Every fall, some apprentices start their training before they have signed with a company. French law allows this, but only for a limited time: three months. For the employer relations team at a CFA (centre de formation d'apprentis, an apprenticeship training centre), it is a race against the clock. This guide recaps the rule, what most often gets in the way, and five practical levers.
The 3-month rule, in plain terms
Article L6222-12-1 of the French Labour Code provides that a person aged 16 to 29 (or at least 15 if they have completed lower secondary school) who has not yet been hired by an employer may start an apprenticeship training program for up to three months.
During this period:
- they have the status of vocational training trainee (stagiaire de la formation professionnelle);
- the CFA where they are enrolled assists them in their search for an employer.
In other words, helping apprentices find a company is part of the CFA's mission during those three months. Without a signed contract at the end, the apprentice cannot continue their apprenticeship training under this arrangement.
What most often gets in the way
Apprentices without an employer generally don't lack motivation: many send dozens of applications. What goes wrong is often the application itself.
- The same CV for every posting. A work-study (alternance) sales associate posting and an office administration assistant posting don't look for the same words.
- A headline that doesn't name the job. "BTS student looking for a work-study position" doesn't say which job the apprentice is targeting. Recruiters, and the software that screens applications, look for a job title.
- Skills written as sentences. The software compares keywords with those in the posting; a vague sentence contains none.
- Missing practical details. The work-study schedule, the possible start date and the city are often left out, even though the company needs them to decide.
- Nobody tells them why it isn't working. A rejected application usually gets no detailed feedback.
Five levers for the employer relations team
1. Spot apprentices without a contract early
The clock starts when training begins. A list updated every week (apprentice, program, start date, number of applications sent) lets the team focus its effort on those getting close to the deadline.
2. One CV per type of job, with the practical details
Each apprentice should have a CV whose headline is the target job (for example "Work-study accounting assistant"), with the work-study schedule, the possible start date and the city at the top. That is the minimum a company needs to say yes.
3. Tailor every application to the posting
The most effective lever is also the most time-consuming: for each posting, reuse the words it uses (duties, software, skills) when they match what the apprentice can really do. This is where a tool saves the most time, since the team can't review every CV for every posting.
4. Track activity and follow up
The apprentices who don't find a company are often the ones who have stopped applying. Knowing who sent applications this week, and who hasn't done anything in two weeks, lets the team follow up at the right moment instead of discovering the problem when the deadline hits.
5. Combine postings with the company network
The CFA's network of partner companies remains the best source. It can be supplemented with public listings, for example on La bonne alternance, the French government site that lists work-study offers and companies likely to hire.
Where CVpass can help
CVpass lets each apprentice tailor their CV to each posting in a few minutes: they see the missing keywords, a rewrite of their weak lines, and download a CV that screening software can read. The CFA team follows along from a dashboard showing who is using the tool and who hasn't started yet.
To judge for yourself, the simplest way is to send us 3 to 5 CVs from apprentices without an employer: within 2 business days, you receive for each one what was getting it rejected and the corrected version. Full details of the offer are on the CVpass for CFAs page.
FAQ
How long can an apprentice stay at a CFA without a company?
Three months at most, from the start of their training program, under article L6222-12-1 of the French Labour Code. During this period, they have the status of vocational training trainee.
Who can start apprenticeship training without an employer?
A person aged 16 to 29, or at least 15 if they have completed lower secondary school, at their own request.
Does the CFA have to help the apprentice find a company?
Yes. The same article provides that the CFA where the person is enrolled assists them in their search for an employer during this period.
What is the first thing to check on the CV of an apprentice without an employer?
The headline: it must name the target job, for example "Work-study sales advisor". That is what recruiters and screening software look for first.