The most boring sentence in the world: “No, I still haven’t found a job”

I came to Paris to live and work.

These are, actually 2 separate “work-streams” if you like. Each one requires it’s own project plan and sufficient focus.

I attacked both with the vigour and naivety of someone intoxicated by love.

The “live” part has been somewhat successful: I have a fantastic Frenchman by my side, I have my “carte de sejour” that allows me to stay. I have a bank account, a phone number and an address. I have friends and acquaintances, and cafes where they know my name and greet me with a genuine smile and a kiss on both cheeks.

But the work part. Well, “No, I still havent found a job”.

Some people have suspected that I’m just being slack – spending too much time in cafes and tasting cheese and not enough time writing cover letters.

Some other people think I’m being snooty and not willing to take roles that are “beneath me”.

Ha! If only that were true!

The truth is that I have spent nearly every day hunched over my laptop, finding new internet job boards, drafting cover letters in French and getting them proof-read by native speakers, paying mega-euros to join professional groups then more euros to go to networking drinks and speakers lunches in the hope that I’ll make some more contacts (and maybe, maybe, the contact that will finally get me The Job).

Every single lead people have given me, I’ve followed up. I’ve had more coffees/glasses of wine/lunches with “contacts” than I can remember.

I have preened my CV and my “online brand” to reflect the feedback I’ve received. I paid a bomb to have my CV translated into French.

I’ve applied for everything from the Head of  Legal team down to the Legal team secretary. I’ve applied for non-legal project team jobs, corporate responsibility jobs, contract management jobs. I’ve tried the Australian Embassy, OECD, UNESCO, every large US and UK firm, Australian companies in Paris, French-based international companies.

I mean, really, it’s a bit ridiculous the lengths that I’ve gone to.

And lets talk about some really crappy things that have happened in response:

• Seeing a job advertised in the careers section of a company’s website, only to be told that it was an error, there is no budget approval for a new role, and that it was only meant to be put on the internal job site. Oops! Silly HR dept!

• Seeing a job posted on a recruitment agents website, getting called in to have an interview, having the interview postponed 3 times, finally insisting that I just come anyway, going through an hour-long interview, only to be told at the end that actually, “yawn”,  there is no role available anymore but they’ll “keep me in mind”.

• Going through interview after interview for a 8 month maternity leave contract, explaining 4 months in advance that it could take 2 months for my visa change to be processed, getting email confirmations from HR that it would be easy-peasy and done in 2 seconds, being offered the job one week before the start date, then being told that, “oops!” they forgot that I had a visa issue and “oh dear!” there’s not enough time to process the visa change before the person has the baby.

Are you sensing a theme here? I know there are some fantastic recruiters out there but really, I wonder if, for the majority, its a pre-requisite to have only half a brain and the ethics of a real estate agent.

And then there are the fabulous on-line applications.

At first, it was just mildly annoying to receive a “thanks but no thanks” letter or email. I still had hope that something would come up. As long as I kept at it, kept networking, kept looking for jobs on every type of job-board, then eventually my hard work would pay off. Every “Non” was just one response closer to a “Oui”. But after rejection letter after rejection letter, getting knocked back from jobs because of my visa issue, or even just getting no responses at all, it wears down anyone’s self-esteem.

I have started to wonder whether I am, actually, any use at all (Hurrah! I have successfully contracted the Long Term Unemployed Disease!).

On the positive side: I have found jobs, been asked for interviews, been the final candidate. There ARE opportunities available. I  just haven’t been able to close the deal yet.

And why? Well, I’ve drafted another post with the COLD HARD FACTS about why I think I havent found a job (stay tuned for that one).

But essentially, it’s a tough climate to be a job-hunter, and without the right to work here, it’s damn near impossible.

I dont like the word impossible. I dont believe in it actually. I so badly want the opportunity to shove a fantastic signed employment contract in the face of everyone who said it was impossible.

But at the moment, it’s like I’m continually talking to a brick wall. Even when I walk around the corner of the wall looking for another option – there’s just more brick wall.

The frustration of not finding a job is overpowering.

I can say “Oh, well, I’m going to stay positive and just continue doing the best I can and one day I’ll succeed” but honestly, it’s not enough.

Finding a job here has got nothing to do with how smart I am, how much experience I have, whether the quality of my experience is great, how much of an “international team player” I am and whether I have a “can do” attitude. It’s just luck. Pure chance. I’m still here, I’m playing the law of averages, improving my chances, becoming statistically more likely to find a job.

So how long will I have to “keep at it” before it’s my turn? Will it be before retirement age? Possibly? Hmm?

I know people are being kind and interested, but I’m so sick of hearing “So, how’s the job hunt going? Found a job yet?”

And I’m so sick of saying “My job hunt isnt going so well. No, I still havent found a job”.

So, why am I still here? Why did I not pack up my bags and go back to Australian months ago? Where do I find the energy and motivation to go to yet another networking function and follow up yet another (probably dead-end) job lead?

It’s love. I love this goddamn country, this fucking heart-breaking city. For better, for worse; for richer, for poorer. For as long as we both shall live.