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5 - Working in the country The language : It is advisable to take Spanish lessons, or at least improve your existing level. The quality of the job that you are able to get will depend on how well you speak the language. There are numerous language institutes in France which will help you to achieve a good level rapidly. Formalities to be completed : If your employer is a French or international company you don't have to worry about the formalities, the administrative services will deal with all the formalities concerning expatriate staff, unless you are the only representative of your company locally (representative in a sales office or a liaison officer, ...), in which case you have to deal with all the formalities yourself. Preparing for your departure and looking for a job : You can start your search for information by writing to French associations already established in the country, to posts of economic expansion, to commercial services in foreign banks in France or to French banks abroad. The French consulate has a service dealing with jobs, training, student grants and reinsertion in France. and can put you in touch with local companies that would like to employ French personnel. (See also the page in the Practical Guide for the Expatriate) The French Chamber of Commerce also gives information on the job market and the sectors of activity with the best results and they edit a bulletin which is reserved for French companies and local members. You could publish a job application in this bulletin. The PEE (Post of economic expansion) in Venezuela or the CFCE in Paris lets you consult their list of French companies established in the country. There is usually a wide range of documentation about the country available in the cultural service of the Venezuelan Embassy in Paris. You could advance in your preparations by requesting a personalized appointment in the Franco-Venezuelan Chamber of Commerce to complete your information and get professional advice. While you are accumulating information you can also be writing directly to companies with a spontaneous candidacy offering your services. In the international depts of Chambers of Commerce and Industry you can often find relevant information . Directories and dossiers from different countries will help you to get a good overall view on the sectors of activity and the local economy. Specialized organizations like the ANPE, the APEC, the APECITA and the OMI can also help you find what you need. There exist local delegations of the ANPE or OMI in main towns. You can get a copy of theYellow Pages directory from the Post Office. Where to look for job offers : In the French press (Le Monde, Le France Soir, Figaro, moniteur du Bâtiment, expat magazine... ) for French companies sending people abroad. In the local or international press , nearly all the leading dailies have a section on job offers (The European, The Guardian, Vacature, Coriere della sera, La Tribune de Genève, ...). The main recruiting agencies in Europe, temporary job agencies offer international jobs On Internet, there is easy access to numerous data banks of local job offers By minitel, by dialling : 3614 mgs, you can find a selection of telematic services at : 3615 or : 3617 which have overseas job offers. Writing your C.V. and the covering letter : The candidate's dossier is a deciding factor in the recruitment process. It is the first step to getting an interview. Your CV must be clearly set out, typed, detailled and preferably written in the language of the country and accompanied by a handwritten covering letter. Even if the company is French or a subsidiary of a French company it is a good idea to write the CV and the letter in the language of the country. Don't forget to join a recent photo, preferably one where you are smiling. It is not necessary to send copies of your diplomas or work certificates with the first letter. As they would tend to be in French they will not help in the pre-selection process where the prospective employer does not necessarily speak French. Your CV should be detailled, with the addresses of your former employers so that the company can easily verify the essential points of your candidacy. This avoids you having to send a mass of photocopies and documents. You can present these documents at an eventual interview. You should know, if you ever think of presenting an 'enhanced' CV that according to a study done by the Florian Mantione Institute, CVs are checked up on in 45% of the cases by the employer and that 34% of the candidates are eliminated following that verification. 60% of the verifications are made with the previous employers. Whatever the reasons behind you adapting your CV, it will not help you during the interview and might even cause you prejudice. What questions should you ask yourself before expatriation? : What mission are you going on ? How long is the contract? Are you going with the family or alone? What is life like locally ? Have you thought about when you return, about the economic considerations of settling back in France? Do you have all the qualities necessary to be an expatriate? Qualities you need to have : Emotional stability, (so you can react quickly in all circumstances) Autonomy (you are someone who can take important decisions on your own) Mobility and being available for your job, the capacity to move quickly Good contact (don't forget that the expatriate is also an ambassador of his country abroad in his professional and social life) Adaptability (you are able to adapt easily to changes of culture, climate and lifestyle.) You can accept and understand different cultures and traditions. Tolerance and respect for other customs and traditions should be a part of your personality. Family and recruiting : Your partner should have the same ambitions as you. It is a very important factor in the selection of an expatriate. In fact, some agencies or big companies when they are recruiting , especially for long term missions, like to have an interview with the candidate's wife to make sure there are no internal problems which could evolve abroad and maybe disturb the mission. Companies often offer conditions for family departures so as to keep a good family balance locally. During the recruiting : Punctuality and precision are appreciated everywhere. Be on time for your appointments. For the interview, whatever job you are trying for, we recommend that you be well dressed. Your way of dressing and general appearance can weigh heavily in an interview. The first interviews may be very short