Building Your Professional Network Abroad: Succeeding as an Expat in France

Published on January 14, 2026 and written by Cyril Jarnias

Moving to France to work, study, or launch a project is often a dream… that can quickly turn into an arduous journey if you arrive without a network. In the French context, where it’s estimated that more than 70% of jobs are secured through professional connections, building your address book isn’t a “nice-to-have”; it’s a condition for professional survival.

Understanding the Reality of Networking in France

Before rushing to events or LinkedIn groups, it is crucial to understand how the French market works and the place networking holds within it.

In France, a large part of the job market is considered “hidden”: an estimated 70% to 80% of positions are filled through recommendations, internal contacts, or targeted unsolicited applications, well before they appear on job boards. In this context, relying solely on sending resumes online is like seeing only the tip of the iceberg.

Networks, the Pillar of a Relational Business Culture

The French professional culture is simultaneously formal, hierarchical, and profoundly relational. The “address book” – that famous personal and professional network – is considered a strategic asset. More weight is given to it than to impersonal approaches.

A Supportive Economic Environment for Expatriates

For an expatriate, this relational fabric takes on even greater significance in a country that remains a major economic power. France is one of Europe’s leading economies and the continent’s third-largest manufacturing market. Its industry, with over 320,000 industrial companies and manufacturing revenue exceeding €1,500 billion, covers sectors of excellence (aeronautics, automotive, agri-food, equipment, health, technology, etc.).

“La Rentrée,” a Key Moment to Launch Your Network

A strategic time point for an expatriate: the famous “September return.” After the summer slowdown – especially in August, a month of mass holidays – the country gets back into full swing. Companies, administrations, universities, and associations relaunch projects, recruitments, and events.

For a newcomer, it’s the ideal time to set a quantifiable goal (for example, two networking opportunities per week), sign up for meetups, join associations, and lay the first bricks of your network.

Integrating French Cultural Codes to Network Better

A large part of your networking effectiveness depends not just on what you know how to do, but on how you interact. In France, form counts as much as substance.

Language, Politeness, and Social Distance

Even though many professionals speak English, making the effort to use French – even just a few phrases – is an extremely appreciated sign of respect. Starting with a “Bonjour Madame” or “Bonjour Monsieur” remains essential. Using the informal “tu” is only used once explicitly suggested; by default, it’s “vous.”

Communication: Precision, Logic, and Nuance

The French appreciate structured arguments, the ability to debate and defend an idea logically. Discussions can be lively, interruptions frequent, without this being perceived as disrespectful. During an event or informational interview, it is therefore useful to prepare a clear speech, supported by concrete examples, quantifiable results, rather than a purely emotional storytelling.

Respect for Time and Privacy

France strongly protects the work-life balance. The legal working week is around 35 hours, holidays are generous (on average five weeks per year), and a law regulates the “right to disconnect” in companies with at least 50 employees. For an expatriate, this means that sending professional messages late in the evening or on weekends can be poorly received.

During meetings, people are more likely to invite you to a professional lunch than to a late, extended “afterwork”; and private life is, at least initially, kept relatively separate from professional exchanges.

Basic Strategy: Combining Events, Informational Interviews, and Methodical Follow-up

For a network to truly be built, you must view the process as a marathon, not a sprint. Three pillars complement each other particularly well: events, informational interviews, and the systematic management of your contacts.

Attending Events: Conferences, Trade Shows, Meetups

France is a country of trade shows, fairs, and conferences. Paris, in particular, is one of the world’s great capitals for professional events. You can find events covering almost all sectors: technology (VivaTech, Web3, AI, blockchain, no-code, etc.), industry (Global Industrie, JEC World, 3D Print Lyon), health (SANTEXPO, EuroPCR, dental trade shows), agriculture (Salon International de l’Agriculture, Wine Paris, agri-food trade shows), cosmetics (in‑cosmetics Global, MakeUp in Paris), construction (Batimat, BIM World), logistics (SITL), digital marketing (SMX Paris, ALL4Customer), and many more.

The advantages for an expatriate are numerous: direct access to decision-makers, spotting growing companies, testing your professional pitch, even securing impromptu interviews at a booth.

