Bonjour! A couple of months again, I printed a submit about issues France does higher than the U.S. Within the identify of steadiness, as we speak I’ll be getting right into a bunch of issues the U.S. does higher than France. And sure, for all you skeptics on the market, there are some, so let’s get into it. 😉
5 Issues america does higher than France:
1. Can-do perspective and ease of getting issues completed
In the event you reside in France and have needed to take care of the paperwork, you’ve undoubtedly heard the favored phrase, “Ce n’est pas potential.” It’s virtually humorous typically since you come to anticipate it because the default response.
In the event you’re on the préfecture doing an administrative job and don’t have the proper variety of copies or ask somebody to even barely deviate from regular process, the automated response is that it’s not potential to do no matter you’re making an attempt to do.
Many occasions it is potential, however it’s a must to insist a bit of bit and play the sport.
Within the U.S., easy duties simply appear simpler to get completed and there’s much less rigidity. The perspective is totally different and geared at fixing the issue and never creating extra highway blocks. It speaks to the customer support perspective within the U.S. as nicely, which we’ll get to beneath.
2. Large parking areas
In the event you drive in France, you’ve in all probability observed that French parking areas are a bit narrower than ones you discover within the U.S. Relying on how persons are parked subsequent to you and the way a lot area it’s a must to flip, you will have to do a fast maneuver as an alternative of simply turning proper into the area in a single fell swoop. Within the U.S., areas are larger, which I admire.
And also you may say, “Properly, Individuals have large vehicles so after all areas are larger.” Sure, that’s true however not all French individuals have small vehicles, and even with a small automotive, it may nonetheless be fairly slender to park — particularly when somebody is poorly parked subsequent to you.
I admire roomier parking areas regardless of the scale of your automotive as a result of it’s simpler to park and to not whack the automotive door subsequent to you if you get out… or the wall of a parking storage. It may be a REALLY tight squeeze.
By the way in which, I did a submit on issues which can be smaller in France in case you’re curious.
3. Capability to alter one’s profession and job
Within the U.S., if you wish to discover totally different profession choices, you are able to do so with no ton of issue. It’s comparatively frequent for individuals to alter careers. In truth, my dad went from IT in a company surroundings to being a ferry boat captain. Whole 180. I’m happy with him for that and taking motion to alter his life. I’ll should let you know that story someday.
I do know individuals who went from nursing to legislation and a bunch of different fairly large profession jumps. My level is you could make strikes.
On prime of that, lateral strikes are fairly frequent too. Even in the event you work in an business with a sure set of expertise and need to department out into a distinct business, you possibly can apply to a job, clarify how your skillset interprets, interview nicely, and have a shot at a job.
However in France, profession paths are usually a bit extra inflexible and I really feel such as you see fewer individuals altering careers. It exists, I don’t need to mislead anybody — you are able to do a reconversion professionnelle — however what I imply is, in the event you work in a single business, you just about keep in that business.
Employers are extra strict about hiring and in case your resume doesn’t have the precise schooling, expertise, and coaching they need, you almost certainly gained’t even get an interview. There’s no promoting your self in a canopy letter and proving you’ve comparable expertise that translate. In the event you don’t have the precise work expertise they need, you’re out of luck a variety of the time.
I bear in mind speaking to Tom just a few years in the past about this (FYI he has a grasp’s diploma and speaks three languages). We had been speaking about his profession choices and I inspired him to use to some firms within the space that weren’t in his actual subject however the place his expertise might cross over to a brand new job.
He defined he’d by no means even get an interview as a result of his expertise, whereas related and precious in my thoughts, wouldn’t be of curiosity to them as a result of he’d by no means labored in that actual position earlier than.
That appears counterintuitive to me as a result of in the event you see a succesful particular person, they will study something even when they haven’t completed the precise job. Additionally, somebody with a distinct work historical past brings with them recent concepts and new methods of doing issues.
Within the U.S. as nicely, along with completely altering one’s profession, even throughout the identical business, a variety of us change jobs each 3-5 years to climb the profession ladder, and that usually comes with higher pay and advantages. I’ve seen this to be very true in startups and tech. However in France, I’ve discovered it’s undoubtedly much less frequent.
Workers are usually happier in France, although, or possibly that’s simply my notion. Perhaps that’s as a result of they work lower than Individuals, have work contracts, healthcare is just not tied to their employment and all everlasting workers get 5 weeks of paid trip that they’re anticipated to make use of (separate from sick days and holidays). All of that counts for lots.
4. Pleasant optimism
Many Individuals are half glass full sort of individuals the place I’d say in France, individuals’s attitudes are very a lot half glass empty. In any case, the French are identified for being complainers. This BBC article explains the mentality completely.
