Virginie :

Although I’m rather young, I already have seven years of experience in digital marketing. For more than a year now, I’ve been in charge of employer web brand communications and attractiveness. This consists in managing the Group’s careers website, its communication on social networks as well as Group campaigns. I’m assisted by Lucie, the community manager, and Yann, my work-study student, who is the web project manager, and more specifically in charge of the careers website.

Yann :

After a first degree in information and communications, I decided to continue my studies with a master’s degree under a work-study programme. I joined the Group in 2017 for a two-year work-study scheme as a web project manager. With the employer brand team, we’re in charge of showcasing the Group and its entities as an employer, through a wide variety of subjects, such as recruitment actions, Group commitments to the integration of young people and HR issues in general. To do this, we use different media, in particular the Group’s recruitment website, which I manage. My duties include implementing upgrades and publishing content. I also assist Virginie and Lucie with Group campaigns.

Virginie:

I was not given a choice (Laughs). Seriously though, the Group has a real youth integration policy. We’re working in new-generation professions and it is important to get a Generation Z perspective. Since I was a work-study student myself, I now enjoy passing on my knowledge and helping Yann to develop his skills.

Yann:

The work-study programme was for me an excellent opportunity to continue my theoretical training while beginning to acquire practical training in a company. I would advise students to seize the opportunity to do a work-study programme. In school, we learn some theory and a bit of practice very superficially, but nothing compared with when you’re working in the company. The work-study programme has enabled me to mature professionally, and I have learnt a lot both in terms of hard and soft skills.

Virginie :

When I hire a work-study student, I tend to look more for a personality than for know-how because it is our role to teach the students our profession. The presentation of the CV and covering letter are therefore decisive in obtaining an interview. Inspired by the image of my team, I looked for a profile that stood out as much by the content as by the form of these documents. If I can give you a piece of advice: open up and get off the beaten track. Yann drew my attention with his application. During the physical interview, I managed to gain his trust with my approach. I made him feel at ease, even if I sometimes pushed him to his limits to test him. In moments like these, I pay a lot of attention to non-verbal communication, which reveals a lot about the applicant’s personality. When you’re asked a question during an interview, take a few seconds to breath, and think before you answer. Control your verbal tics and body language in order not to reveal that you’re being pushed into a corner. That will make the recruiter trust in your maturity.

Yann :

it’s always very stressful before an interview, especially for a work-study programme because they are difficult to get. I applied for several offers on the Group’s recruitment website. After several weeks, I was contacted by phone for a quick review of my CV and my work-study schedule. After that, things went very fast. I had a first operational interview with Virginie. She put me at ease and it was a real discussion and not a simple checklist of my CV. We talked about the duties of the job, the Group and what I was expecting from the work-study programme. I left the interview without knowing what to think (laughs). A few days later, Virginie contacted me to propose a start date for the contract and the adventure began.

Virginie :

On his first day, I went to meet Yann and I introduced him to the team over breakfast. In the first few weeks, he discovered our many contacts and he went round the departments to discover the scope of each person. The Group is complex, which is why it was important for him to meet all these people. Rapidly, I began to assist him in the tasks of his job. I think the right attitude that Yann had was to take notes, and not hesitate to come to see me whenever he had questions.

Yann :

It’s always quite intimidating the first day. But everybody put me quickly at ease. I met the team over breakfast and that enabled me to talk informally with my colleagues about their duties and experiences in the Group in no time at all. I quickly got into the swing of things and, with Virginie’s help, I began to understand my duties. Here’s some advice for the Group’s future work-study students: during the first few days, listen, observe and ask questions. This will make it much easier for you to understand the job and the Group.

Virginie :

I decided to entrust Yann with tasks where he could work in full autonomy and he proved to me that he had the capacity to manage a project from beginning to end, while keeping me informed and asking for help when necessary. What I appreciate is his ability to always push the reflection further. This makes our collaboration a fine example of teamwork. You go faster when you work alone, but go further when you’re together. Yann’s curiosity allows him not to limit his vision to his own scope. This enables him to understand the issues at stake from a broader perspective and thus extend the scope of his duties. I think this is a good lesson for work-study students to learn. The scope of a job is never static. Through your determination, you can create a job that corresponds to you and thus extend your areas of expertise.
For example, Lucie and Yann often work together and bring me proposals that cut across their two scopes. This allow Yann to spread his skills to other fields and to learn to work in a team, i.e. know how to convince, listen and even make compromises.

Yann :

I agree with Virginie about team work! Virginie assigned me projects shortly after my arrival. This enabled me to quickly ramp up my skills. My job means that I work regularly with various players to carry out my projects, in particular with Lucie, my partner.
Although we each work on a different scope, working as a team helps a lot, especially in terms of expertise and soft skills.

Virginie :

I have already given some advice, especially about the application itself. To go further, I would advise you to consider your apprenticeship experience as a period where you can test things, and make mistakes. For me, this is even an obligatory process. It shouldn’t scare you, that is how to learn. After each project, whether or not it is successful, it is important to take the time to review the project to consider what you could have done better. Don’t hesitate to ask your tutor for help. Every question is good to ask. The only rule is not to always ask the same questions.
The way you see yourself is important. Don’t focus on your work-study contract. You are above all an employee and you must position yourself as such and be seen as such. You reflect the image you have of yourself. Be self-confident and you will emerge from this experience as a competent professional.

Yann :

it is important to show, right from the first interviews and throughout your experience, that you are here not only to learn, but also to give. Don’t position yourself only as a work-study student, but also as a budding professional. You must have some skills to offer the company. They wouldn’t have hired you otherwise.