Gabriella : Dutch E-commerce customer support officer at Hermès

Can you introduce yourself and your professional background?

I am Gabriella, a Swedish living in France since January. In Sweden I worked in marketing, and also as an account manager. In France, I wanted to get into fashion, so I joined Hermès, as I find it a very interesting company with the same values as me.

Your French is great! How long have you been in France?

Thank you, since January, but I started my studies two years ago.

Why did you decide to come to France?

Because I love the country! I had already been to France two years ago as an Au Pair, and since then, I always wanted to come back. Finally, I decided to take the plunge and quit my job in Sweden to come to France and live my dream!

How was your recruitment at Hermès?

I first contacted MisterBilingue and after having an interview with Margaux, I had an interview with the HR at Hermès, then the HR Director and, finally, I had an interview with the team manager.

How did you know about MisterBilingue?

After finding the job offer on LinkedIn, I applied directly on your website, then Margaux called me and followed up.

What did you think of Margaux's follow-up?

It was great! We did the interview in English, it was very nice. She followed me throughout the recruitment process. She sent me several interesting articles about working life in France and how to succeed in the interview. I found Margaux's support very good.

Have you noticed any differences between Sweden and France concerning the job search?

In general, we are very focused on the work balance of the staff. We work much earlier in the morning, around 8 am and we finish around 5 pm. This makes a big difference with France. The lunch break is also longer in France.

What were the main difficulties when you started working in France?

I think it was the language. Even though I'm quite fluent, it's always a big change, integrating a company with a different culture and different traditions. In France it's more hierarchical: everyone is on first-name terms and for me it's difficult to know how to manage professional relationships here.

Are your colleagues mostly French?

No, in general it is very mixed. I think there are only two French girls. The other ones are Swedish, Dutch, it's very international.

What do you miss most about Sweden?

First of all my relatives, and also the summer. The light ! The fact that it is almost never dark. It's light until midnight, more or less, you can enjoy it until late. This is what I miss in France, especially at this time of the year. Light is something special in my country. Especially in the north, the sun does not set for several weeks!