Structuring Your Informational Interviews

Beyond major events, the most powerful tool for an expatriate remains the informational interview. The principle: request 20 to 30 minutes with a professional to understand their career path, the challenges in their sector, the reality of a company or a role. It’s not about asking for a job, but for advice, feedback on experience, and ideally, new contacts.

Better understanding of the market, practice with French professional discourse codes, gradual building of a reputation, and access to the famous “hidden market.” In practice, many people willingly accept this type of exchange, precisely because it is not a traditional recruitment interview.

The Benefits of Professional Networking

A realistic goal is to obtain, at the end of each meeting, at least two recommendations for additional people to contact. Multiplying these interviews, especially in the first months after arrival, can radically transform your visibility in the local market.

Setting Up a Follow-up System

For these efforts to fully bear fruit, it is essential to organize your relationships in a structured way. A simple spreadsheet (or a contact management tool) is enough to track:

Column	Recommended Content
Last Name / First Name	Person’s identity
Company / Organization	Name, sector, size
Position	Precise title, hierarchical level
Date of 1st Contact	Meeting, event, or initial message
Context of the Meeting	Trade show, meetup, introduction by X, LinkedIn, etc.
Themes Discussed	Key points discussed, needs expressed
Agreed Actions	Sending a CV, sharing a document, making an introduction, etc.
Date of Last Follow-up	Last email, call, meeting
Next Point of Contact	Date or occasion (event, holiday wishes, sector news)

This discipline helps you not let contacts go cold, to send a thank-you message within 24 hours of the meeting, and then to maintain a light but regular connection (New Year’s wishes, sharing a relevant article, congratulations on a promotion, etc.).

Leveraging Major Platforms and Expatriate Communities

A winning reflex for a newcomer is to combine “generalist” resources (expat groups, forums, social networks) and more professional communities.

Expatriate Platforms and Online Networks

Sites like Expat.com, Expatica, Expat Exchange, or The Local (French version) centralize forums, guides, and classified ads. They are excellent entry points for understanding administrative procedures, finding housing, or spotting the first active communities.

Communities like InterNations, well-established in France, regularly organize evenings, afterworks, or thematic activities in major cities. It’s an excellent playground to meet other expatriates, but also internationally-minded French people.

Meetup, WhatsApp, Telegram: The New Social Crossroads

Meetup.com has become a central tool for networking in Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse, Nantes, Rennes, Grenoble, or Nice. You can find business-oriented groups (“Paris Entrepreneurs Network”, “Paris Expat Professionals Networking Group”, “Paris Freelancers and Digital Nomads”), language exchanges, hikes, movie nights, etc.

For an expatriate, these platforms have several advantages: they mix local and international profiles, allow testing different formats (drinks, conference, workshop, walk, run), and offer an often more relaxed environment than purely corporate events.

Paris: An Ideal Networking Laboratory for Expatriates

As the political, economic, and cultural capital, Paris concentrates most of the networking opportunities for foreigners. The density of events, associations, clubs, and conferences there is particularly impressive.

Clubs, Chambers of Commerce, and International Associations

Several historic structures facilitate the integration of foreigners:

Organization	Type / Main Audience	Networking Interest for Expatriates
American Chamber of Commerce in France (AmCham)	American-French chamber of commerce	Access to decision-makers, conferences, sector committees
Franco-British Chamber of Commerce & Industry	Franco-British chamber of commerce	Business events, workshops, B2B networking
Canadian Chamber of Commerce	Canadian chamber of commerce	North American business community
American Club of Paris	International social club	Dinners, conferences, high-level meetings
Professional Women’s Network (PWN) Paris	Women’s professional network	Mentorship, career workshops, business forums
Lean In Paris	Women’s network inspired by the Lean In movement	Discussion groups, leadership development

For an expatriate, joining a chamber of commerce or a sector-specific professional network is a direct way to meet executives, leaders, and entrepreneurs already attuned to multiculturalism.

Women’s Groups, Cultural Groups, and Volunteering: Effective Entry Points

Alongside these very business-oriented structures, Paris is full of clubs and associations that offer a more informal setting for building lasting ties: American Women’s Group, British and Commonwealth Women’s Association, Canadian Women’s Group, Association of American Women in Europe, English-language book clubs, bilingual choirs, charitable associations like Tous Bénévoles, etc.

