Finding a lecteur position is not exactly easy. I contacted a couple of people who had previously worked as lecteurs and they told me the best way to find a position is to start cold calling/emailing. So, I did. I researched and wrote down all of the universities/schools in the Paris region that I would be willing to travel to as well as the contact information for their English department/ HR department/ anyone I thought could help me. I then made a French CV, an English resume and cover letters in both French and English. I typed up a little blurb in French that I used for the email body explaining that I am looking for an English teaching position for the next school year, etc., and sent out emails to all of those who were so lucky to be on the list I had previously made. I received all types of responses: "Sorry, we only accept exchange students/ are not hiring for next year", application attachments, emails asking me to contact someone else and then of course there were several who never applied.
I found that you should send the emails in late January/ early February. Though I sent mine a bit later, I was still able to make several application deadlines. In mid-May I was offered a position at my first choice university. I subsequently also received several emails and phone calls asking me to come interview or even to offer me a position without ever interviewing or even verifying my spoken French/English skills. My contract will run from September 1, 2013 to August 31, 2014. A full year! And the hours worked should be about 12/week, excluding vacations. Although, I have very little information other than that. I don't know when I will give my classes, if I will be giving grades, if there is already a course outline, what type of classes I will be teaching, etc. In September I will be having a meeting with my department as well as the 2 other English lectrices that I will be working with this year.
That is the gist of getting started in your search for a position. Don't forget to have a French friend correct your lettre de motivation for you and make sure that your CV is in the French format - so different from American! If you have any other questions, feel free to leave them in the comments section and I'll answer them the best I can!
I found that you should send the emails in late January/ early February. Though I sent mine a bit later, I was still able to make several application deadlines. In mid-May I was offered a position at my first choice university. I subsequently also received several emails and phone calls asking me to come interview or even to offer me a position without ever interviewing or even verifying my spoken French/English skills. My contract will run from September 1, 2013 to August 31, 2014. A full year! And the hours worked should be about 12/week, excluding vacations. Although, I have very little information other than that. I don't know when I will give my classes, if I will be giving grades, if there is already a course outline, what type of classes I will be teaching, etc. In September I will be having a meeting with my department as well as the 2 other English lectrices that I will be working with this year.
That is the gist of getting started in your search for a position. Don't forget to have a French friend correct your lettre de motivation for you and make sure that your CV is in the French format - so different from American! If you have any other questions, feel free to leave them in the comments section and I'll answer them the best I can!
