Anaëlle Crette

Through lower secondary school, Anaëlle’s education was fairly conventional, but poor grades, difficulty concentrating and a lack of support eroded her confidence. At 14, a work-experience placement in a bakery changed how she saw work: she felt comfortable there, and her employer invited her to return at weekends and during school holidays. Against a difficult family background, this income allowed her to buy clothes and, at times, food. She then chose to take a CAP vocational qualification in sales through a work-study programme.

At 15, after one year of her CAP, very difficult relationships with new colleagues prompted a complete break: Anaëlle left the bakery and dropped out of school. For three years, the Mission Locale supported her through several short training programmes. She explored administrative secretarial work and completed a placement in a maternity ward, but she says she could not be hired there because she was under 18. These experiences were still not enough to give her a sense of direction; she went through a long period of uncertainty and gradually lost hope.

At 18, a sales training course led to a placement at JD Sport, followed by a fixed-term contract and then a permanent one. Anaëlle worked there for four years, and a move into checkout supervision was being considered. But personal difficulties and depression led to numerous absences, followed by her dismissal at 22. The next six months of unemployment were, she says, the most difficult period of her life. She applied for jobs and struggled to find work, then even paused her search for a while.

She eventually found a position with a flower wholesaler at Rungis Market, where she spent eight months working in reception and invoicing. She found the work interesting, but could not see herself progressing there. Before she left, her manager, Christophe, told her that he thought she was intelligent and capable of going far, and that she should aim high. Anaëlle, who had long been put down at school and by those around her, had never received such encouragement. She joined Norauto with a clear goal: to work her way into business operations.

At Norauto, Anaëlle started as a cashier. Six months later, she became a checkout supervisor, then moved into automotive sales without yet knowing anything about mechanics. She learned through online modules, training and colleagues in the workshop. A business operations manager noticed how quickly she picked things up and introduced her to internal control. Two managers then supported her for two years. She has been a business operations coordinator for a year and has been approved to become a business operations manager in September 2026. In the longer term, she would like to start a car rental company.