Above all, finding a job means earning extra income and topping up your budget. It also means gaining initial professional experience in the world of work and developing new skills that will help you in your future career. Finding a job requires considerable motivation and a lot of organisation.
Firstly think about your strengths and your skills but also your restrictions, as a student.
Keep in mind
Many surveys show that it becomes difficult to manage your studies if you are working for more than 15 hours a week. So go for jobs with low weekly hours that are compatible with your schedule!
Find your job with Jobaviz
To find a student job, look at JOBAVIZ, our student jobs tool! Employers put job offers on there every day!
Jobaviz's strong points
- You can define one or more search profiles
For example, an "Academic year" profile or a "Holidays" profile. Type of job, availability schedule, geographical area, etc.
- Targeted advertisements whichmatch each of your search profiles
For example, no full-time work in the month of January for an "Academic year" profile.
- You can complete your CV and make it available to employers...
... giving them the opportunity to contact you directly.
Define your strengths and skills
List all your assets: this will help you target jobs that suit you. Understanding your strengths will also help you write your CV and "sell yourself" at interviews.
- Foreign languages
- Qualifications and certifications: qualifications, lifeguarding, first aid
- IT skills
- Professional experience, internships, volunteering
- Relationship qualities: sales skills, good telephone manner
- Driving licence or means of transport
Identify your restrictions
Available for one month, two months, never at weekends, only some days a week?
To find a good job, tell your potential employer clearly about your restrictions.
- Unavailable on certain days or at certain times
- Travel problems
- Medical contraindications (allergies, back problems, etc.).
Get some help with your search
There are many organisations that can give you advice or support when looking for a job. Here are a few that will help you be totally prepared:
Association Pour l'Emploi des Cadres (Executive Jobs Association - APEC)
APEC help you prepare when looking for your first job. From interview simulations to individual coaching, the association offers a wealth of advice and free services to help you look for your first job.
Centre d'Information Jeunesse (Youth Information Centre)
The Youth Information Centre (CIJ) in your local area will welcome you, inform you and advise you on looking for your first job. Just go there or take a look at their website, or the CIDJ website.
The Paris CROUS Student Job Centre
This Job Centre has lots of temporary jobs with individuals or in companies. You can look at these offers on the Job Centre website. (keyword: "student job" + "JBS" for holiday periods). A Job Centre adviser can also meet you, by appointment only, to offer advice on writing your CV, help with jobseeking, etc.
Bureau d'Aide à l'Insertion Professionnelle (BAIP - Vocational Career Guidance Office)
The Vocational Career Guidance Office (BAIP) at your institution can also help you find a job. Find out more on campus and make an appointment.
Local careers offices
These can also help you in your search. They can help you find solutions to practical problems you might encounter when looking for a job.
Becoming an education or school life assistant
Applications for becoming an education or school life assistant, in upper and lower secondary schools in particular, are organised in each regional education authority.
You can now apply - in one or more regional education authorities - by logging onto the education authority websites.
Go to the website for the education authority of your choice, where you can read general information about the scheme and submit your application.
Note that this job requires you to have a lot of availability.
Working for educational associations
An educational association (often called a "junior-enterprise") is an association within a higher education institution.
Created by the students, the association performs professional assignments within the framework of the education provided by their institution, for the benefit of private or public companies.
The students they employ are paid fees that are drawn up on the basis of assignment summaries broken down into "study-days" (jours-études). Based on the consultancy firm model and entirely managed by the students, they carry out studies on behalf of various clients (entrepreneurs, SMEs, VSBs, large groups, local authorities, etc.) in the areas of competence specific to their place of study.
To check if a "junior-enterprise" exists in your institution and to find out its contact details, look at the http://junior-entreprises.com/ website.
Working in your university or CROUS
Employment on campus has certain advantages, such as validating your professional experience with ECTS or any other scheme established by your institution.
You can also combine contracts of this type with other public higher education institutions, provided that you do not exceed the maximum period of the contract, 12 months, between 1 September and 31 August.
The types of assignments you can accept are as follows:
- Supporting staff in libraries and other services
- Cultural, artistic, scientific, sports and social events
- Actions to promote health and sustainable development
Employment contracts, legal reference points
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Do you feel a bit lost when it comes to the different types of employment contracts you might be offered? Are you wondering what they involve? Read this article