Working and living in Morocco (page 2 of 2)

hi,

About flat-sharing, it’s not really part of the culture here since most young people live with their parents. But that doesn’t stop it from happening—I have friends who shared flats and never had any issues. I’m not sure how they found their flatmates, though; usually, it’s colleagues or students who know each other through work. In my opinion, you’ll probably need to wait until you’re settled before looking for a flat-share.

Keep me posted!

See you soon

Hey, funnily enough, I have the same goal as you! The advantage I have is that I’m of Moroccan origin, and eventually, I’d like to settle in Morocco with a project. It’d be cool to chat with you about our goals—would be great! Here’s my email: moustapha82@yahoo.fr

Hi there, I’m reaching out to ask... you mentioned you’re Moroccan and used to live in France. I’m of Moroccan origin and currently live in France, but I’d like to move back. The company I work for has a branch in Morocco—specifically in Casablanca at a call center—and I’d love to ask how things work on this site. I’d like to submit my application, but what’s better: by mail or email? Here’s my email address: moustapha82@yahoo.fr

Hey Lilisa!!! How have you been since last time?! It’s happening—I’m heading to Morocco and Tangier this Saturday, 17/03..., and I’ll be interviewing with the terminal manager at the port and maybe even the port director if luck’s on my side!!! Thank you so much for the housing tips you sent me—I’ll start looking into places to stay too... I’m reaching out again to see if you could give me a few more details about the interviews—like things to avoid saying or doing, and of course, what I should highlight (e.g., foreign languages I speak, professional experience, etc.). Spill everything!!!! I’ll definitely chat with my Moroccan friend who works in a similar field, but I’d love another perspective, especially a woman’s...

Hope to catch up soon... Take care...

François

Hey!

Your new adventure is about to begin—how exciting! I’m really happy for you! Especially since this can be an amazing experience, and your project has a really fundamental impact in northern Morocco! (And long live Tangier for the international expo!!!):) As for advice I can give you about interviews, I won’t be super original—it’s the same principles as anywhere else, and I’ll admit I’ve never officially done one, lol! When I worked there, I got jobs through connections, so I’m not totally sure how the process works... All I can say is don’t let the boss intimidate you or anything. Usually, they’ll pretend not to listen just to throw you off... classic stuff, really. Show that you’re super motivated without sucking up, lol, and also show that you’re confident, that you have authority, and that you’re not willing to be walked all over—without being aggressive, of course. Just don’t come off as a victim who knows nothing about the country and is ready to accept anything... That’s just my take on things, though. I can’t really say much more...

Anyway, good luck! And keep me posted!!

Lilia

Yes, you should talk about your professional experience without bragging too much, but try to highlight your strengths—especially when it comes to languages! Generally, Moroccans don’t really like it when foreigners don’t even make an effort to learn Arabic or at least understand it. So if you emphasize your ability to integrate and learn languages, it’s all a plus!

Good luck!

Hey Lillisa!!!!..and waaaooowww, I’m so thrilled about my little week spent there!!! Tangier is truly a unique and amazing city... I felt right at home, and everyone is so welcoming!!!! I love it, I love it!! It was such a pleasant trip discovering the region = Cap Malabata, Cap Spartel, Sebta (Ceuta), the start of the Rif, and everything else in central Tangier = the Medina, the Kasbah, Café Hafa, the fish meals, the stunning Tangier Bay.....etc.....etc... I’m completely charmed!! Plus, everything went super well with my interviews—I passed the first stages, and they should get back to me in a month for the next steps.... fingers crossed and hoping it keeps going like this... but I’m optimistic, it’s off to a great start!!!!

Now, I just have to finish up my work here and move over there!!! My friend lives on Place Mozart, and it’s true that downtown Tangier is transforming and booming... I was really surprised by all the new buildings under construction—there are so many, on every street corner! It’s incredible how fast this city is changing!! I’ve heard it’s nothing compared to summer, when there are even more tourists and tons of people passing through the area....

I can’t wait to be there!!!!!! And of course, GO TANGIER 2012—I’m crossing my fingers for that too, but it should work out.... the other cities in Poland and Korea don’t stand a CHANCE!!!!!

Anyway, I’ll let you go—I could keep going for ages.... I think I have a few more questions, but I’ll save them for later!!!! I’ll be in touch!!!!

Take care and see you soon!

It might not be very easy: to work in Morocco for a company, you need to have a skill that Moroccans don’t have or a very specific degree that’s rare here. If you fit into one of these two cases, your application then goes to Rabat for review. If it’s a French company relocating, there aren’t all these issues. Keep in mind that jobs here are protected and prioritized for Moroccans. If you’re moving here with kids, don’t forget to think about school. French schools aren’t cheap at all!!! Around 850 € per term per kid, and there’s no cafeteria or school transport here!!!!!! Good luck anyway!!

If you’ve got money to spend, you can head to Marrakech, but otherwise, there are plenty of other cities that are just as nice and way cheaper. That said, you’ll need to look for cities with a French school. Expensive, sure, but French!!!!

Good luck....

Hi there,

I’m French, working as a medical secretary for many years now. I regularly spend my vacations in MOROCCO (because I love this country) to the point of wanting to leave everything behind to live there. However, the question arises: the issue of work. How should I proceed? Which fields are hiring? Thanks for your advice.

Hi!

Sorry I didn’t reply sooner... I’ve been swamped with work, and also busy prepping for my trip to Argentina (I’m going there for a 3-month internship starting in July until October, so yeah, lots to organize...). So how was your arrival in Tangier? Did you find a place to stay? Is your job going well? Tell me all about it!

See you soon!

Lilia

Hi! Great plan—Casablanca is a dynamic city with plenty of opportunities, especially in the IT sector. A lot of French companies have subsidiaries there, so it’s worth applying remotely, but being on-site can also open doors faster. You might want to check out recruitment agencies like Rekrute or PitchForJob. Also, having a good grasp of the market and trends can help, particularly in sectors like interior design and decor. Oh, I came across an interesting article on this: https://www.ihbartmedia.com/quel-est-le-role-dun-decorateur-dinterieur/. It could give you an idea of how the market is evolving in Morocco. Good luck with your search! !