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• Internship or traineeship : courses for students at the end of their studies Practical life
or just after graduation, carried out in large companies for periods from one The United Kingdom is a country where the cost of living is high overall for the
week to twelve months, sometimes during the summer holidays. This type of students. s
course is very flexible and has no legal status.
• Graduate program: professional experience offered to young graduates after Accommodation: the offer is very wide, but is expensive, particularly in London
a long, fairly selective, recruitment programme (interviews, assessments, where rents can be multiplied by two, or even five when compared to other cities
tests). The idea here is to identify future executives, place them in successive (allow 650€ minimum).
different positions and train them. For young people between 18 and 25 years old already in London: www.
• Consortium model : three or four courses lasting twelve weeks in different centrecharlespeguy.com
University residences during the summer (student halls):
businesses. www.venuemasters.co.uk, www.goodmanbuac.com, universityrooms.co.uk
• Job shadowing: short-term, unpaid observation sessions. In emergencies, Youth Hostels: www.yha.org.uk - ish.org.uk
• Work experience program: designed for job seekers. Apartments are often furnished (furnished flat), and flat-sharing is very common
Longer courses (between one and nine months) take an increasing importance in (flat sharing). In all cases, it is better to sign a rental contract (tenancy agreement).
higher education with the perspective of a position in a company at the end of the The cost of water is high, except in Scotland, unlike telephones, gas and electricity.
Finally, an adapter is necessary for electric sockets.
course.
Tips on finding a course and useful sites
Duration and contract: the duration of a course must be less than one year. A weak The French are much appreciated for work in the hospitality-restaurant sector.
point of courses in the United Kingdom could be their uneven quality. To overcome Applications
this, the signature of a contract is recommended, in the form of a convention which Advice on successful interview techniques, drafting a CV and covering letter and
sets out the different terms (projects, working time, remuneration, insurance, models: www.prospects.ac.uk, www.thegraduate.co.uk
responsibilities). Sometimes, a simple letter of offer (offer letter) constitutes a Advice for job-seeking: www.e4s.co.uk
work contract. In French: www.cadremploi.fr/editorial/actualites/actu-emploi/detail/article/
For an example of a course contract in English for students, refer to Key Point 7: comment-faire-son-cv-en-anglais.html
administrative steps, at the beginning of this booklet: The employment situation
The employment rate has increased in the United Kingdom (74.6% at the end of
Rights of trainees 2016). The attraction of foreign investors is explained by low labour costs. The rules
The rights of trainees depend on their status: employee, worker with a contract of which will apply following Brexit are awaited on this point.
work or student. Office for National Statistics: www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket

Remuneration: the possibility of being remunerated depends on the company, Finding a course
the sector of activity and also on the duration. That said, many longer courses Organizations use their web sites and social networks to make offers. For students,
are paid. To sum up, a trainee considered as an employee or worker is entitled it is advisable first to consult the French institution to find whether there are
existing agreements with companies.
to the minimum wage but if the course forms part of a study curriculum and is
mandatory, there is not necessarily any remuneration. Outside studies, courses ÷ The Government site contains basic offers of courses for students holding a
Bachelor's degree (licence): www.gov.uk/find-internship
are considered to be work, as opposed to volunteering. In the course of the studies,
they are governed directly by the educational establishments connected with the ÷ The British Council (www.britishcouncil.org) makes offers for the summer.
professional branches. In this case, they may be accompanied by benefits (meals, Lists of businesses are accessible via:
transport, financial contribution). ÷ The French Chamber of Commerce in Great Britain:
When paid, courses are at minimum wage level: £4.05/hour (< 18 years) to £7.50/ www.ccfgb.co.uk/membership/search-for-members
hour (< 25 years); but some companies pay the national average, being £8.45 per
hour (£9.75 in London)

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