Just a minor correction, its a job not a career! It was a career in the 1970s.
EasyJet seems to be only issuing fixed term contracts at the minute lasting anywhere from 6-10 months.
You won't get a job with Ryanair, as your employed by an agency that is seconded to FR. You pay for your training re-location costs etc etc. You will be moved and relocated at your own cost at their beck and call.
Typically you need to live no further than 1hr and 30 mins from your base.
Standby's happen on an adhoc basis. You might get one or two plus in a week or none for weeks at a time it just depends on the flying roster. Typically you have a 90 min call out time.
I speak French but can count with the fingers on one had how many times i use it, despite flying into France a lot. But it can come in handy and does look good on your CV.
Most airlines will base you at the base you have applied and the base they are advertising for.
FR will base you anywhere they like and with minimum notice on occasion. They are closing and down grading bases so read up on them (and don't bury your head in the sand and only read the good bits, there are very good reasons to why there is so much negativity with FR).
Good luck, its not the greatest time to start a flying job but there are some airlines that are taking on. Have you looked at Flybe?