Getting started
Less than two months ago I arrived in Paris with some very heavy bags carrying whatever we still had lying around in London. I got some angry looks in the metro because I didn’t push the button to open the doors of the train and I didn’t know instantly how to use the entrance and exit gates. I didn’t know anyone in Paris (except for my fiancée), I had no job and not the slightest idea what living and working in Paris would be all about.
After three weeks of getting settled in and sending cv’s with slow response, I managed to go through three rounds of interviews in a consultancy company and it was looking good. Think again. They called me on Friday to let me know that unfortunately they did not have a project for which they could use my services. Think again. Calmly but firmly I wrote an email to the big boss of the company asking for some feedback, a final final interview and to reconsider the decision. The same day I got a call back: they did have something.
Work
Today I have been working for two weeks as a NOEO employee. NOEO is a consultancy firm specialised in information management. They are specialists in using data available in a business to facilitate and optimise management decisions. Their services go from BI (data validation, reporting) to Statistical Modeling and Management consulting. My kind of business. My first project is with an insurer where I will be doing BI work. It’s interesting to be working in a new industry, on a type project that’s a bit different than what I’m used to, in a different language and as the only consultant of my company around. Interesting but with a tough learning curve as well. Getting a job was the easy part, managing to get through every meeting and writing up extensive reports in French is a whole new challenge. A challenge I’m happy to take on. I’m sure things will get easier in a couple of months and I’ll be transforming businesses as never before. At least, I’ll try. My manager told me I should be a little bit more humble. It just might be worth giving it a try.
Life
In the meantime we’re getting settled in and starting to find some routines. The French start late, take two hour lunch brakes and then stay late at the office. My first Friday I was at the office until 20h. Not quite the quitting-at-four-and-to-the-pub-on-Friday-mentality. I kind of miss going to the pub. Here, people prefer to go to a restaurant for a three course meal several times a week. I’m starting to get full. We have everything we need now at our flat and know our way around the quartier. When we have a long weekend for Easter we’ll probably go on our first exploration trip of France outside of Paris. I’ll try to include some pictures the next time.
Less than two months ago I arrived in Paris with some very heavy bags carrying whatever we still had lying around in London. I got some angry looks in the metro because I didn’t push the button to open the doors of the train and I didn’t know instantly how to use the entrance and exit gates. I didn’t know anyone in Paris (except for my fiancée), I had no job and not the slightest idea what living and working in Paris would be all about.
After three weeks of getting settled in and sending cv’s with slow response, I managed to go through three rounds of interviews in a consultancy company and it was looking good. Think again. They called me on Friday to let me know that unfortunately they did not have a project for which they could use my services. Think again. Calmly but firmly I wrote an email to the big boss of the company asking for some feedback, a final final interview and to reconsider the decision. The same day I got a call back: they did have something.
Work
Today I have been working for two weeks as a NOEO employee. NOEO is a consultancy firm specialised in information management. They are specialists in using data available in a business to facilitate and optimise management decisions. Their services go from BI (data validation, reporting) to Statistical Modeling and Management consulting. My kind of business. My first project is with an insurer where I will be doing BI work. It’s interesting to be working in a new industry, on a type project that’s a bit different than what I’m used to, in a different language and as the only consultant of my company around. Interesting but with a tough learning curve as well. Getting a job was the easy part, managing to get through every meeting and writing up extensive reports in French is a whole new challenge. A challenge I’m happy to take on. I’m sure things will get easier in a couple of months and I’ll be transforming businesses as never before. At least, I’ll try. My manager told me I should be a little bit more humble. It just might be worth giving it a try.
Life
In the meantime we’re getting settled in and starting to find some routines. The French start late, take two hour lunch brakes and then stay late at the office. My first Friday I was at the office until 20h. Not quite the quitting-at-four-and-to-the-pub-on-Friday-mentality. I kind of miss going to the pub. Here, people prefer to go to a restaurant for a three course meal several times a week. I’m starting to get full. We have everything we need now at our flat and know our way around the quartier. When we have a long weekend for Easter we’ll probably go on our first exploration trip of France outside of Paris. I’ll try to include some pictures the next time.
