To make a successful career change, start by getting clear on what you want to leave behind and what you're looking for, then try out the job you're aiming for before committing to anything. An internship is one of the most concrete ways to do that: it's possible at any age, as long as you have an internship agreement signed by you, the company and a training provider.
Changing direction is often scary for one simple reason: it feels like you have to decide everything at once. In reality, a career change is built in small steps. Each one gives you a piece of information, and it's all of these together that eventually make the decision obvious.
Why do people want to change careers?
The reasons are rarely the same from one person to the next: a loss of meaning, weariness, wanting a sector with more prospects, a change of lifestyle, a move, or simply the feeling of having missed out on something. None is "better" than another.
What matters is putting them into words. Take a sheet of paper and write two lists: what you no longer want (hours, management, repetitive tasks…) and what you want to find (human contact, creativity, independence, stability…). These two lists will be your compass for everything that follows.
Step 1: take stock of what you can already do
We almost always underestimate our transferable skills. Someone who has handled a till and staff rotas in retail knows how to organise, juggle priorities and deal with unhappy customers. These are qualities sought after in human resources, marketing and project management.
List your experiences, including outside work (associations, personal projects, volunteering), and for each one note what you actually did. You'll see common threads emerge that point towards some jobs more than others.
Step 2: explore the jobs that appeal to you
Before investing time and money, do some concrete research:
- read job descriptions and real job ads to see the tasks involved;
- talk to two or three people who do the job (LinkedIn, personal network, trade fairs);
- ask them what a typical day looks like, what's hard and what's enjoyable.
This phase avoids the classic disappointment: loving the idea of a job and finding out you don't like the day-to-day.
Step 3: test the job through an internship
This is where many people get stuck. You can read and talk for a long time, but nothing beats a few weeks in a real team. An internship lets you try out a job without quitting blindly or signing a long contract.
The framework is set by the French Education Code: an internship requires a three-party agreement (article L124-1), it can't exceed 6 months per host organisation per academic year (article L124-5), and it must be paid a stipend beyond two months (article L124-6). There's no age limit. We go into these rules in our article on internship agreements for adults.
The real obstacle, once you're no longer a student, is the agreement: without a school, nobody can sign it. That's exactly what enrolling in a course solves.
Example: Julie, 34, an administrative assistant for ten years, is interested in human resources. A small company in her town agrees to take her on for three months in its HR department. She enrols in the Human Resources course, gets her agreement and discovers recruitment from the inside. At the end, she knows whether she wants to carry on, and she has recent experience to put on her CV.
Step 4: choose a course that fits your plans
The course gives your internship a framework and teaches you the basics of the field. At EDU Business Institute, you choose from 9 online courses of 200 hours, open to all profiles: marketing and communication, human resources, banking and finance management, IT and artificial intelligence, fashion and luxury, real estate strategy and architecture, international law, journalism and audiovisual.
The idea is simple: the course should match the internship tasks. If you're unsure, our guide to choosing the right course helps you decide in three questions.
Since everything is done remotely and at your own pace, you can start alongside a job or a job search. You don't need to have finished the course to get your agreement.
Step 5: get your agreement and get started
Once you've found a company and enrolled, all that's left is to send the internship details (SIRET number, supervisor, dates, tasks, stipend). The agreement is ready within 24 to 48 business hours once your file is complete. If the internship starts very soon, the €29 VIP option gets it processed within 2 business hours, Monday to Friday, 9 am to 7 pm.
Enrolment costs €299, payable in 3 instalments with Klarna, and covers up to 6 months of internship in total. If your first internship lasts 3 months, you can get another agreement free of charge for the remaining 3 months, for example to try out a second job. The details are in our article How much does an internship agreement cost?.
If the company turns the agreement down, our refund policy applies: €250 is refunded to you (the €49 application fee is kept), provided you request it within one month.
What if I'm registered with France Travail?
This is a common situation during a career change. Depending on your circumstances, an internship may affect your follow-up or your benefits with France Travail (the French public employment service). The simplest thing is to talk to your adviser before committing: they'll tell you what applies in your case.
Mistakes to avoid
- Quitting everything before testing. An internship of a few weeks or months is better than resigning on impulse.
- Choosing a job only because it's "hiring". A growing sector isn't enough if you don't enjoy the work.
- Keeping your project to yourself. Talking to professionals can save you months.
- Overlooking the network you build during the internship. Your supervisor and colleagues are often your first contacts in your new field.
FAQ
Can you do an internship during a career change?
Yes. There's no age limit for internships. You just need an agreement signed by you, the host company and a school or training provider. Enrolling in a course lets you get one even if you're no longer a student.
Do you need a qualification in the target field to get started?
No. Our 9 courses are open to all profiles. So you can aim for a field that's new to you; what matters is that the course matches the internship tasks.
How long does a career change take?
It depends on the job and where you're starting from. Allow a few weeks to take stock and explore, then the length of one or more internships (up to 6 months in total with one enrolment) to test the waters.
Can I do an internship with an association or NGO?
Yes, you can intern with an association or NGO, under the same rules as a company: three-party agreement, limited length and a stipend beyond two months.
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Ready to try out your future job? Discover our courses and get your internship agreement as soon as you've found your company.
Build your experience through an internship
Whether you are a student or already a graduate, move from theory to practice: choose your program and your internship can start within a compliant framework.
