Anne: Dutch-speaking Customer Advisor at Hermès

Can you introduce yourself and your professional background?

I obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in the Netherlands. Then I worked at ASML, a high-tech industry company that builds systems for chipmakers. I was a support engineer and I had to solve customers' requests. That was my first real job after university, and I moved to Paris afterwards.

How long have you been in France for?

I have been in France for 3 months and I started working in August.

How did you find this job in this company?

I was looking for regular jobs that were similar to my degree at university or similar to my last job. It is difficult to find a job in Paris if you don’t speak French fluently, so I started looking for jobs where you need to speak Dutch and English fluently and I found the MisterBilingue.com website with a Customer Advisor job offer.

Did you have any problems while looking for a job? If so, which one(s)?

Overall, I found my job search to be very difficult. I applied for many offers and I sent at least 50 CVs. The fact that I didn’t speak French fluently had a huge impact on my job search.

What skills did you acquire throughout your career and that seem essential for the position you hold now?

Throughout my career, I had the opportunity to speak multiple languages, which is really helpful now as we support multiple countries at Hermès. I also have some experience with customers as well as working with different logistical systems.

Why were you interested in coming to France in the first place?

I always wanted to work abroad. I have some friends in Paris and I used to come here regularly. I always had an interest in speaking multiple languages. I had to make a decision at my first job: quit it and go abroad or take a fixed-term contract.

What was your first impression when you started working in France? What are the differences between the French way of working and the Dutch’s?

I work in an international company so I don’t always speak French, which is surprising. In the Netherlands, people usually speak the language of the country to each other.

I think Dutch people are very direct. If there is something they don’t like, they tell the manager right away without any issue. On the other hand, if you tell someone you don’t like their work in France, they will take it personally.

Also, in the Netherlands, people work 40-hour a week with a 30-minute break, whereas French people can take a 1 hour break on a 35-hour contract. I think it eases the work rhythm a lot.

Which French dish would you recommend to a foreigner?

I don’t have a particular French dish to recommend to a foreigner. I eat a lot of vegan food so I would recommend a great vegan restaurant in Paris which is called Aujourd’hui Demain.

How did you find housing in France?

I moved multiple times to different housing near Paris, in hotels or Airbnbs ever since I arrived, but I definitely plan on moving to the centre of Paris in the future.