Your boss has just told you that you should join your French colleagues in Paris for a semester or a year. Sounds cool: la ville lumière. It is indeed, though France's capital is quite tough to adapt to at the very beginning. Keep in mind your absolute priorities even before getting there are two: learning the more French you can and solving the issue of accomodation, unless your company provides for that (in this case, you can relax). Worst case scenario: you've never taken a French class back at school. I suggest to get some before you leave: speaking the laguage is always a competitive advantage to be fine when you're abroad, still in Paris it's even more true!
If you need to find a flat, ask in advance to your company whether they can provide you with a paper stating they will grant you'll meet your liabilities concerning the flat rental payments. That's your green card to get a contract for housing. A statement from your company may be essential also when it comes to open a bank account. Normally, you get an account if you have a residence in France. But, you get a house if you have a bank account. A couple of sentences from your French boss are likely to get you outta that infernal circle. As you open a bank account, ask immediately for a "Carte Bleu". This last is not just a Visa or Mastercard: don't rely too much on your Amex...paying bills in Paris without a bloody Carte bleu might turn into a nightmare! Why? It's the device which gives you access to all the electronic ticket machines: either you have it or you can start queuing up, no matter what ticket you need. 
Getting a French mobile SIM is pretty easy: if you're staying for one year, don't hesitate in making a contract for a monthly fee which entitles you to have a flat scheme. Paying a rechargeable makes sense if you're staying for some months only, otherwise it's not convenient at all. Mobile telcos propose more or less analogous rates: the choice depends on your personal needs. If you plan to call mainly abroad, you might be better off with a Bouygues scheme.Internet flat tariffs normally include free phone calls to fix lines to European Countries and competitive prices/minute to the rest of the world. All operators offer a scheme which provides the wifi password for three laptops or pc at a time and the traditional adsl connection. The whole Paris city (the 20 districts inside the "Peripherique") has a wireless coverage and the majority of cafés (not only Starbucks and Mc's) offer a wifi connection, hence you won't have any problem if your laptop is recent enough.
As you begin your Parisian life, try to settle some reference points in order to be able to enjoy your free time. Sporty ones can enjoy open-air sports, at least during spring and summer: the French practice a lot of skating and biking and you can go jogging in one of the parks or on the Seine's quai. On Friday nights, skaters meet in Place Dautry (14 arr., next to Montparnasse) to begin the weekly tour of the town. Pari-roller has become a well-know event for "ceux qui font du roller". The gyms are quite expensive, especially big ones. Given the extension of the city whatsoever, you ought to opt for a large club, with several training points all over Paris, where you can access with your subscription card. Otherwise you risk not to have time to commute up to your gym as you please (make sure you have one close to your office and another in your neighbourhood). Club Med Gym circuit, though expensive and a bit too posh, has the great advantage to be present in almost every arrodissement.
Don't forget each last Sunday of a month museums are free: you may book those days a a cultural weekend.
As far as going out is concerned: clubs are quite expensive, unless you love hip hop and R'n'B, hence you'd get quite funny nights at decent prices. On the other hand, eating out is less expensive than is many other capitals and you have plenty of choice among a wide variety of world cuisines: beside the French (which I have to admit is delicious, though as an Italian it's hard to tell), try the Maghreb restaurants as they're normally run by French-adopted North African people and proposes the true thing.
Be ready to a month an half of sadness: Paris is so beautiful but so complicated at the very beginning, you need to adapt. In particular, don't aspect to have to do with Spanish, Italian or Greek folks: it's up to you to learn the language and make yourself accepted among tha Parisians. Which is a big deal. Still, it's worth the effort: "Paris vaut bien una messe". That's so much true!
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