..)
Leading recruitment
bureaus in Europe, and interim companies sometimes
offer international jobs.
There are several
data banks specializing in job offers abroad on
Internet which are easily accessible.
Writing your CV and covering letter
:
Your dossier is a
determining element towards being recruited, it is
the first step towards obtaining an
interview.
The CV should be
very clear, typewritten, detailled, preferably
written in the language of the country and it
should be accompanied by a handwritten covering
letter.
Certain
countries do not accord much importance to
handwriting, but it is advisable to write the
letter by hand whichever country it is addressed
to.
If the company is
French or the subsidiary of a French company, the
CV and the covering letter should still be written
in the language of the country.
Don't forget to
attach a recent photo, preferably one where you are
smiling.
Your CV should
be detailled, and have the addresses and phone
numbers of ex-employers on it so that the company
can easily verify the main points of your
candidacy.
This can save you from sending a pile of
photocopies and documents with it. You can always
present these documents later during an interview
if necessary.
If you are thinking
of sending a false CV, you should know that a study
from the Florian Mantione Institute shows that 45%
of the employers check up on CVs, that 34% of the
candidates are eliminated during this verification
and that 60% of the verifications are made with the
previous employer.
Whatever your reasons for 'adapting' your CV to
suit the ad, be warned that it won't help you
during the interview and could even cause you
prejudice.
The questions to ask yourself before an
expatriation :
What exactly is the job?
What is the length of the contract?
Is it for the whole family or with bachelor
conditions?
What kind of life will you have locally?
Have you thought about when you get back, how you
will manage financially to fit in again?
Do you have the necessaries qualities to be an
expatriate?
Qualities you need to succeed :
emotional stability (so you can react quickly
in any situation)
autonomy (you can make decisions on your own in any
circumstance)
being mobile and being available for your job,
being able to relocate quickly
being good at meeting people (don't forget that the
expatriate is also an ambassador for his country
whether in his professional or his social life.
being adaptable (you can easily adapt to different
cultures, climates and life styles. )
being able to accept and understand different
cultures and cultural differences
tolerance and respect of other people's way of life
and way of living should be a natural part of your
character.
Your family and recruiting :
Your partner should have the same ambitions as
you. It is often an important factor in choosing an
expatriate.
In fact some recruitment bureaus or big firms when
they are recruiting, specially for long term
projects, insist on having an interview with the
wife to check that there are no problems in the
couple which could get worse abroad and maybe
disturb the mission.
Companies often propose that the whole family goes
together so that a good family balance is kept.
During the recruiting :
Punctuality and precision are appreciated
everywhere. Be on time for your appointments.
Be well dressed for your interview, whatever kind
of job you are trying for. Your appearance will
weigh with the interviewer.
First interviews are often very short but can last
several hours if your candidacy is interesting,
depending on the post offered, and if you have to
do any psychotechnical (graphological analysis) or
aptitude tests.
Be careful not to appear pretentious about your
know-how and don't exaggerate your professional
competence.
Don't forget that nowadays the job market is a
chronic problem nearly all over the world, so take
an interview appointment seriously, jobs are not
easy to come by.
Emphasize your real competence, your ease of
adaption, your mobility, your ability to work in a
team, your readiness to pool your
experience.
The company and
the expatriate :
A lot of countries abroad like to have, and to
show that they have, expatriates on their
staff.
International personnel often bring in experience
and knowledge which can be very advantageous for a
company.
Salaries -
Salary requirements :
If the candidate doesn't know the prospective
country, it isn't always easy to negotiate a
salary, especially if the amount has already been
mentionned on the ad.
However, there is nothing to stop you from showing
your previous salary and from discussing the salary
offered. The recruiting agent or the employer may
appreciate knowing what for you is the minimum.
It is often difficult to compare salaries with
European ones.
The standard of living that you find abroad is not
always similar to the one you know in Europe and
sometimes if the salary is much higher you will
find that the cost of living is also.
This is one of the reasons, and there are several,
including social security conditions, why it is
better to go abroad with a European company.
French companies sending people overseas budget for
differences in the cost of living.
They can reassure the expatriate that his
purchasing power will at least be the same as in
France.
The 'basic French salary' can be paid either in
France or abroad, it is usually a choice, and an
allowance is paid for living expenses
(accomodation, food,...)
This compensation is based on the cost of living in
the country.
Taxes
(see the page in the expatriate guide)
If you are employed locally you will have to pay
taxes in the country.
If you have an international contract your salary
can be negotiated free of taxes.
In some countries income tax is deducted at source
by the company.
Accomodation - company car - other fringe
benefits :
It is nearly impossible to negotiate for a company
house if you are employed locally. Getting a car
depends on your job and your level in the
company.
In a local company it will be very difficult to
negotiate a paid return ticket to France every
year.
There again, if you are an expatriate working for a
French company you will get fringe benefits, a
house, car, travel allowance, return flights to
France ...
Usually international contracts give 15 days leave
in France every 3 months.
Working
conditions :
These are the local ones with all the attenuating
advantages and disadvantages if you are working for
a local company.
The expatriate is often considered as an immigrant
and has to deal himself with the local
formalities.
On the administrative side the expatriate does not
have to worry about the formalities concerning the
police, customs, immigration, income tax, visa or
consular declaration.
French or European companies abroad always have an
administrative department which completes all the
formalities for its personnel and deals with any
problems which could arise.
Foreign companies remain subject to the laws of the
country.
Formalities
Your
passport must be valid for at least 6 months after
the date of your return. You need a visa, you can
get it either at the Egyptian consulate in Paris
(25 euros in cash, 2 photos) or at the airport in
Cairo.
You can renew your visa in the main towns in the
central police stations or at the Ministry of the
Interior in Cairo. (an identity photo + 12 Egyptian
pounds).
Health
No vaccine
is obligatory, but we recommend that you get
vaccinated against hepatitis B and follow an
anti-malaria treatment. Nivaquine still works in
Egypt.
Avoid drinking tap water and getting sun stroke.
Don't bathe in the Nile, there is bilharzia.
|