but may also last several hours if your candidacy is found to be of interest, depending on the position which is offered, or if you have to do some psychotechnical tests (graphological analysis) or aptitude tests. Be careful not to appear pretentious about your know-how or to exaggerate your professional competence. You must not forget that the job market today is a chronic problem all over the world. Venezuela has a very high rate of unemployment, estimates put it at 20%, so you must not let an opportunity slip by when an interview is so hard to come by. Emphasize your competence, your ease of adaption, your mobility, your capacity to work in a team, your desire to contribute your experience The company and the expatriate : A lot of companies overseas like to show that they employ expatriates An international staff can often contribute experience and knowledge which is enriching for a company. Salaries - Salary claims : When the candidate does not know the country or when he has problems getting his first job it is not always easy to negotiate a salary, especially if there is a figure mentioned on the job ad. However, nothing stops you from pointing out your previous salary and trying to negotiate your future one The recruiting agency or the employer may appreciate the negotiation and evaluate your worth. It is often difficult to compare French salaries with those offered in countries out of the EEC and North America. The standard of living abroad is not necessarily the same as the one you are used to in France and if the salaries are higher it is perhaps because the cost of living is also higher. There are many reasons why it is better to go abroad with a European company, the main ones being the salary and the health and welfare cover. French companies sending people overseas know about the differences in the cost of living and budget for it. They make sure that the expatriate has at least an equivalent standard of living as the one he has in France. The basic salary can be paid in Europe or abroad and a living allowance is made locally for food and accomodation. The calculation of this allowance is based on the local cost of living. Usually the French company gets its information from the French Embassy or from other companies already set up locally. Income tax : If you are employed locally your will have to pay income tax locally. If you have an international contract you can discuss your salary net of taxes. In some countries income tax is deducted at source from the salary. Accomodation - company car - fringe benefits : It is nearly impossible to negotiate a company house if you are employed locally. Getting a car depends on your function and on your position in the company. There again you have better conditions if you have an international contract, as there is nearly always accomodation, company car, travel allowance, return flights home etc included in the terms. Working conditions: They are the local conditions, with all the advantages and disadvantages. The expatriate is often considered as an immigrant and has to deal himself with the local administrative formalities. Working and living conditions in European companies abroad can often be difficult when there are important projects to carry out in zones or regions which are unfriendly or dangerous, but it is not very common. With an international contract employees usually have 15 days home leave every three months, particularly in the Middle East, in Africa it is usually 10 months work for 2 months leave. On a local contract it is very difficult to negotiate a return ticket home every year. The expatriate with an international contract does not have to worry about the administrative formalities concerning police, customs, immigration, income tax, taxes, visa, consular declaration etc. European companies usually have a dept dealing with all these procedures and managing any problems that might come up for their expatriate staff. Working hours : They usually depend on the local ones. Foreign companies are subject to the local legislation.  16 - Formalities to be completed If your intended stay is less than two months in Venezuela you don't need a visa. But you do need a tourist card (tarjeta de ingreso) which you will get in the plane, make sure you don't lose it for the return. If you should prolong your stay, or if it is longer than 60 days you need a tourist visa. The same applies whether you arrive in Venezuela by car or by sea. How to get this visa : The necessary papers are : - a passport which is valid for at least 6 months after the date that you request the visa - a letter from your bank, addressed to the Consulate, certifying that you have a bank account showing a regular and satisfactory income. - a document justifying your income (e.g.certificate from your employer) - 2 black and white identity photos You have to go personally to the consulate and fill in and sign the necessary forms. If the person requesting a visa is a minor or a dependent person, the conditions above should be filled by a responsible adult (parents or tutors). If your request is accepted it takes 3 days to get the visa. It costs about 10 US$. The visa is valid for 1 year maximum, and is a multi-entry visa (so long as you don't got over the legal time allowed). This kind of visa does not allow you to work or be paid in the country, neither can it be exchanged against another kind of visa.  17 - Health Hygiene in the country : Hospitals give good quality service. University hospitals are mainly to be found in Caracas and Maracaibo. The ones in Caracas are reserved for poor people. Private clinics are expensive and the service is not always of good quality. All recent medicines are usually available. You can drink tap water and the quality and availability of tap water is quite good. Vaccinations : None is obligatory to enter the country. If you are travelling outside of big towns or if you are going to the Amazon it is advisable to have a yellow fever vaccine. It is always recommended to have your regular vaccinations like tetanos and polio up to date. There are risks of malaria in lowland areas which are at an altitude of less than 600 meters, e.g. near the Orenoque, the Maracaibo Lagoon and in Guyana. You should follow a preventive treatment against malaria, see your doctor about this. It is reported that there is a resistance to chloroquine. If you are staying for a long time you should have an anti-rabies vaccine. Piranha - Ve-online - Radio : Morfeo Heure : World clock - WebCam - Isla Margarita Globovision

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