Work-study training program at Orinox, winning bet to upskill

Each year, thanks to work-study training programs, Orinox gives to a few students a chance to upskill and to be assisted all the way through their training course. Aude, Matthieu and Alexandre chose a training that combines theory and practice within a fast-growing company. Let us double interview two very active students, Matthieu and Aude.

Aude Guédon and Matthieu Bricier in the offices at Chateaubriant. Picture taken in accordance with sanitation guidelines and social distancing. Masks were removed only for the picture.

Contrary to common beliefs, apprenticeship is not limited to manual trainings or construction trades. Aude Guédon can confirm it: after graduating from a Degree in Accounting, she decided to keep studying « for a more human and strategic position » and she joined a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Ressources Management. She now follows a Master in HR Management on a work-study basis at Orinox, she says « it is highly challenging for a student since one must be fully functioning and efficient for the company, while learning and validating one’s last year of study ».

As for Matthieu Bricier, he took the major decision to go back to school after taking a skills assessment: « I started by a short-term training that lasted 6 months to validate a qualification of HR Assistant, which is equal to a two-year Higher Education diploma. I then joined a Bachelor’s Degree in HR Management on a work-study basis as a recruitment specialist for Orinox ». His mid-term objective is to develop the required skills to hold the position of business manager, that combines both recruitment and business.

Challenging professional missions

Even though they are still students, Aude and Matthieu are entrusted with high responsibility missions. For Matthieu, the aim is to recruit adequate profiles that meet Orinox’s needs « while respecting a well-defined process ». As for Aude, she takes part in the creation of a jobs repository in order to « properly define the positions and responsibilities of each Orinox collaborator. This implies a full redesign of jobs descriptions and the creation of training paths ». Far from being simple interns put on side missions, Aude and Matthieu are fully-integrated collaborators with crystal-clear objectives.

The tutor, major contributor of their Orinox training

Future employees’ training and upskilling are at the center of Orinox’s concerns. Each student is supervised by a tutor, who takes actively part in the student’s accomplishment. « My tutor is Frédéric Pierron, he is both a manager and a guide. He knows I am here to learn, sometimes helps me when I am stuck or struggling and pushes me to go forward », Matthieu says. Aude, whose tutor is Violette Roussel, adds « we set our goals together, she answers my questions and assists me in decision-making processes ».

Motivation and organisation: work-study training program key words

During her last year of study before fully joining the professional world, Aude has to reconcile academic and professional lives. Quite hard for a student, isn’t it? Not for Aude who has been working and studying at the same time for 3 years. « A work-study training program enables to practically apply some notions that were seen during class and therefore to better understand them. Besides, we discover the business world while being part of real strategies. Overall, this rhythm is perfect to professionalize. »

In a competitive and challenging labor market, Matthieu « highly recommend a work-study training program » for the following reasons : « you can combine theory and practice and accumulate professional experience, with a diploma into the bargain. It is also a learning phase: the time spent on-site gives us the opportunity to process everything we learn at school and it also works the other way around ».

This work-study training program can sometimes be a difficult journey for some : « one needs to be much flexible and organized », Aude emphasizes. This sacrifice is « widely worth it » for Matthieu. When one realizes that half of the students work in the very company they carried out their apprenticeship in and that 70% of trainees find a job within 7 months after their apprenticeship, let us congratulate Aude and Matthieu for undertaking that journey.