Alexander Hylton–Holmes is a Modern Language student at Nottingham Trent University, and is currently on the second leg of his year abroad in Spain. He spent the summer working in a holiday village in France as an 'Animateur' before going to Strasbourg in September, and describes it as the best experience of his year abroad. Here's his advice about finding summer work in France and the ins and outs of being an Animateur...

There are some things which are the same for a CV in most countries. As in the UK, you should try and restrict the length to just one page. To help with this when you begin to write, format the blank page as effectively as possible. Additionally, if you really want to target a specific employer with an application, you need to produce a cover letter (une letter de motivation) detailing why you would be suitable for the job and outlining where you saw the job advertised. Here are some tips for how to produce a CV and lettre de motivation in French, in a typical French layout.

When I arrived in Paris in 1996 for my year abroad, I sincerely believed it would be a quick ‘in and out’ job, back to the UK, finish the degree and get a job ‘down south’. I had no idea that I would end up spending ten years of my life in the city, only getting my first UK job in 2007.