How to get an Interior Design internship in France
- Ellie Burson
- Jul 9, 2022
- 7 min read
Updated: Aug 25, 2022
It's been a long time since I took on French as a second major. The many hours spent juggling course loads of Jean-Paul Sartre and commercial interiors felt never-ending. I write this blog without having ever stepped foot in France's hexagon. However, my time is close. I have much to share about how I have made my way and how I am getting to where I'm going.
Step 1: Prep your documents
As an interior design student, your final semester should be spent refining your portfolio and resume to send to potential employers. The French do things differently regarding resumes, portfolios, and cover letters. It is important to note that French formatting tends to be brief, standardized, and respectful of hierarchy. It will be beneficial to review example documents such as "French CV format," "Lettre d'accompagnement" or "Lettre de motivation ."My interior design program dedicated a class to developing correspondence and documents for internship applications. So, all of my documents were in English.
Step 2: Applying
In France, interning is very important. I've heard of people interning twice before acquiring a junior position at their firm. So, when internships are posted, it is very likely that competition is high, and your application could be overlooked. I applied to many stage positions on many different sites. This rarely led to anything. So, I decided to email firms directly. If you need to intern during the summer for your college, I suggest you begin emailing firms as early as mid-march, no later than early April. Why? Once you are hired, you still have to get a visa, have your convention de stage approved by the department of the interior (3 weeks), and find an apartment. This makes the job hunt seem like the easy part!
Another route to finding internships could be through Interior Design networks. It could be beneficial to join interior design associations such as IIDA, ASID, and NEWH to take advantage of job postings and connections. Some of these groups don't require memberships to view their job postings.
If you're emailing firms to inquire about internship opportunities, keep the email brief. Let your cover letter provide details.
Example email:
Hello,
My name is Ellie Burson. I am completing my studies at Mississippi State University and graduating with a double major in French and Interior Design this May. I'm writing to you today to inquire about an internship opportunity with [Insert firm name here]. Attached is my portfolio, resume, and cover letter. I appreciate your time and consideration in reviewing my work.
Thank you,
Ellie Burson
Interior Design job sites:
Firms to email:
Pause... "What if my French isn't good enough?" "How much French do I need to speak?"
Suppose you're anything like me and nervous about your fluency; it's okay to use English. Will this discourage firms from hiring you? Possibly... I knew my technological literacy was my strength. Once I secured an interview with a firm and was able to show my portfolio to my boss, I believe this is what ultimately mattered the most. Do you need to speak French fluently to get an internship in France? For me, no. But you have to know enough to be able to communicate the basics.
Step 3: The Interview
Prepare for your interview by dressing nice & having copies of your portfolio and resume within reach. Have a pen and paper nearby to take notes of specifics you'd like to remember. If necessary, come prepared with questions you have for the firm. Questions such as, "What percentage of interns are hired for entry-level positions after completing internships?" are essential. Many firms don't hire interns after their 6-8 months are complete.
The French don't pay interns as much as we do in America. In France, it's standard for an intern with a bachelor's degree to work a 39-hour work week to earn $645 ish every month. Because interns don't cost much... many firms prefer to hire interns to help ease the workload. It's not likely you will get anywhere with salary negations if you're already making the limited legal amount. Some firms offer meal vouchers and compensation for metro cards. This is a plus!
French Interviews tend to be brief. In America, there is a lot of stress on finding the perfect candidate. Interviews can be uptight and just weird. My experience with French Interviews was the opposite of that. We discussed my resume and previous work experience. We discussed my knowledge of programs such as AutoCAD, Revit, Rhino, and Sketchup. We discussed my familiarity with model building and the French language. The interview ended with a quick walk-through of my portfolio & a "How soon can you start?" It was the best interview experience I have ever had.
Step 4: The Convention de Stage
A Convention de Stage is a tripartite agreement signed by your boss, you, and a representative from your university. This is basically your contract which details your work hours, salary, duration of employment, and learning experience you will receive. I had one firm ask me if my university could provide the convention de stage & they didn't know what it was! My roommate had to draft her own with her university and had difficulty having it approved by her firm. If your firm provides this, then that is preferred. If not, google samples of them & try to draft them to satisfy yourself as well as your firm and university.
Step 5: Visa
The firm that hired me informed me they often employ non-natives. I was the first American they had hired, so it was a learning experience for both of us. I wish I knew what I know now! EU members don't have to go through the Visa process, so they are able to start work quickly. Us Americans can not. So, This is why applying in March/April is preferred if you want to start in June/July.