I’m not an over-the-top smiley Pollyanna, for the document, and I HATE poisonous positivity, however there’s one thing to be mentioned about having good power. American optimism is one thing that doesn’t actually exist in France. Sure, typically it may be excessive and faux (not a fan), however a variety of time, it’s only a vibe and power factor.
In France, persons are extra cautious and significant (not everybody clearly). The French language even has a detrimental slant at occasions. For instance, if you need to say one thing is fairly good, you’d say it’s pas mal, actually not unhealthy…. which suggests you prefer it. Is that man good wanting? Properly, he’s not ugly.
It’s simply…. a distinct vibe and default setting that may take some getting used to.
5. Customer support
Folks like to rag on America and Individuals, however one factor we get proper is customer support. More often than not, the client has the higher hand and corporations attempt to do the best factor, typically even bending over backwards and shocking you within the course of — to the purpose of even being extreme.
However what about customer support in France?
The client is nearly at all times flawed. It’s typically irritating to get even minor points resolved and French firms appear to have a distinct definition of “service” than American firms. So for me, France is NOT successful within the customer support division.
In France, firms don’t bend over backwards to make it proper. Generally they’ll even let you know the issue is your fault. Even when the problem is their fault, similar to your web being down for a complete day, nicely, past a sorry, don’t anticipate a lot!
In case you have an issue, possibly they’ll provide you with a 5 euro refund on a 200 euro invoice. And that’s after you’ve known as thrice and been transferred from individual to individual across the globe.
Corporations don’t at all times appear gracious to have clients. As soon as when Tom known as our web/TV supplier at 7:55pm, the lady actually instructed him to name again tomorrow to speak extra as a result of she was off shift at 8 and needed to shut down her pc.
That was after being on maintain ready to talk to somebody for 20 minutes! And also you pay to make the decision! Customer support numbers in France weren’t free once I first moved right here.
For make-up and skincare merchandise in France, in the event you’ve opened the product, neglect about returning it until it’s faulty. Sephora involves thoughts right here. Again within the U.S., in the event you purchase a make-up product, strive it, and don’t prefer it or have an allergic response, you possibly can return it to the shop — no questions requested — and get your a reimbursement.
A return coverage like that the place the shop stands behind what they promote made me really feel like I used to be lined and even inspired me to strive new merchandise.
Not so in France.
In the event you purchase a skincare product that you just try to don’t like, it’s not often potential to return it when you open it. Even when one thing you purchase from Sephora brought about an allergic response, they gained’t take it again and refund you if it’s been used.
Now all that mentioned, I’ve had nice customer support experiences in France too and within the time I’ve lived right here, it’s undoubtedly improved.
Turning again to the U.S., I believe my greatest customer support expertise was with the corporate Chewy.com, a pet provide firm. I had been a buyer for years and after Dagny handed away, I allow them to know I not needed to get their emails and needed to cancel my auto-renewal for a few issues.
To my shock, they despatched me a stunning bouquet of flowers and a good looking card that made me cry. It was so considerate and fully surprising. If I ever want pet provides, they may at all times be my go-to retailer.
Nice technique there. I felt valued and cared for and look, now I’m telling you. Not sponsored, however chewy.com will at all times get my enterprise.
***
Lastly, as I at all times say, I’m not right here to guage. We are able to have our personal preferences after all, however I’ll by no means say one nation is inherently higher for everybody throughout the board. There are professionals and cons to each place on earth.
Additionally, it’s vital to needless to say not everybody’s expertise in France, or the U.S., or anyplace on this planet goes to be the identical. Regional variations rely for lots, one’s job and monetary standing, household scenario, our personal preferences and mindset, and all types of issues have an effect on what our lives are like.
Simply because there are a variety of nice elements of life in a single place doesn’t imply that by default life is horrible elsewhere. That’s not the case in any respect. Two issues can exist and each be true.
Above all, my motto is to deal with what you take pleasure in and spend extra time on that and attempt to make peace with the remaining.
Now let me flip it over to you… what does the U.S. get proper? Only a reminder to please be respectful. My remark part isn’t the place to bash any nation or its individuals, so in the event you really feel compelled to go away a remark like that, please don’t.
Lastly, for anybody planning to go to France quickly, I’ve an eguide with all types of sensible ideas for visiting France on issues like transportation, cash, French tradition and extra. It’s known as 75 Newbie France Journey Suggestions for a Standout Journey. It’s a technique to assist Oui In France and ensure my content material stays free, not behind a membership web site or a Patreon, so in the event you take pleasure in what I do I admire the assist. 😉
PIN IT:
