The first steps to take

Before taking any steps to recruit a work-study student, the company manager and his or her team need to define the company's needs, the profile required and the type of contract to be signed.
 

Choose the type and start date of the contract

Companies can offer two types of work-study contract: the professionalisation contract and the apprenticeship contract. The former is suitable for talented young people aged 16 to 25, and is designed to lead to qualifications. Jobseekers aged 26 and over, and those in receipt of benefit, can also be recruited under this type of contract.

Apprenticeship contracts are open to applicants aged between 16 and 30. An exception is made for top-level sportsmen and women and disabled workers. Job-seekers, whether amicably dismissed or not, can also take advantage of this training program, which is designed to lead to a diploma.

Information to include in your ad

Therecruitment ad must include certain mandatory information:

  • the job title,
  • a description of the work-study student's duties,
  • the level of qualifications and skills required,
  • the place of work and remuneration conditions.

The advertisement should also clearly state the contact details of the recipient of the various applications. All this information helps companies to find the profile that really matches their needs.
 

Gather information on the training to be given

To apply for funding from the French OPCO (opérateur de compétence), the company must submit a number of documents. These include the training program, which contains the duration, content, prerequisites and tools required for the course. The training agreement and training code are also documents to be included in the OPCO file.
 

Set the apprentice's or work-study student's salary and length of contract

The length of the contract chosen by the company varies according to the course. In general, apprenticeship contracts can last from 1 to 3 years. In the case of a professionalization contract, the work-study period varies between 6 and 12 months. In exceptional cases, it can last up to two years. With professionalisation contracts, however, the alternating trainee has the option of starting before the initial training date or finishing well afterwards.

In most cases, the salary for a sandwich course is calculated on the basis of the SMIC (minimum wage) and according to the apprentice's age, level of training and type of contract. It can therefore vary from 27% to 100% of the SMIC (and more), depending on the above-mentioned factors.

Where to publish your recruitment ad?

Thanks to the Internet, it's much easier for companies to find work-study candidates who match their needs. Once you've created a tempting advert, post it on a job search site such as Indeed, L'Etudiant, Monster... Schools and training centers are good places to find a candidate. You can also contact candidates via LinkedIn, Viadeo or other social networks. Advertising in a local newspaper is another way of finding a work-study student.

Choose a supervisor for your apprentice's training

The supervisor is the person in charge of the apprentice's training. In the case of a professionalization contract, the term "tutor" is used, and in the case of apprenticeship training, the term "apprentice master". Prior to the arrival of the apprentice, the employer must appoint a qualified tutor, who must have at least two years' experience in a position directly related to the qualification being prepared by the apprentice. The tutor must also hold a diploma at a level equivalent to that of the apprentice.

The role of the apprentice mentor is to welcome the apprentice and help him or her settle in. They provide advice, teach proper work techniques and monitor the apprentice's progress. The mentor also acts as a link between thetraining establishment and the apprentice.

Draw up the work-study contract

The employment contract for young talent is drawn up online, using the CERFA forms issued by the French Ministry of the Interior. In most cases, schools voluntarily help companies to fill in the pre-CERFA.

Here is the information you need to draw up your work-study contract:

  • SIRET number, workforce, collective bargaining agreement and supplementary pension fund,
  • Apprentice's CV, program and agreement,
  • qualifications, professional experience and the number of work-study students and apprentices supervised by the tutor.

The form must be signed by theemployer and the student (or his/her legal representative if he/she is a minor). The form will then be validated by the training center.

Send the contract to the various organizations

Depending on the company's sector of activity and the type of training followed by the work-study student, the employment contract can be sent to the Chambre des métiers, the CCI (Chamber of Commerce and Industry) and the OPCO. The contract must be sent before it is signed, or within five working days of the day on which the young talent starts work.

The OPCO has 20 days to make a decision on financing the training. The process begins once the application has been accepted.

What assistance is available for recruiting a work-study student?

Just asback-to-work assistance is reserved for jobseekers, the government has set up a number of subsidies to ease the burden on companies. Depending on the size of the company, it may benefit from total or partial exemption from social security contributions.

Since 2020, companies have been able to take advantage of financial assistance for hiring a new alternant. This offer amounts to 8,000 euros for a major apprentice and 5,000 euros for a minor. To qualify for this aid, companies with more than 250 employees must meet a target of at least 5% of alternants.

Companies with more than 11 employees can receive an apprenticeship bonus of at least 1,000 euros a year. If you take on an apprentice up to baccalaureate level (bac+2), you can benefit from a tax credit ranging from 1,600 to 2,200 euros.

There is also a subsidy reserved for employers with fewer than 250 employees who hire a work-study student preparing for the baccalaureate or a lower-level diploma. This aid generally ranges from 4,125 euros for the first year to 1,200 euros for the third year.