Coworking and Entrepreneurial Ecosystems

For freelancers, entrepreneurs, remote workers, coworking spaces have become essential networking hubs. In Paris, places like Station F, WeWork, Morning Coworking, and many independent structures regularly organize:

– project presentation breakfasts

– thematic workshops (marketing, finance, legal, productivity, no‑code, etc.)

– drinks and “demo days”

Leaving Paris: Other French Cities Conducive to Networking

Even though the capital concentrates many opportunities, other French territories offer very favorable environments, sometimes more accessible and less saturated.

Lyon, Toulouse, Nice, Strasbourg… High-Potential Hubs

Lyon, for example, combines real economic dynamism (industry, health, digital, agri-food) and an active associative scene. Districts like Part‑Dieu or Confluence host many company headquarters, incubators, and coworking spaces. Events like 3D Print Lyon or sector-specific trade shows (health, chemistry, environment) regularly gather professionals from all over Europe.

Strasbourg, Lille, Nantes, Montpellier, or Grenoble also develop their own networks, with specialized clusters, renowned universities, and local initiatives (chambers of commerce, French Tech, alumni associations) that can serve as networking relays.

Integrating into Regional Ecosystems

In these cities, the strategies are similar to those to deploy in Paris, but often in a more friendly version: subscribing to regional chamber of commerce newsletters, spotting meetups on Meetup.com and local Facebook groups, meeting French Tech communities or sector associations (agri-food, biotech, digital, industry, etc.).

The size effect works in the expatriate’s favor: in a mid-sized city, it is often easier to be quickly identified as a familiar face, to become “the person to contact” on a given subject, and to benefit from the network effect more quickly.

Leveraging Major Trade Shows and Conferences to Accelerate Your Network

Major professional trade shows organized in France are true concentrates of high-value-added contacts. Well prepared, a single event can equal months of online efforts.

Why These Events Are Strategic for an Expatriate

French industrial and technology trade shows bring together manufacturers, suppliers, clients, startupers, investors, researchers, students, consultants… The environment is ideal for:

Furthermore, the use of English is common at many events, which facilitates gradual integration for those not yet perfectly fluent in French.

Planning Your Participation: Exhibitor or Visitor

Preparation differs depending on whether you are an exhibitor or a simple visitor.

Status	Recommended Preparation Horizon	Priorities
Exhibitor	Between 12 and 6 months before the event	Booth booking, booth design, logistics, invitations
Professional Visitor	Between 6 and 3 months before the event	Badge request, accommodation booking, scheduling targeted meetings

Even as a visitor, an expatriate can get the most out of a trade show by carefully preparing a list of exhibitors to meet, a clear pitch in 30 to 60 seconds (“elevator pitch”), and a sufficient stock of bilingual business cards (French/English).

Example: Major Events in Paris and Regions

Without creating an exhaustive catalog, it is useful to understand the diversity of the offer:

Each trade show federates a micro‑ecosystem that often extends beyond the event: business clubs, webinars, newsletters, LinkedIn groups, export missions. Attending is sometimes the first step towards a much larger circle.

Mentorship: A Network Accelerator for Expatriates

Beyond “horizontal” contacts (peers, colleagues, other expatriates), surrounding yourself with mentors established in France is one of the most powerful levers for understanding the codes, deciphering the market, and multiplying introductions.

Why Mentorship Is Particularly Useful in France

A mentor who knows the French landscape well brings several layers of value:

– deciphering implicit norms (hierarchy, expectations, unspoken rules)

– very concrete advice on the format of CVs and cover letters, the typical flow of an interview, topics to address or avoid

– reviewing how you present your international experience so that it speaks to French recruiters

– opening up their own network (colleagues, former classmates, partners, clients)

Structured Programs and Platforms

Several schemes are aimed directly at international talents or people from immigration, especially in large cities. Some programs last six months, with regular support, workshops, access to a workspace, and sometimes even IT equipment loans. Measured results show impressive integration rates, with over 70% of young people supported finding a job, an internship, or training within the year following their program.

Building a Quality Mentor Relationship

Looking for a mentor doesn’t mean sending a generic message on LinkedIn. It’s more effective to:

– target profiles with experience close to your project (same sector, same type of position, same city)

– clearly state your objectives (understand a market, prepare a career change, launch a business, etc.)

