Jeanne Roussel, (Bachelor of Education, 2022), HR Assistant at Manpower

Jeanne Roussel was a Bachelor of Education student at UCO Nantes from 2019 to 2022. Currently, she is pursuing a Master's degree in Human Resources Management and Personnel Administration at MBWay, while working part-time at Manpower as an HR Assistant. She shares her career path with us.

Could you describe your academic and professional background?

I began my studies in Educational Sciences with the idea of becoming a teacher, following a period of civic service in an elementary school. My bachelor's degree went as smoothly as I'd hoped, allowing me to carry out several internships during my years at UCO.
However, in my final year of the degree, I began to question myself and realized that my initial project no longer corresponded to my aspirations. I no longer wanted to become a teacher. Working as a secretary in human resources during the summer, and on the advice of a guidance counsellor, I decided to go into the Human Resources field. I then chose to do a work-study placement at Manpower while pursuing a Master's degree at MBWay. My Bachelor's degree in Education, although in a different field, was no obstacle.

Can you tell us more about Manpower? What are your responsibilities within the company?

Manpower is a major player in the employment sector, offering human resources services through a network of temporary employment agencies and recruitment agencies throughout France.
I work in the HR department of Manpower's Western Regional Division. My responsibilities include integrating and supporting interns, answering their questions and carrying out internship assessments, among other things.
Recently, I also managed Manpower's work-study campaign, supporting work-study students from the drafting of their CVs through to their trial period, and setting objectives with them. Finally, I deal with issues linked to part-time work, parental leave and so on.

What did the UCO bring you?

UCO really helped me regain my self-confidence. I had dropped out of school a bit in high school, but I benefited from excellent follow-up and support at UCO. The instructors were always friendly, and the modules were not only interesting, but also diversified, going beyond the job of school teacher.
On a personal level, I've grown a lot and acquired many skills that I'll be able to use again, even if my career has taken a different direction.

Would you like to share a good memory of your experience at UCO?

There was a room in Building A that we used to go to all the time before it was taken over by the BDE. It was our favorite room; we'd have lunch there regularly, have a laugh and play lots of games. Those are very fond memories.

Do you have any advice for students considering a career change during their studies?

Don't feel you're stuck with your degree if you don't want to pursue it any further. I thought there was a barrier with this degree, but I was wrong: there are many opportunities open to us. We're not "locked in" to a particular path, you just have to ask for advice if you need it.
From an HR point of view, another piece of advice would be to look for a company that really suits you. If things don't go well, don't hesitate to break your contract during the trial period, so that you can find fulfillment elsewhere.