Comment décrocher un bon stage en entreprise

16 Mai 2014 , Rédigé par Laurence B Publié dans #Emploi

Push for paid: a student guide to internships

Internships can be great opportunities* for students, but they can also be exploitative. Here's how to land* a good internship that will give you vital experience and could help you get a job

Push for paid = pressé d’être payer
An internship = un stage en entreprise, un internat de médecine
Opportunity = occasion, chance, perspective d’avenir
To land (ici) = décrocher

Having experience of the working world is essential for getting a job, and students are encouraged to get these skills* by interning as much as possible. Over 50% of employers say they wouldn't give a job to a graduate* with no experience, revealed a 2013 report.
A skill = une compétence
A graduate = un diplômé

When they're done right, internships can bridge the gap between uni* and employment, but there are some important things to be aware of* to make sure your experience is genuine, not exploitative.
Uni = university
To be aware of = être conscient, savoir
Genuine = réel, authentique, véritable, sincère

A good internship will be a structured placement* in a company that is paid at the national minimum wage (NMW*) or above*. Over the past year unpaid internships have made headlines* and interns* have claimed back* wages due to them under NMW laws*. It's important that internships are paid so that* students can afford to* do them regardless* of background, and so that you're not giving away* your time and skills for free*.
A placement = un stage
NMW = SMIC
Above = au dessus
Headlines = les gros titres
An intern = un stagiaire
To claim back = réclamer, revendiquer
a law = une loi
so that = afin de, afin que
to afford to = se permettre, avoir les moyens
regardless = sans se soucier de, quelque soit
to give away = distribuer, donner, faire cadeau de
for free = gratuitement

Universities are gradually standing up to* companies who use unpaid interns, with many now refusing to advertise these on their websites. This year University College London launched* a paid internship scheme*, sponsored by Santander, that sees 90 students gaining experience in a range of businesses over the summer, and earning* £250 per week.
To stand up to = resister, affronter, tenir tête à
To launch = lancer
A scheme = plan, projet, programme
To earn money = gagner de l’argent

Interning during university holidays is a good way to make industry contacts before graduating. For many students, an internship in their final year can lead to* a full time job* when they finish.
To lead to = mener à
A full time job = un emploi à plein temps

Some companies have specific (paid) schemes for interns with a formal application process, including EY (formerly* Ernst and Young), Channel 4, L'Oreal and Microsoft. Others invite CVs to be sent to their human resources department. A search through an organisation's website will give you the answer.
Formerly = anciennement

Job websites like Monster can be useful places to find an internship and InternAvenue and Graduate Talent Pool are designed specifically for would-be* interns; these three sites advertise* paid schemes. For internships in the arts check out the Arts Council's job site. W4MP is the site to check for internships in politics.
Would-be = en puissance
Ta advertise = faire de la publicité

How to define the work you're doing

Before looking for work-based opportunities it is important to know the definitions. Work experience, internship and volunteering are three terms you will encounter that mean different things.

Work experience is a short placement spent observing a workplace or shadowing* a member of staff*. The key is in the name: you experience a working environment but don't do crucial tasks* yourself. Work experience placements do not have to be paid.
To shadow = suivre
Staff = le personnel
A task = une tache, un travail, une activité

Internships tend to be longer in duration and heavier in terms of responsibility. If an intern is doing real work that would otherwise* be completed by a paid employee, they are entitled to* payment under NMW legislation. There are some exceptions – students completing an internship as an accredited part of their university course do not have to receive payment, for example.
Otherwise = sinon
To entitle = autoriser, donner droit à

Volunteering is different to working. As a volunteer you help out on your own terms and there is no obligation to complete set tasks. Volunteers help out for a cause, not for money or CV points. You don't get paid as a volunteer.

The government has an official guide to the National Minimum Wage and the Pay and Work Rights Helpline on 0800 917 2368 deals with enquiries*about payment on internships.
An enquiry = une demande de renseignements

Making the most* of an internship
To make the most of = tirer le meilleur de

Once you have landed your internship, being confident and friendly are key traits employers look for* in a good intern. An internship is your chance to show an employer what you're made of, so it's not the time to be a wallflower*, says Natasha Pearlman, deputy editor of Elle.
To look for = chercher
To be a wallflower = faire tapisserie

"Being a good intern is about being likeable*, being trustworthy*, being super keen* and not afraid to ask. It's getting over that fear of putting yourself forward*, not in an obtrusive* way, but just asking questions."
Likeable = sympathique, agréable
Trustworthy = digne de confiance
Keen = enthousiaste
To put oneself forward = se mettre en avant
Obtrusive = gênant, envahissant

After you have finished your internship it's a good idea to share* your experience on Rate My Placement so that other students know what to expect*. This is also a good site to check for anonymous reviews of placements when you're in the process of applying.
To share = partager
What to expect = à quoi s’attendre

Keep in touch with your employer. An email and Christmas card here and there* will keep you in their mind so that when a full time job comes along you are the first person they think of.
Here and there = ici et là

Top 5 internship tips, from Gus Baker, co-director of Intern Aware

Push for paid

Our experience at Intern Aware is that paid opportunities tend to have more structure and are more likely to lead to a job than unpaid internships. If you find an unpaid one that you really want to do, consider writing to the head of the company explaining that you would love to take up the opportunity but can't afford to work for free. They are only human after all, and this approach has worked for interns we have helped in the past.

Get it in writing

Whether* your internship is paid or unpaid it's a good idea to get a description of your duties* and what training you will get in return. This is something you can show to future employers. It is also useful evidence of your contribution if you are not being paid and would like to claim the national minimum wage.
Whether...or... = si oui ou non
Duty = devoir, obligation

Keep an internship log*
A log = un journal de bord

Writing down what you learn, and the names and contact details of who you meet, can be a great resource after you leave the internship. Internships are largely about making contacts so make sure you have your little black book to hand.

Ask for a reference before you leave

Leaving* it until you're applying for your next internship or job might be too late to ask for a reference. Instead, ask for a written reference before you leave. Your boss might meet hundreds of interns so getting them to write about you while you're still there is a good idea.
To leave = partir, quitter

Make it work for you

Once* you've got an internship it's your opportunity to learn. Be proactive* and inquisitive*. An internship is about you getting useful* experience. But if it isn't working, or you feel like you've got all you can from the internship, don't be afraid to leave.
Once = une fois que
To be proactive = faire preuve d’initiative
Inquisitive = curieux
Useful = utile

theguardian.com, Tuesday 15 October 2013
Libby Page