Louise: Cashier, more than a source of student income, "it made me take a great maturity".

Student collecting in a supermarket in Lille.

The student job, up by almost 2% in 2022, is a springboard that leaves an indelible mark on many students' lives. Louise Demeulenaere is one of them. Student in Master’s degree in Corporate and Community Journalism, JEC, at Infocom Roubaix, University of Lille , she is one of the 5.3% of students who are gainfully employed without a direct link to their field of training. Cashier for three years, she enjoys this most popular activity among students. For her, it is much more than a source of income. It shapes.

Hubert TOMEGA: Why did you choose a student job that was not necessarily directly related to your field of training?

Louise Demeulenaere: I had the opportunity in August 2021 and at that time, I was not yet studying communication. I had just come out of 2 years of Prepa... I will also say that my parents encouraged me to take my financial independence. I have been looking for a basic student job just for the summer. Match offered me a permanent job every Sunday morning, knowing that on Sunday morning it is very well paid.

Why especially the cashier position as the majority of students?

LD: When I submitted my resume, it was the first job that was offered to me. I did not see it as a very complicated job and in fact, it does not have, at the level of skills...

It’s not complicated in terms of skills. What does your work day look like?

LD: Generally it’s just passing articles, paging them. Then there are assets such as knowing the technology that is linked to the box. For example, if there is a bug...I know how to do it. There are other skills related to sociability and I think it plays in hiring.

Do you feel that this student job has changed your personality or influences your daily life?

LD: I think that basically, I was not too shy, I had no problem going towards people, however I tended to judge at first. In the cashier, overall, it does not pass. There is a bit of all profiles that pass. Inevitably, this leads us to develop an open mind, not stop at the appearance, to overcome the clichés and stereotypes that we can have when we are younger, and therefore to open up to diversity. It has made me take a great maturity.

Do you have any memories? Perhaps an exceptional experience to tell us about?

LD: I have regular customers who come especially to see me on Sunday morning, so it’s a little flattering. It’s nice, it’s cute, in itself, it is much more positive than negative.

Your parents, what are they thinking about you and this student job today?

LD: My father thinks it empowers me. I’m not going to buy a Ferrari, but he sees that I can be independent and have hobbies, little pleasures that he couldn’t afford. So I think it’s unfrustrating to see that I can do things myself.

According to a sociological study entitled, Student wage, university career and living conditions, students who work more than 18 hours per week have difficulty in succeeding in their studies. How do you perceive this?

LD: I’m lucky not to have to work so much because I live with my father, I don’t have to pay rent... But I think it can be difficult and that it is really a chance to work just on Sunday morning for 4h.

Hubert TOMEGA