– propose a first short exchange (30 minutes), without excessive expectations

A healthy mentor relationship is based on clarity of expectations, regularity of contact points, and mutual commitment. In the long run, this link can become one of your strongest anchors in France.

Mastering the French Language and Professional Codes

To build a deep network, especially with mostly French-speaking actors, it becomes difficult to avoid learning French. The good news: many structures offer paths specifically oriented towards professional French.

The Concrete Benefits of Professional French

Beyond social integration, speaking French at least at an intermediate level allows you to:

– participate actively in meetings, not just follow them in English

– understand the nuances of informal discussions, often decisive for partnerships

– write emails, reports, presentations in the language of your interlocutors

– better decipher humor, insinuations, cultural references

Training Offer Adapted for Professionals

Many institutions in France (and online) offer specific courses for adults in a professional context. Formats vary: intensive, semi‑intensive, evening classes, blended learning, individual coaching, thematic workshops (CV, interview, public speaking).

Typical objectives are:

– telling your career story convincingly in French

– presenting your company or project

– handling professional calls and emails

– preparing for and succeeding in job interviews in French

– adapting your communication to a French corporate environment

For an expatriate, investing time (and sometimes a budget) in this type of training is like doubling the impact of every networking interaction.

Fully Leveraging Digital: LinkedIn, Viadeo, Shapr…

Networking in France also happens online. LinkedIn, with over 24 to 25 million users in the country, has become the central tool for creating, maintaining, and leveraging your network.

Optimizing Your Profile for the French Market

An effective profile must be both international and readable by a French recruiter or manager. A few points of attention:

A bilingual profile, or even a French version of your CV, allows French-speaking recruiters to visualize you more easily, even if English remains your primary working language.

Approaching the Right People with the Right Codes

To contact a future manager, an alumni, an entrepreneur, or an HR manager, the message must be personalized, polite, and explicit in its objective (request for advice, exchange about the sector, feedback on a similar career path, etc.). In France, a “Bonjour Madame Dupont” is still preferable to a “Hi Marie” sent out of the blue.

Participating in Online Communities and Events

LinkedIn Groups, webinars, virtual conferences, fully digital trade shows: there is no shortage of opportunities to make yourself visible and exchange. Platforms like EventBrite or Meetup also list online events. For an expatriate living outside major urban centers, these formats represent a valuable opportunity to maintain a national network.

Managing Networking Fatigue and Staying the Course

The mental exhaustion linked to networking is often underestimated, especially in a language and culture not yet fully mastered. Between meetings, follow-ups, events, the groundwork on language and understanding the country, the risk of burnout is real.

Setting Realistic and Measurable Goals

Rather than aiming for a “huge network” in a few months, it is more effective to set qualitative goals: for example, three new relevant contacts per week, one informational interview every two weeks, active participation in one major event per quarter.

Accepting the French Pace

Processes can be lengthy in France, decisions are sometimes made after several rounds of discussions, and the hierarchy must validate. Similarly, a professional relationship takes time to turn into a concrete opportunity. A contact met at a networking dinner may get back to you a year later, on the occasion of a new project.

The classic expatriate mistake is to get discouraged too quickly due to a lack of immediate results. However, in a country where trust is built patiently, discreet perseverance is often rewarded.

Keeping Your Original Network Alive

Building a network in France does not mean abandoning the one from your country of origin. On the contrary, maintaining regular ties with your former colleagues, managers, professors, or clients is a major asset.

In a world where companies are increasingly international, your ability to bridge your local French network and your relationships abroad can turn you into a key player in cross-border collaborations (exports, joint‑ventures, international recruitment, consulting missions, etc.).

Making a habit of sharing your progress, your discoveries about the French market, your questions with this original network is keeping doors open that, one day, may serve you – whether for a return to your home country or for a new international project.

In Conclusion: Carving Out Your Place in the French Network

Developing your professional network in France as an expatriate is neither a sprint, nor a series of isolated strokes of brilliance. It’s a continuous process based on:

The good news is that France, with its powerful economic fabric, its obsession with networks, and its growing openness to international profiles, offers an extremely fertile ground for those who play the long-term game.

By combining these levers, every expatriate can, step by step, transform their position from “newcomer without contacts” to that of a recognized actor, capable of navigating the French professional network with ease, and building a truly international career there.