No doubt you would like to go on holiday with your signed contract and a great mission waiting for you at the beginning of the school year. If you don't have it yet, that's for sure: there's no more time to lose. However, there is no need to panic. "We need to reassure students, because many contracts are signed during the summer, and even until September," tempers Simona Racu, head of the HR-Work-Study division at Cesi, an engineering school present in 25 cities in France.
Admittedly, the majority of missions were assigned as early as March, a major period for the recruitment of apprentices. However, many companies have not filled all of their positions. "Like you, some employers will accelerate in July to be able to go on leave with peace of mind," says Simona Racu.
Plan of attack
If your CV has not yet borne fruit, perhaps it needs to be reviewed, to make it clear, clean and adapted to the requests. On the cover letter side, you can, at this stage, consider skipping it. "Replace it with concise, well-targeted emails that attract attention, unless the company specifically requests it," advises the head of Cesi's HR-Work-Study division.
" READ ALSO Alternation: "It is important to get to know each other"
On job search sites and apps, set up alerts to be aware of new assignments. And be responsive! "In the summer, recruiters no longer have time to consider twenty applications. You have to be among the first to respond to have your chances," says Simona Racu.
This is a good time for more direct approaches. Use LinkedIn, for example, and ask questions of professionals you've identified, before talking about your research.
In the choice of companies, all sizes may interest you. "In large groups, the needs are immense and not always met, especially since there are withdrawals," observes Simona Racu. When, in small structures, a spontaneous application is more likely to hit the mark, "by triggering a need that the company had not identified, or that it has not had time to take care of until now."
Be ready
When this dynamic approach bears fruit, you will need to accompany it with relevant arguments to explain your approach: what is your project? Why are you interested in this particular position? Do you know the company? "It sounds simple, but requires real work: you have to dig," warns Simona Racu.
The teams at your school or university are also planning a vacation. Find out about their dates of absence to take advantage of their advice, the offers they receive... And don't forget to pick up the necessary documents before they leave. Like a beautiful apprenticeship contract that you will only have to sign...