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After joining a French tech firm, I experienced the nuances of French work culture firsthand and grew professionally as a result. Here's what Americans considering the same move should know.
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A little over 5 years ago, I was approached by a French Tech firm (spoiler alert: Dolead) that was looking to open a North American outfit. The message caught me at a good time — I was quite bored at work that day, so I figured why not? I’ll take the call.
What I couldn’t know at the time was that the call would lead me on a professional and cultural journey unlike anything I had experienced before. In just 5 years time, I grew from an Account Executive (and US employee #1) at a firm struggling to find its footing in the NAM market to Head of Customer Success at a company that now has a substantial and ever increasing international footprint.
All along the way, I learned innumerable lessons about cross-cultural business and communication — some of which I’ll share with you here. So without further ado, let’s jump into what you can expect from working for a French firm as an American.
Of course, take all of this with a big grain of salt as I’ve only worked for one French firm. But during my time at Dolead, I’ve had the chance to interact with hundreds of French colleagues, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, lawyers, and more — so I feel pretty confident in my generalizations.
Spend one day in our office and you’ll realize there are too many subtle differences to count, but three main differences between French and American firms rise to the top as the most stark: communication style, hierarchy, and the importance of socialization.
One of the first things you’ll notice when working with French colleagues is their direct communication style. Perhaps this is where they get a reputation for being rude. But make no mistake, they are not a rude people. Think of it more from an economy of language perspective. They would simply prefer to say, “I do not understand your point,” as opposed to the way Americans might beat around the bush with something like, “I’m not sure I follow that line of thinking. Mind clarifying that for me?”
From an American perspective, sure, the latter is more “polite.” But from an efficiency standpoint, especially when communicating virtually, the former is much more effective. I’ve certainly felt my communication become more direct in the past 5 years, and I believe I am better for it. So when your French boss doesn’t sugarcoat their feedback, don’t take it personally.
Perhaps my favorite thing about working in French Tech is the lack of a rigid hierarchy. Everybody’s ideas are considered and leadership teams regularly meet with the junior most employee to pick his or her brain. Of course, not all French firms are like this. Dolead may be an outlier in that sense. However, in my interactions with and observations of other French Tech companies, it has seemed to hold true across the board.
I joined the Dolead team as a 23 year old, and within months I was having strategic conversations with our CEO on a regular basis — something I could never have imagined in my previous firm that was strictly hierarchical. So if you’re joining a French team, relish that opportunity, but make sure you come prepared with a rational backing for your proposals.
This last difference should come as no surprise: the French love their lunch. More specifically, they value their moments of uninterrupted socialization. This has led to many long lunches and team dinners where no business was discussed at all.
I’m not an overly social person, so these felt unnecessary at first, but in retrospect they have helped me form great relationships with my colleagues. And when you begin to see your colleagues as trusted friends, it makes those inevtiable business firestorms easier to handle.
When I tell someone that I work for a French firm, almost without fail, they say “so do you get all of August off?” And while I unfortunately do not get all of August off, there is some merit in that caricature.
The French, and European firms generally, promote a healthier work-life balance than their American counterparts. Extended vacations are regularly granted and vacation time is strictly vacation **time. When I sign off for a long holiday, I rest assured knowing that my colleagues won’t bother me with the errant Slack or email. There is hardly any expectation to stay signed on.
It’s great to see this mantra being adopted by more American firms. The hippies in Palo Alto will claim they invented it, but I think we have our friends across the pond to thank for bringing it to the forefront.
Even in the earliest days, when the North American expansion was a steep uphill battle, Dolead never skimped on health benefits. Although it went unsaid, I always understood this to have stemmed from the nationalized health systems you see in countries across the EU. It was as if our HR team never considered offering anything less than top-of-line health benefits at no cost to the employees.
My health plan has been so great that, despite working for companies 10 and 100x our size, friends of mine are routinely shocked when they learn how comprehensive my plan is. And, to me, that peace of mind is invaluable.
If you’ve never had a chance to visit the country, I strongly encourage you to do so. And what better way to do it than on your employer’s dime? In my time at Dolead I’ve been lucky enough to visit France twice, and I’ll be heading out on my third trip in just a few weeks.
An anecdote I love to share with my colleagues is that I chose not to visit France while studying abroad in Barcelona, despite being just a short train ride away. I had bought into the stereotype that the French were unfriendly, so who needed ‘em. But I’ll be the first to admit I was wrong.
