Meeting the apprentices at GDC: an immersion into the heart of the experience

At GDC, work-study is much more than a line on a CV: it's a real immersion in the world of commerce, digital technology and fashion.

Through our podcast " Meeting the apprentices at GDC ", our young talents share their daily lives, their missions, their successes... and even their struggles!

🎧 Dive into these authentic testimonials and discover why they chose GDC, what they are learning there, and why you could be the next to join the adventure.

Listen to the podcast:

Welcome to this new episode of the GDC podcast. Today, we're taking you to meet our apprentices to discover their daily lives, their experiences, and what motivated them to join the GDC adventure .

If you too have questions about work-study programs, this episode is for you.

My name is Mélie, I'm studying for a degree in communication and marketing, and I also work as a web marketing assistant at GDC. We're going to meet the other interns right away. Let's go!

Mélie - Web marketing intern at GDC : Can you introduce yourself in a few words?

Amandine - Sales Apprentice at GDC : My name is Amandine, I'm 19 years old, and I work at the GDC store in Bédarieux. I'm doing an apprenticeship in Sales, Consulting, and Omnichannel at the Purple Campus CFA in Béziers.

Mélie - Web marketing apprentice at GDC : How did you find out about GDC, and what motivated you to choose this company for your apprenticeship?

Amandine - Sales Trainee at GDC : Well, I knew GDC because I was a customer in the store before. And what motivated me to come to GDC is that they have a very comprehensive store, with clothing, accessories, and shoes. And that's what I loved, because I'm a real fan of the company.

Mélie - Web Marketing Apprentice at GDC : Okay. Before starting your apprenticeship at GDC, what were you expecting in concrete terms? And now that you're here, are there things that have surprised you, that make you say today that it's a good choice?

Amandine - Sales Trainee at GDC : Well, I was expecting something big, because it's a large company. And that's what appealed to me, because I'd already worked in smaller organizations. Being in something quite large, with a big team, really changed me. And what surprised me was precisely this team: several colleagues, each with a different way of working.

Mélie - Web marketing intern at GDC : And today, does meeting several people, several different personalities, with different methods, bring you a lot?

Amandine - Sales Trainee at GDC : Oh, absolutely. Because everyone has their own way of working, and there's always one who's better at something than the other. For example, one is more focused on textiles, another on shoes... So, in fact, I learn something from everyone in the store.

Mélie - Web marketing apprentice at GDC : And today, you are on an apprenticeship: what is your rhythm between school and the company?

Amandine - Sales apprentice at GDC : So, my schedule is one week of school and the rest of the time I am in the company on average.

Mélie - Web marketing apprentice at GDC : And are you able to organize yourself well? Isn't it too hard to manage your studies in addition to the company? How do you manage on a daily basis?

Amandine - Sales Apprentice at GDC : So, on a daily basis, when I'm at school, I concentrate really hard so I don't have anything to redo at home. But one week a month is perfectly doable. From time to time, I have to tweak a few things at home, but overall, it's really manageable.

Mélie - Web marketing intern at GDC : Okay. And what does a typical day at the company look like for you?

Amandine - Sales apprentice at GDC : A typical day mainly involves welcoming and listening to the customer. Then, if there's merchandising to do or other tasks related to the company.

Mélie - Web marketing intern at GDC : What is your favorite task in your day?

Amandine - Sales apprentice at GDC : Personally, it's about advising the customer

Mélie - Web marketing intern at GDC : So, related to that: what qualities are essential to succeed in sales?

Amandine - Sales apprentice at GDC : For me, it's about listening to the customer, being smiling, being approachable.

Mélie - Web marketing apprentice at GDC : Since you arrived, what type of skills have you been able to develop?

Amandine - Sales apprentice at GDC : I've improved a lot in customer service. Many people come in without knowing which pair of shoes or outfit to wear. So, I've really developed that skill.

Mélie - Web Marketing Apprentice at GDC : Yes, especially since they often need guidance in their choices. And today, how do your mentor and GDC support you in developing your skills and learning every day?

Amandine - Sales apprentice at GDC : My mentor is also my store manager, so she often takes me with her. She's shown me a lot, especially about textiles. She also has a real sense of style; she's very trendy, so she's taught me a great deal in that area.

Mélie - Web marketing intern at GDC : Yes, you really need to be up-to-date on trends and all that.

