The work-study opportunity: 6 tips for recruiting the right person

Long criticized and reserved for low-skilled professions, apprenticeships are now making a comeback! Open to all, the apprenticeship contract can now be used to train for all kinds of jobs, thanks in particular to the TESE or CESU, depending on whether you're a private individual looking to hire a professional in personal services , or simply looking for work-study students for your company.

Companies are increasingly interested in this win-win contract, which offers significant financial and production benefits .

But beware: recruiting an alternant requires time, organization, strict administrative procedures and a legally compliant employment contract.

👉 Find out why it's a good idea to recruit an alternant , and learn 6 tips for better recruitment.

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First of all, why recruit a student-apprenticeship scheme?

There are many benefits to work-study programs for companies:

• A significant economic advantage for organizations. In addition to the low cost of salaries, the French government has recently introduced a special grant to cover almost the entire cost of the apprentice's salary.
• A fresh, outside view of your company. This feedback can be useful in assessing your methods and even optimizing some of your processes. We advise you to remain open to feedback, even if the person is young - it can be invaluable.
• The ultimate goal of an apprenticeship is employment. By choosing apprenticeship, you directly integrate, evaluate and train your potential future employee (if you make them want to stay).

💡 A little tip: calculate your financial aid using the simulator set up by the government.

How to recruit the right alternant? Our 6 tips

1. Tailor assignments to the company's needs

As a recruiter, you want to hire an alternant because you don't need a full-time employee. This is a good idea, but you need to prepare and define your objectives before starting the recruitment process. First and foremost, you need to define your job profile to avoid getting lost in the recruitment process.

Then, to prepare your job description (not job profile) in the best possible way, certain essential elements need to be defined:

• the general missions in which the apprentice will be involved, as well as the projects and tasks he or she will be carrying out;
• the future apprentice's field of training , to ensure that it matches the proposed tasks;
• the duration of the contract you want, in relation to your needs, and the apprentice's level of qualification.

Once you've established your needs, you can move on to the next stage of your recruitment process.

👨‍🎓 The apprentice's opinion : be clear about your needs and your job description. It can happen that the reality is totally different from what has been written, which can lead to disappointment on both sides.

2. Choosing the right work-study contract

There are 2 types of work-study contract, depending on the duration of the training or contract and the associated remuneration:

• The apprenticeship contract is part of initial training for a diploma or professional qualification, and 25% of the time is devoted to training. Under this contract, the apprentice will spend more time in training, but will be paid less than under a professionalization contract.
  • The professionalisation contract, on the other hand, is part of a continuing education program, and the apprentice will be in training for less than 25% of the contract.

💡 To find out more about the difference between these contracts, we recommend you read this article proposed by the government.

3. Finding the best talent

As with any classic recruitment, there are several ways to find a work-study student or even recruit the best interns.

• You can canvass schools directly, which will be the most likely to find THE alternant for you. Later on, they'll even have the reflex to offer you the work-study students you're looking for!
• You can also use job boards to advertise your work-study vacancies. Although Indeed and Pôle Emploi can also be used, we recommend that you also opt for specialized sites such as l'etudiant or alternance.fr...
  • If you're motivated and persistent, prospect and approach your future alternants directly on LinkedIn. This is a useful way of targeting the exact profile you're looking for, and reduces the risk of unsuccessful recruitment.

👨‍🎓 The work-study student's opinion : the offers made by our schools and universities are very much appreciated, as they are addressed directly to us. It's as if the companies were coming to us, and we feel valued.

4. Preparing the work-study program

Once the candidate has been chosen, the long-awaited ✨démarchesadministratives✨ (administrative formalities) arrive. These are necessary to formalize and validate the recruitment of the alternant.

The skills operator (OPCO) is the body that will register the contracts and finance the work-study training. It's up to you to contact your local OPCO directly to check the criteria for funding the training.

As an employer, you must sign a declaration of employment guaranteeing :

• work equipment,
• the tutor's qualifications,
• the organization of the work-study program.

You will then be required to draw up a work-study contract, using CERFA forms for professionalization and apprenticeship contracts.

5. Organizing the work-study student's integration

As with all new hires, your alternating work-study student is entitled to his or her own onboarding. This is the time to give them their welcome pack. The alternant is an employee like any other, so welcome him/her under the same conditions as any other employee.

He or she is even entitled to a few extras: a tutor for a professionalization contract, and an apprenticeship master for an apprenticeship contract, all (or almost all) dedicated to him or her, who will support him or her throughout the work-study period.

👉 Note that an apprenticeship supervisor must:

• Hold a diploma or qualification in the same field as that targeted by the apprentice, at least equivalent in level, and have at least one year's experience in the activity concerned;
• Or provide proof of two years' experience in a position related to the qualification being prepared by the apprentice.

👉 To find out more: discover an infographic on the role of the apprenticeship master produced by the government.

👨‍🎓 The apprentice's opinion: tutors are very important for integration, but also throughout the alternation period. The people chosen must have the time to devote to the apprentice - it's not a task to be taken lightly.

6. Listen to the student's needs and pace

Getting on well with the student is vital to ensuring a successful experience for everyone involved. Listening and communication are the keys to this good understanding.
We advise you to check in regularly and discuss your student's assignments, feelings, motivation, sticking points, and so on.

In addition to the relational aspect, the pace of the work-study program should also be taken into account. The apprentice may be in training 1 or 2 weeks a month, or 1 or 2 days a week. In this case, you need to anticipate certain tasks and adapt your projects to this rhythm. Gradually, the alternant will get used to it and anticipate his or her tasks and projects.

👨‍🎓 The work-study student's opinion: At first, work-study students can be a little lost in the mass of information they receive , especially when they return from one or two weeks of classes... Our adaptation time can be a little longer than that of a regular employee.

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Recruiting a student-apprentice in a nutshell

Work-study programs are an essential source of promising new talent. Less costly than a salaried employee, particularly in view of government subsidies, apprenticeships appear to be a good compromise for many companies.

Beware, however, that the organization and administration of an apprenticeship contract is no easy matter. Recruiting an apprentice can be a long and time-consuming process, and it can be just as hard to find a good employee as a good apprentice!

💡 Last tip: it's possible to optimize your recruiting thanks to digital solutions! Recruitment software supports companies throughout the recruitment process: from sourcing to onboarding new employees. Take a look 👀.