Hi Veronique,
I have lived in France for a total of 8 years and have always worked for someone. The only time I have "worked" for myself has been when I have acted as an interpretor for my local Commissariat....Mind you if I had regular work with them, I could give up the day job and become self-employed, since it pays so well!!
I worked one season for Spanish bosses with dual nationality and the rest has been for French people.
I am a sales administrator and PA by trade but have only actually worked one year as a Directors assistant here. This year I am a hotel director which is a new challenge but one that I am looking forward to.
The only Anglophone people I know here are people from SFN and one Irish friend who works in Lourdes at a different hotel. Otherwise I am constantly with French people or other nationalities. In Lourdes, most people are in the hotel trade as that is the only real work available. Condequently everyone adapts just to be able to work. I know of one former PDG who works the summer season as a night watchman and then spends the winter season being a diving instructor in sunnier climes...