Amandine - Sales apprentice at GDC : That's exactly it.

Mélie - Web marketing intern at GDC : How would you describe the atmosphere in the store or with the team, in general?

Amandine - Sales Trainee at GDC : So, the atmosphere in the store, honestly, it's fantastic. The girls are always there, no matter what. They really know how to keep their professional and personal lives separate. And that's what I particularly like about this team. Because they're truly there, they're always ready to listen, and if there's a problem, we sort it out as quickly as possible. They're really great.

Mélie - Web marketing apprentice at GDC : And if today, there was a future apprentice who came to see you, what advice would you give them if they were hesitating to come to GDC?

Amandine - Sales Trainee at GDC : The best advice I could give her is to go for it, honestly. Considering the team, the store, the products we have, and everything else, it's really an opportunity not to be missed. Because honestly, if you want to develop in sales, given the huge selection of products we have, it's absolutely fantastic.

Mélie - Web marketing intern at GDC : Truly, field experience is the best experience.

Amandine - Sales apprentice at GDC : Exactly.

Mélie - Web Marketing Intern at GDC : Thank you very much

Amandine - Sales apprentice at GDC : With pleasure

Mélie - Web marketing intern at GDC : Can you introduce yourself in a few words today?

Noah - Warehouse Apprentice at GDC : Hello, my name is Noah. I'm 17 years old. I started a vocational training program in masonry after finishing middle school (3rd grade). Following that, I changed direction after those two years of training without any particular goals. Wanting to become a truck driver, I went to AFTRAL, where I then went directly into a program called TLE, Technician of Logistics Agent, and GDC was offered to me for the next stage.

Mélie - Web Marketing Intern at GDC : So, that's how you learned about the company. Before starting, did you have any particular expectations? And when you arrived, what surprised you about the company?

Noah - Warehouse Trainee at GDC : Well, I didn't necessarily have any particular expectations. Preconceived notions, like everywhere else when you start a new assignment or a new job. I was pleasantly surprised by how easy the actual tasks were once you start to see what goes on in the warehouse, as well as by the atmosphere and the mutual support among everyone.

Mélie - Web marketing apprentice at GDC : Okay. And what's your current schedule like between school and your apprenticeship?

Noah - Warehouse apprentice at GDC : Well, it's quite varied, but generally, we have one to two weeks of training per month. The rest of the time, it's on-site work directly at the company.

Mélie - Web Marketing Intern at GDC : Are you managing to handle this pace well? Is it a bit complicated in terms of organization? How do you manage everything?

Noah - Warehouse apprentice at GDC : At first, it was difficult because it was a new rhythm. The hours weren't the same as in my old job. But with time, it went very well. Today, everything is fine.

Mélie - Web marketing intern at GDC : So, what does a typical day look like for you at the warehouse today?

Noah - Warehouse apprentice at GDC : A typical day, I'll give you an example: it could be order preparation by picking items in the mezzanine, or labeling, it could be a little bit of everything.

Mélie - Web Marketing Intern at GDC : Okay. In your opinion, what are the essential qualities for succeeding in a role like yours at the warehouse? And what qualities do you think are essential to have?

Noah - Warehouse Apprentice at GDC : I would say that to work well in the warehouse, you need organization, interpersonal skills, and also technical skills that come with time. In general, you need to be quite comfortable and not hesitate to communicate, because if you don't communicate, you quickly get lost.

Mélie - Web marketing apprentice at GDC : Today, what skills have you been able to develop since you arrived here at GDC?

Noah - Warehouse apprentice at GDC : The skills I have been able to develop are mainly those related to the different positions, which were completely unknown to me before I started here.

Mélie - Web Marketing Apprentice at GDC : Today, how does GDC support you in developing your skills? Who is your mentor? How do they operate? What tools do they use to help you? What does the mentoring process involve?

Noah - Warehouse Apprentice at GDC : I receive excellent support, both in terms of training and at GDC. My mentor at GDC is Mr. Julien Ramonnet. He is very attentive and approachable regarding the various positions he can offer me to bridge the gap between training and practical experience. Even when I have personal or other issues, he is there to listen.

Mélie - Web marketing intern at GDC : Very understandable.

Noah - Alternating warehouse worker at GDC : Yes, that's it.

Mélie - Web marketing intern at GDC : What is your favorite task in your job?

