Blog > France | Expats > Work-study training and apprenticeships and their secrets

Work-study training and apprenticeships and their secrets

FRANCE | EXPATS

BANKEAZ | Expats Team
8/29/2024 - 7 min read

Whether you are considering an apprenticeship, professional training contract, CFA, high school diploma (lycée), BTS, or BUT, our comprehensive guide on work-study training will equip you with all the necessary insights to make an informed decision.

Explore the various options available and find the perfect fit for your career advancement.

Make a well-informed choice with our expert guidance.

#WorkStudyTraining #CareerDevelopment

> What is work-study training?

Work-study training is a system that combines periods of theoretical learning at a training center with practical application of knowledge in the workplace.

The main difference from other types of training?

You have the status of an employee, rather than that of a student or high-school pupil. You can opt for one of two types of contract:

• Apprenticeship contract. This is an open-ended or limited-term employment contract for initial training, lasting from 1 to 3 years. It is open to young people aged 16 to 29. On completion of your training, you will either obtain a state diploma (BTS, BUT, i.e. university technology license, professional licenses and masters, engineering diploma, etc.), or a certification listed in the Répertoire national des certifications professionnelles (RNCP);

• Contrat de professionnalisation. This is an open-ended or fixed-term employment contract lasting 6 to 12 months, drawn up within the framework of continuing training. It is open to young people aged 16 to 25, or 26 and over for jobseekers, and at any age for those receiving benefits (RSA, ASS, ASH). It provides a recognized professional qualification.

After the baccalauréat, you can follow various types of work-study courses:

• Work-study BTS;

• BUT, which replaces the DUT;

• Professional bachelor's degree;

• Professional Master's;

• Engineering school;

• Business school.

Apprenticeships can take place in a CFA (Centre de formation en apprentissage), a lycée, a university or a private school.

> What's the difference between apprenticeship and work-study training?

The difference between apprenticeship and work-study training is that apprenticeship is a type of work-study training.

Alternance training is a generic term for any type of training that combines theory and practice.

It comprises two types of contract: apprenticeship and professionalization.

> How do I find a work-study program?

To enroll in a post-baccalaureate work-study program or apprenticeship, you must first make your wishes (up to 10) for the courses you want to enter, on Parcoursup ↗, as early as January.

Answers are generally given in May.

At the same time, we advise you to start looking for a company as early as January, as signing a contract with an employer is one of the essential conditions for finalizing your admission to a sandwich course.

Here are a few tips to maximize your chances of finding a company:

• Consult job offers on the Job Exchange ↗;

• Attend work-study fairs and forums;

• Contact training organizations, which often have partnerships with companies;

• Contact chambers of commerce (CCI), chambers of trade or agriculture;

• Look for job ads on Pôle Emploi | France Travail ↗.

> Why choose a work-study program?

While professional integration remains a thorny issue for young graduates, work-study offers many advantages that make it easier to stand out from the crowd and find your first job.

Work-study programs enable you to :

• Acquire a first significant professional experience, often required for recruitment purposes;

• Put into practice the theoretical knowledge taught at school;

• Come face-to-face with the world of work, sometimes very different from the school environment.

The figures speak for themselves: 70% of apprentices find a job within 7 months of completing their training.

Finally, one of the great advantages of a sandwich course is the opportunity to finance your studies and gain financial independence.

> How does apprenticeship training work?

During an apprenticeship, young people alternate weeks at the training center and weeks at the company.

The breakdown between the two varies according to the type of contract:

• Under an apprenticeship contract, training must represent at least 25% of the total duration of the contract;

• Under a professionalization contract, training must comprise at least 150 hours, i.e. 15 to 25% of the duration of the contract.

> Salary on work-study contracts

Under an apprenticeship contract, remuneration starts at 27% of the minimum growth wage for first-year apprentices aged under 18, and rises to 100% of the minimum growth wage for apprentices aged 26 or over.

To find out more about the exact percentages of remuneration according to age, click here ↗.

Finally, you should know that an apprentice's salary is not taxable, provided it does not exceed the Smic threshold.

For post-baccalaureate professionalization contracts, remuneration varies between 65% and 100% of the Smic threshold, depending on age ↗.

Unlike apprentices, those who sign a professionalization contract are required to declare their income to the tax authorities.

The distribution of training and work time varies according to the course and the establishment chosen.

Apprentices work a 35-hour week, including hours spent in training establishments.

Like all employees, they are also entitled to 5 weeks' paid vacation.

> Managing your budget while on work-study

As a hybrid between salaried employment and student life, a work-study scheme gives you your first taste of financial independence.

To help you manage your finances and avoid finding yourself in the red at the end of the month, BANKEAZ offers a few tips:

• Calculate all your income (salary, social benefits, odd jobs, etc.) and expenses (rent, bills of all kinds, subscriptions, shopping, leisure activities) in advance, so that you know exactly how much you need to cover your daily expenses;

• Try to divide your money according to the 50/30/20 rule: 50% in incompressible expenses, 30% in leisure activities and 20% in savings.

• If you can't save 20% of your income, you can of course reduce this percentage. Don't be discouraged: just a few euros are enough! The most important thing is to get into the habit of putting money aside.
  

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

> Manage your apprentice budget with BANKEAZ!

Consider upgrading to the BANKEAZ B-Plus account for enhanced control over your earnings using your smartphone.

This account offers the advantage of fully managing your budget and provides detailed insights into your spending patterns using statistical data with Analytics +.

With the Spaces feature, you can easily segregate funds by creating virtual sub-accounts within your main account. This convenient feature simplifies managing your finances.

Don't hesitate to subscribe.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

by BANKEAZ

On demand banking services for all

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Learn more about living in France

Make your life easier

Get your account in 5 minutes