Step 5A:
As soon as your Convention de Stage is signed, submit it to the department of interior for approval. You need this stamped to get a VLS-TS Visa. This can take 2-3 weeks. The site can be accessed here: https://administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr/immiprousager/#/information
Select: "Je sollicite un Avis Sur une convention de stage" to have your Convention de Stage reviewed. It is essential to note you must fill out all your personal information just as how it is shown on your passport.
Step 5B:
Find an apartment. In a rush? Use Chez Nestor. They provide an Airbnb-like apartment service. They make finding a nice affordable apartment relatively easy. The only downside is their apartments are open to both men and women.
Avoid Facebook groups if you can. There are so many people on there to scam you. If you do use Facebook groups, ALWAYS reverse google search any image they send you. The majority of the time, you'll find the actual listing they are catfishing with.
Paris Attitude and Seloger are good if you have time to search. Prices tend to be higher for these apartments. You're not guaranteed the same security and trust between Landlord and tenant as you are with Chez Nestor. You might also have to get a garant (many times landlords prefer French garants). The site https://www.garantme.fr/en will provide that for you for a cost.
The Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris, located in the 14 arrondissement, is a dormitory-style housing building built to facilitate international exchange between students and young adults coming to Paris for education. This housing tends to be more affordable because it is for students. It is worth looking into if you have the time. They often are booked, and it might be difficult to hear back from them.
Paying for an apartment in Paris is expensive. You can apply for Government aid on this website:
You can apply for CAF before you have a Visa. Then, you just need a CAF document from your Landlord. Chez Nestor conveniently provided this as soon as I paid the first month's rent.
Step 5C:
Gather your documents and set an appointment with VFS. They have Covid-friendly offices at various locations across the United States. Here they will gather your documents with you and scan your biometrics. It's best to know exactly what you need before you go in there because their employees are absolutely no help. Their service is so unnecessary it should be illegal.
What to have:
Proof of finances for your stay
Three months of bank statements
Tax return showing your income
Passport
Photograph - taken at VFS and is the correct size
Convention de Stage
With the Avis Favorable from the department of interior
Proof of housing
Apartment contract
Travel Health Insurance
Printed Visa Application
Money to Pay for the submission of the application and VFS fees
Once you submit this with VFS, they will mail everything to the Washington Consulates' office. The French are methodical. There is no expediting a Visa; there are no pulling strings to get your application more attention. Once they receive your Visa application, they will email you if there are any problems, and if not, you should expect it within 1-2 weeks of submission.
Step 6: Flight
Airlines have weight restrictions on luggage. If you're moving to France for 6-8 months, it's hard to pack light! Sometimes you can get away with an overweight bag by paying a fee. It's wise to check with your airline regarding their policy for overweight luggage. When packing, use the Marie Kondo method or vacuum-sealed bags to make the most out of your luggage space.
Step 7: Arrival
Beware of Taxi prices leaving CDG. I believe 55 euros is standard. Use Uber if prices are lower than the Taxis outside of CDG. Traffic in Paris is awful. Prepare yourself for an hour taxi ride depending on where you're located in Paris.
Step 8: French Bank Account
I've heard that getting a French bank account is difficult for Americans. Why? In 2010, the USA enacted FATC, The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act. This requires all foreign banking institutions to report additional information on their US bankers to the IRS. This extra work could deter banks from accepting additional American customers (Mid-Life Leap). So, a solution to this could be to open a checking account with an international bank such as CITI. This is what I TRIED TO do. Over the phone, I opened an "access account" with CITI bank in the United States. I was assured CITI bank had locations in Paris. They do not. Because I need a French bank account for my employers to send my paychecks to, CITI bank did not work for me.
Because I'm technically a student working a traineeship, I didn't have as many difficulties as I anticipated. Being a student helps cut many corners when navigating French bureaucracy and institutions. The only additional paperwork I was required to fill out as an American was a W-9.
It is important to note that you must bank with the branch closest to you apartment. Banks will ask if you live in the neighborhood before they assist you. BNP Paribas was the bank I ended up opening an account with. It was simple. The documents they require are:
Passport
Visa
Proof of address (a lease with your NAME AS WRITTEN ON YOUR PASSPORT)
Convention de stage
Step 9: Civil Liability Insurance
In France everyone is required to have Civil Liability Insurance. My job required I get insured before I start. You can get this insurance from your bank (BNP offers this).
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