I’ve felt nothing less than welcome in Paris. The people, the food, the wine — what’s not to love. And if you’re a skier or snowboarder, don’t walk, run to the French Alps. The inbounds, lift-accessible terrain there is unlike anything I’ve ever seen in the States. And better yet, you can ski the largest resorts in the world for the third of the price of a US mountain.
(Look closely to see my boss standing on the edge of Le Grand Couloir, a lift-accessible run at Courchevel.)
Okay, now that I’ve highlighted what makes it so great, I’m sure you’re thinking, how do I land a job at a French firm? Admittedly, this is an area that I’m not a true expert in. After all, I didn’t even find my job at Dolead, the job found me. That said, I have picked up a few tips and tricks over the years.
The preeminent job board in EU Tech is, without a doubt, Welcome to the Jungle. The Jungle is unique in that they allow firms to pair job postings with rich, multimedia content to help you better understand the team you're considering joining.
Take Dolead’s page, for example. Alongside a listing for a Customer Success Manager, you’ll find dozens of photos of the team and Q&A style videos from our founders and teammates. And if you do check out our page, don’t get scared by the matching outfits. I promise we’re not a cult; we just wanted to rock our Dolead sweaters for picture day.
(I’m the guy frowning on the left. I was enjoying the day until my table ran out of pain au chocolat.)
One thing that shocked me when I joined Dolead was learning just how many French firms have a presence in the US. In nearly every major city, I am almost certain there is an organization of French firms eager to hire American talent. The one I’m most familiar with is La French Tech Boston, a growing consortium of over 150 French entrepreneurs and executives in New England.
They meet regularly to network and share ideas, so if you’re in the Boston area and are looking to work for a French firm, give them a shout on LinkedIn. Someone over there would be happy to steer you in the right direction.
If you land an interview, come prepared! The direct and rational communication style I mentioned before means that there’s little messing around during the interview process. Most firms I’m familiar with require a case study to assess your skills. While this may seem like a burden, I prefer to think of it as an opportunity to fully flex your talent in a way that a traditional interview simply does not allow for.
While Dolead’s process has certainly changed over time, my interview process was a grueling multi-parter where I was first asked if I like cheese. “Yes*.*” Okay, but do you also like baguette? “Also, yes.” Welcome aboard.
Joking aside, don’t hesitate to reach out to me on LinkedIn if you’re curious to know more about working in French Tech. I’d be happy to help and tap into my network as needed!
And another pro tip, a former colleague of mine writes a great weekly newsletter called French Tech Updates where he highlights trends and wins in the French Tech scene. Check it out to stay in the know!
You may be wondering what prompted you to write this? Well, for one the Paris Olympics are right around the corner, so it felt apropos (shoutout to the French for that word). More importantly, though, Tech is becoming increasingly globalized. The US still dominates the scene (much like the Olympics, sorry fellas), but we’ve witnessed the rise of some game-changing French firms in recent years.
Most notably, there’s Mistral, the darling of the AI scene. Like Dolead, they were founded an Arthur & Guillaume. But unlike Dolead, they recently raised a round at an eye-watering $6B valuation. Don’t worry, we’ll get there.
They’re a shining example of American VC’s willingness to venture outside the States to find promising young companies. And I’m sure there will be many more to follow. Allez Le Bleu.
So if you’re considering joining a French Tech firm, keep what I shared here in mind:
And if you’re worried about not knowing any French, don’t be! As much as it pains our CEO, I’ve hardly picked up any French in the past 5 and a half years, and I’ve done all right.
Understanding French work culture can significantly enhance one's professional success and personal satisfaction.
French work culture emphasizes directness, rationality, and a comfortable work-life balance, while American work culture often values informality and an intense work ethic.
Punctuality is valued but not as strictly enforced as in some other cultures; arriving a little late in the morning is generally acceptable. For internal meetings, I’m now used to folks showing up a a few minutes late.
Meetings are often formal and structured, with a clear agenda and a focus on thorough discussion and consensus-building.
The French prioritize personal time and family life, often taking long lunches and ensuring that work does not encroach on vacation and weekend time.
Be clear, concise, and polite; ensure that written communications are well-structured and free of errors. Most French professionals working in Tech will have very strong English skills, but be patient if something gets lost in translation.
Show respect for their culture, participate in the after work activities, and demonstrate a genuine interest in their language and customs.
Networking is crucial in French work culture. Building and maintaining professional relationships can significantly impact your career. Dolead now has a growing network of alumni that I’ve leaned on for internal and external projects.
It’s not an everyday thing, but French professionals often take longer lunch breaks, enjoying a hearty meal and socializing with colleagues. You’ll notice nice restaurants in the heart of Paris jam-packed at noon on a workday.
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