Noah - Warehouse apprentice at GDC : My favorite task, I'd say, is order preparation in the mezzanine. I'm quite reserved by nature. So, even though I manage to open up a little to others, I know that the mezzanine is still a task you do alone and where you can be undisturbed.

Mélie - Web marketing intern at GDC : How would you describe the atmosphere at the warehouse?

Noah - GDC warehouse apprentice : I'd say it's pretty good. Of course, there are good days and bad days, it's the same everywhere. But generally, there's a good atmosphere: we laugh, we chat, everything's fine.

Mélie - Web marketing apprentice at GDC : Today, if a prospective apprentice comes to see you and is hesitant to join GDC, what advice could you offer them?

Noah – Warehouse Apprentice at GDC : I would tell him that it's like any other job: we have preconceived notions. Until you've actually experienced it, even if it's just for a week, you can't really know. I would advise him to come and see for himself. By trying out different positions and talking with those who have been there for a while, he'll be able to form his own opinion.

Mélie - Web marketing intern at GDC : Thank you very much.

Noah - Alternating warehouse worker at GDC : You're welcome.

Mélie - Web marketing intern at GDC : Hi, can you introduce yourself in a few words?

Noa - HR Apprentice at GDC : Yes, so, I'm Noa Marcouir. I'm 21 years old. I'm doing an apprenticeship at GDC. It'll be a year and a half now, even two years in September. I started at GDC with a three-month end-of-studies internship.

And then they kept me on for my apprenticeship, so for my bachelor's degree. And now, this year, I'm still doing my apprenticeship with them for my master's degree. I'm currently at the IFAG school in Montpellier to prepare for my master's degree in human resources management. And so, at GDC, I'm here as an HR assistant.

Mélie - Web marketing apprentice at GDC : Okay. And today, how did you find out about this company, GDC, and what motivated you to choose this company for your apprenticeship?

Noa - HR Trainee at GDC : So, I first encountered GDC when I was little because I used to buy my shoes there. What motivated me then was that it's a very family-oriented company. You see a lot, a lot of things.

In any case, in the HR department, I have a really good variety of tasks, and that's what I really enjoyed. I also really appreciate my mentor's teaching style, so that's another reason I wanted to stay. I was able to see all of this firsthand because I had done an internship there just before. And then I asked to do my apprenticeship with them. That's what convinced me to stay and to ask to do my apprenticeship at GDC.

Mélie - Web marketing intern at GDC : When you did your internship, you already got a first impression of the company and what surprised you or made you say that it was a good choice, this company?

Noa - HR Trainee at GDC : What surprised me most was the difference between theory and practice. With the courses, because last year I was in the public sector, so it was very, very theoretical. So, seeing the difference between theory and practice is quite significant.

Then, what I really enjoyed was the diversity of the tasks. When I started my internship, I realized there were so many things to explore in human resources. And that's what I loved so much. It's also what allowed me to specialize in human resources; that internship really convinced me of my decision to specialize in HR.

Mélie - Web marketing apprentice at GDC : So, in terms of your school and the rhythm between school and the company, how do you manage? What is your rhythm, roughly?

Noa - HR intern at GDC : My schedule is two weeks at the company, one week at school. So, the schedule is quite complicated because my school is in Montpellier. It's quite difficult on a personal level.

But otherwise, it also allows you to learn to adapt really well to change, to alternation. And that's what's so interesting, having a developed sense of organization.

Because between homework, the work-study program, school, etc., and the fact that you're already alternating, in your mind, being at school and being at a company is quite different. And so, it really helps you organize yourself. So, that's fantastic. And my family and friends are also incredibly supportive of my work-study program. So, that's really great.

Mélie - Web marketing intern at GDC : In terms of your tasks and organization, what will a typical day look like for you at GDC?

Noa - HR Trainee at GDC : So, in HR, I don't really find we have a typical day. Generally, I arrive, I read the emails, I process them, I handle all the emergencies.

So, for example, drawing up employment contracts is a priority for me. Then, throughout the year and depending on the month, I might assist the HR manager with things like final pay settlements, or sometimes I'll have tasks like managing health insurance, which is much more demanding, for example, in January, because that's when we review everything. I also handle everything related to medical matters, mandatory postings, and I have specific tasks as needed; for example, right now, I'm also managing paid leave.

