Hi all,
I hate to come in and ask such obvious questions but after a few days of googling, I've decided I NEED HELP!

My husband works in software development (since 1994 so 14 years experience), currently working as an architect using .NET, asp, bit of c# for those in the know. We currently live in Australia and my husband speaks english, spanish and french fluently (spanish and french from childhood), we'd love to move to France with our children for some time. I'll do my questions in dot points to make it easier:

* what is the best website to find IT jobs in France?
* is it possible to earn enough money working in IT in Paris to support living there with a wife and 2 children?
* what kind of salary can you expect to be paid in Paris and also other regions of France?
* I have found little information on this but a few comments that sponsorship by a French company is the way to go when coming from Australia?

Thanks in Advance :) Nathalie

anyone around?

Hallo Natalie, I am new here too, have been living in france for some time, but I can't help you with your questions - sorry! Probably post them again in another section than the introductions forum - I bet someone will help you then :-)

Hi Nathalie, :)

I would imagine David Georgi is away on vacation but if I were you I'd try contacting him or his wife, Penny. You can always leave a message...

Expat web design (http://www.liquidsky.net/redirect2chiefdreamer.php)& developmenthttp://i.ixnp.com/images/v3.40/t.gif
Soupe du jour (Penny Giorgi's Blog)http://i.ixnp.com/images/v3.40/t.gif (http://soupedujour.blogspot.com/)

Good luck..:)
India J
http://off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com/

Great! thanks guys :)

Hi Nathalie

I have really no idea about IT stuff but I'll ask David to pop in and reply. Just don't expect a response in a hurry as he is flat out with work at the moment (no summer holidays for us!) :)

Just one question, do either of you have EU passports?

Thanks Penny, whenever he's ready, I'm in no rush.
I have British and Australian passports, my husband has Australian and Salvadorean passports.

Hello Nathalie and welcome to the forum ;-)

Just keep in mind that europe is expensive especially now that the euro is so strong. We have found living in an urban area prices ar about 20% higher than in Brisbane. Keep in mind however thatwhere we live is also a prime tourist destination spot just like Paris and quite expensive.

1] What is the best website to find IT jobs in France?
http://offres.monster.fr/ (http://offres.monster.fr/Search.aspx?q=.net%20architecte&lid=719&cy=FR&re=0&jsyesreg=1&pg=1&vw=d)
(searches for '.NET architecte' in Île-de-France turns up plenty of results for Paris :-)

www.parisjob.com (http://www.parisjob.com/)
www.cyber-emploi-centre.com (http://www.cyber-emploi-centre.com/)

www.google.fr (http://www.google.fr) Try keywords searches on: salaires, offres d'emploi, paris, .net architecte, développeur.

2] Single income (IT) sufficient in Paris to support family?
Yes!

3] Average salaries
Here is a very interesting recent article (May '08) that talks about offshoring IT work but they mention average developer salaries in France - around 36k to 50k euros per year this would certainly be sufficient to live confortably in Paris with a family.

http://www.aopinformatique.fr/cms/spip/spip.php?article277
...
A noter que le salaire annuel moyen du développeur Java aux Etats-Unis est entre 70 K$ et 100K$. Dans le haut de la fourchette en Californie et à New York, dans le bas au Texas (source : dice.com)... En France, les salaires pour des débutants seraient de l’ordre de 32 k€ annuel, plutôt plus en Ile-de-France, plutôt moins en région... 36 k€ pour quelques années d’expérience en plus et jusqu’à 50 k€ pour une dizaine d’années d’expérience.
...

4] Sponsorship by a French companies
Sponsorship by a French company would certainly make your husband's carte de séjour easier to obtain. Penny obtained hers because I am an EU passport holder, since you hold a UK passport you no doubt know that you and your husband have the right to live and work anywhere in the EU, so why not Paris :-)

Working for a French company would certainly make life easier, personally I am working through my Australian company and financially i'ts tough as I have to pay about 45% social charges and taxes (in Australia is was around 30%)

And lastly make sure any employment contacts are reviewed by your lawyer.

à +