In France, around 4 out of 10 students combine higher education and work. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, many of them have decided to review their choice of profession. However, such a project is not always easy to bring to fruition. If you are a student considering a career change, you can claim certain aid to put all the chances on your side.
Professional retraining among students
There retraining is the process which consists of a person change job. It can be motivated by different reasons. Particularly regarding professional retraining among students, it is most often linked to the effects of the health crisis. There are indeed a large number of them working in the hotel and catering industry as well as transport. However, these sectors have been strongly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
Poor orientation is another common cause of career change among students. It is not uncommon for young people to choose a profession at random. Some also do a job just because it’s the only one they could find. Over time, however, their desires and ambitions become clearer. At the same time, they identified the skills. These different situations can give rise to a deep desire for renewal in them.
In all cases, students are advised to think carefully before considering changing their professional horizon. This is essential to minimize the risk of failure. You should know that truncated thinking and lack of preparation are among the main causes of failed professional retraining.
On the other hand, a career change can be complex and expensive. Fortunately, there are aid for students undergoing professional retraining. Benefiting from it will increase the chances of success of your project.
What aid is granted?
We find in particular continuing education among the aids for students undergoing professional retraining. This system is aimed at any person who, after having interrupted them, has decided to back to school in order to train in a new profession or to develop their skills with the aim of developing their current activity. A continuing education service is available at all universities. You can contact the establishment closest to you to find out the different options offered.
VAE (validation of acquired experience) is also among the aid for students undergoing professional retraining. It allows any active person to obtain a certification which recognizes and values the skills they have acquired within the framework of a professional and/or extra-professional activity. Whether it is a diploma, a professional title or a CQP (certificate of professional qualification), this certification must be registered in the RNCP (national directory of professional certifications). To benefit from the VAE, you must be able to demonstrate at least 1 year of experience directly related to the desired certification. The activity may or may not have been carried out continuously. It could be :
- A salaried professional activity (temporary employment, fixed-term contract, permanent contract) or self-employed;
- A voluntary or voluntary activity;
- An activity which appears on the list of high-level athletes;
- An activity carried out within the framework of union responsibilities, a local electoral mandate or even a local elective function;
- A solidarity economy activity.
If they are registered with Pôle emploi, students who are considering a professional retraining can also claim aid following:
- The ARE (return to employment assistance allowance). It is a replacement income paid by Pôle emploi to job seekers and people who have been involuntarily deprived of employment due to dismissal, a conventional termination, non-renewal of their fixed-term contract or a legitimate resignation;
- AREF (return to employment training assistance allowance). This is remuneration paid to ARE beneficiaries who follow training approved by Pôle emploi;
- The RFPE (remuneration for Pôle emploi training). This is remuneration paid to job seekers who have stopped receiving the ARE or have never benefited from it and who are following training approved by Pôle emploi;
- ASP (professional security allowance). This aid is paid each month to beneficiaries of a CSP (professional security contract) throughout its duration;
- The RFF (end of training remuneration). This assistance is aimed at job seekers who have exhausted their AREF or ASP rights before completing training.
In the event of significant difficulties, it is possible to contact the services of the CROUS (Regional center for university and school works) of its region for apply for the national emergency aid fund for students. The applicant is likely to receive one-off or annual assistance.
