pole emploi - regular meeting

Just had a phone call from a friend of mine who has just signed up for the ememployement benefit (chomage) and is due to have the first meeting (convocation) with them. She was asking me what to do, so for those who don't know how to do it, here is what I did over the year.

The monthly meeting with pole emploi is a mandatory.  While you receive your benefit, you either attend a training (formation professionnel) acknowledged by the pole emploi or you have a monthly meeting with them. 
The meeting is to find out what kind of job hunting activities you do and what can you do until the next meeting.  I'd advise you to list all the companies you applied (with dates applied and receive reply) so that way they know what you do.



Within the extend of your existing professional experience, you can ask for a training if it's available. It's worth asking, as they are more reactive, they don't suggest you otherwise.

I've asked for two trainings ; French language and reviewing CV to apply French culture - it was worth it, as they contacted them straight away and I got registered immediately. 


While you receive your benefit or not, you must log in to pole emploi website to declare your current status(L'Actualisation) -(period varies each month).  If you want to take time off (summer / X'mas holiday), you must tell them that you are away from job hunting and ask for the approval from the pole emploi. If you can't attend the regular meeting, you must let them know to reschedule it. 

The facility at the pole emploi is great, there are computers dedicated to pole emploi search website and print if necessary,  the photo copy machine, telephones.

I found they are very supportive as long as you show that you are seriously looking. Indeed, I have come across a few issues (mostly the paper got losts..) with them, but that's a problem in process. I've seen some people shouting at them at the pole emploi office, but that won't solve anything.. 


For foreigners who have to renew their carte de sejour every year, you need to send them a copy of the renewed card to avoid being cancelled of your registration.  If the valid date is expired while on benefit, they'll stop it - mine did and I had to send the copy several times until they re-activate my ID. That also happened after I finished my training, assuming that I got a job - not as easy as they think.

Any questions, please drop me a comment.

G20 preparation - latest info

Here's the latest info after the local meeting with Cannes mayor office.

There are two controled zones around the palais des festivals. For people who live or work within the zones require the special access badges. (this can be applied at the Cannes mayor office)


Zone 1 (Blue) : Access restricted from 23:59 31/10/2011 to 16:00 - 18:00 4/11/2011 
The palais des festivals and sourrounding areas - only the residents and the people works in the area and G20 people will have the access - with the ID.  No cars are allowed.


Zone 2 (Red) : Access restricted from 23:59 01/11/2011 to 16:00 - 18:00 4/11/2011
Other sourrounding areas - only the Zone 1 / 2 badge holders, G20 people will have the access - with the ID. Access with Cars with the relevant security authorisation - apply with the badges, same applies with taxis.  No public access into Zone 2 unless relevant badges with ID.


The Cannes station is open to public during this period - however, the bus route may be different to normal working days.


Approx. 40,000 people from over 25 countries, 7 official organisations and medias, journalists are expected to gather in small town of Cannes during this period.  The businesses within these areas are expected to be open as usual for those visitors.

Pre-G20 Cannes

 

This is just a headsup, for anyone around the world who are planning to make a visit to Cannes or surrounding area in early November, please note that the G20 is due to take place 3 -4 November that the heavy security control and restrictions are to be expected.  I've heard that many local shops within the security zone are considering to close their businesses during this period. 

As a local resident, we had to apply for some kind of ID to enter the zone.  I've never come across this but it looks like a big preparation for the host country.

I would advise you to check the tourist board info prior to your departure or avoid to come here during this period.

Chicken Kievs - missing food from England??

When I was in England, I used to be far too lazy to cook myself so I often eat out or buy ready made food.....particularly this "Chicken Kievs".  Yes, as the name tells, It's origin must be from Eastern Europe but I've seen this Kiev with different versions every major supermarkets in England(Usually buy1 get 1 free deal). I often took this classic version - garlic butter.

It's a deep fried checken breasts rolled with garlic butter. There're other versions like tomato sauce etc, I tried almosts everything but ended up buying the classic one.

There's similar one in France, called Cordon blue - with ham and cheese. I hardly eat this, as I don't get the same yummy excitement. 


My hubby says that the garlic butter in the chicken kievs taste just like the butter used in the escargot. I don't eat escargot, but I suppose the escargots need loads of garlic butter so that it doesn't taste escargot - has anyone seen any other flavour in escargot cuisine?  While with chicken kievs, I found the combination is just perfect....even better with Soya sauce!


Oh... I must make one for myself.. perhaps not so healthy food but it's yummy. 

Let's check the recipe from BBC Food

Pole emploi

While I was taking the accounting training, I was supposed to receive some daily allowance - the guy at the pole emploi told me at the beginning but nothing had happened until towards the end of the training, I found an electronic message on the official website. 

Had I not checked my page on their website, I wouldn't have known that all documents was about to be verified and the amount of money that's expected to be received. However, the end of training means that you SHOULD find a job somewhere, so they automatically disabled my account.

I then had to re-activate my account, saying that I am still looking. Meanwhile, the money that I was supposed to receive, hadn't reached me yet.  I contacted the Pole emploi what to do. They told me to send the relevant papers so I did. They said all papers have been verified so they should send my allowance shortly.............

Two months later, still nothing happened. I hesitated to ask for the money as I didn't want to sound too often or desparate, though it's always nice to have something extra which I would have received 4 months ago so eventually I did contact them.  They said no papers received. But you said it on the last email.....well but never mind.

Yet again, I said no problem, I will drop you the copy. 
Finally, the documents reached the relevant personnel and he rang me and said it should be dealt shortly.  Let's wait and see...

un petit tour du musée de Louvre

Click here for TF1 site video (only valid for 7 days)

I saw a very interesting reportage yesterday about Paris' musee Louvre - the world's most visited museum of 8.5 million visitors per year.  Just over 15 mins reportage shows some hindsights about the back of the Louvre, only 10% of its collections are on display, the restoration of paintings, rare film when the Mona lisa came back to France after its stolen, the dedicated firemen who are on daily training and checking.

I visited there once long time ago and it was indeed pack with people (including me of course) who wanted to see the most famous painting in the world and I was also thrilled to see the beautiful statue- the Wingled victory of Samothrace.  There are still many areas I didn't see and I would like to spend more time to visit again.....it'll be worth taking a long queue.

Auto entrepreneur

Since Feburary, my unemployement benefit has been terminated. I'm still registered on pole emploi and have regular meetings with them, also took 2 months paid training on French accounting.

Meanwhile, I take on some odd translation jobs but this industry is very grey and don't get paid well. Thanks to the internet and electronic settlement like paypals, you can do this kind of job, literally anywhere in the world which means the company can select translators at a cheap rate.


I've got some experiences working on translation in the past - finance, IT, automobile and cultural domains and I also do some volunteering job in health and medical domains however, quality, translation skills and the amount of hours spend on the project don't seem to reflect on the rate.  As I am dubious about this work, I still can't invest myself on the translation software which converts repetitive words and memorise the translated words and phrases to save time and eventuarlly allow you to work more.

Yet,I got myself the auto entrepreneur title, hoping to get the opportunity. You can select types of declarations: simple or detailed.  I declare every 3 months which only declare intakes. Depending on the type of the job, the contribution rate for the social security differs.  My title is for the service provider, so 18.3% of intake would go towards social security and then 0.2% goes to the training. 


When I told the guy at the pole emploi that I got the auto entrepreneur title, he warned me to check the regularation from time to time, as they could impact the amount of contributions and exemption. And if you have the title while you receive the benefit and got the actual business, that impacts the amount of benefit you receive.....you'll have to deduct the days you worked.