So, it's incredibly interesting because, as I mentioned earlier, I see all sorts of things. Regarding personnel management, we're very closely connected to the field teams, or rather, those who are actually working in the field. That's why we don't really have a typical day, because we adapt to each request, each situation, and it depends... So, we prioritize based on the urgency of the task and also on any deadlines we have to meet, such as submitting a report or anything else.

Mélie - Web marketing apprentice at GDC : And in your opinion, what would be the essential qualities to succeed as a good HR professional?

Noa - HR intern at GDC : Well, for me, it means having good interpersonal skills, good communication skills, being organized of course, and above all, being attentive to employees.

Mélie - Web marketing apprentice at GDC : Earlier, you talked about the theoretical and practical side, and through all of that, what skills have you developed since arriving here at GDC?

Noa - HR Trainee at GDC : Well, at GDC, I've learned to communicate much better, especially in writing. I've also learned to be a better listener, to be discreet, and above all, to be meticulous with all the documents and everything, really being rigorous.

Mélie - Web marketing apprentice at GDC : How does GDC support you in your skills development today?

Noa - HR trainee at GDC : So, last year, when I was doing a work-study program for my bachelor's degree, we would have a review about every semester or every quarter on my tasks.

This year, we're going to reinstate it, and what's more, I'm introduced to new tasks each time. So, that's what's really interesting: I already have a lot of interaction with the HR team, and on top of that, I also have dedicated time with my mentor who helps me, for example, when I have projects to submit for school or when I have questions about the company assignments, etc.

She helps me a lot. There's really good support, which is what's so great because sometimes, when you're alternating between work and study, you can get a little lost.

Mélie - Web Marketing Intern at GDC : If you're not very organized at the beginning

Noa - HR Apprentice at GDC : That's it. Whereas here at the company, my apprenticeship supervisor is a huge help with all of this, and even the HR department in general. They always ask me if I have any questions or anything, and that's really great.

Mélie - Web marketing intern at GDC : What task do you prefer in your job today and what motivates you to do it?

Noa - HR Trainee at GDC : Well, what I like best is the relationship I have with the colleagues because we're really in contact with the employees, and that's what I enjoy. We have to respect a budget of hours per store, and so, in my daily work, I analyze that a lot, and I really like that because it means you have to rack your brains to find solutions to achieve the objectives, but also respect the well-being of the employees, and I really like that.

Mélie - Web marketing apprentice at GDC : Okay. And today, as an HR professional, do you support projects? Are there any anecdotes that have stood out for you within the company during the execution of these projects?

Noa - HR Trainee at GDC : Well, back in October, with the sales manager, we had the task—well, the sales manager had the task—of organizing a seminar for GDC store managers, and she asked me to help her. I found it incredibly interesting because it's a completely different aspect of human resources, since it involves event organization and everything, but it was fantastic. Personally, I loved it; it really opened my eyes to another side of things. So, it's intense, but it's incredibly interesting, and you really learn a lot.

Mélie - Web marketing intern at GDC : But above all, creating a seminar is really interesting.

Noa - HR intern at GDC : It's incredibly interesting because, without even realizing it, it's really great, I think, for the employees, that's what I really liked. Especially seeing afterwards that she had such a great time and everything, it was even more rewarding.

Mélie - Web marketing apprentice at GDC : And today, what advice would you give to a future apprentice who is hesitant to come here to us?

Noa - HR intern at GDC : Well, I really advise her to go for it because at GDC, there is a really wide variety of missions.

You really learn something new every day and that's what makes it so enriching, especially in a work-study program because, as a result, you also get a professional component and that's really a plus on your CV.

And above all, at GDC, I think it's fantastic. We get excellent support. They really encourage us to develop our skills and not just stick to the same tasks we do all the time.

So that's what's so interesting, and I would really tell future apprentices to apply, not to hesitate.

Mélie - Web marketing intern at GDC : Okay, great, thank you very much.

Noa - HR intern at GDC : Thank you!

In short, I think it's fair to say that at GDC, we're not just a company . We're surrounded by a close-knit, supportive , and even familial team , with mentors and coaches who listen to us, support us, and encourage us to give our best. Thanks to this guidance, we learn a tremendous amount on the job. We truly connect theory and practice , and we see firsthand the results on the ground, and I think that's GDC's strength .

Thank you to our apprentices for their testimonials.

If you too can join the GDC adventure on a work-study basis, find all our offers on LinkedIn or send us a message via our website.

See you soon !