How I found my first internship at ESSEC

by Sumesh Lund

I am a first year MSc in Management student at ESSEC. By way of background I am a Computer Science Engineer from India. After completing my Engineering degree I worked at BNP Paribas as a Software Developer for about two years. Currently, I am doing an internship as a Risk Data Analyst at Société Générale, Paris. I will continue to work with Société Générale as an apprentice from July 2016.

I came to France in August 2015, but even two months before that, I wasn’t even sure that I would be able to make it to France. Most students from middle-class background understand how hard it can get when you want to fund your entire studies yourself. Nevertheless, I came here with a plan. 

"Unlike most students I wasn't just looking for experience of a job fair: I was looking for a job!"

The plan was an ambitious and usual one which most students follow. I knew that with the flexibility ESSEC provides, I would succeed if I work hard. From my experience at BNP Paribas, I knew that I wanted to work in Finance Sector.

I was admitted at ESSEC in the very first round, which gave me a lot of time to research. I got in touch with some current students and alumni who helped me immensely during this period. During my research, I found that ESSEC has a finance fair in October a couple of months after we were scheduled to arrive. I knew this would be a great opportunity. Being the first job fair, unlike most students I wasn’t just looking for experience of a job fair: I was looking for a job!

"I learned from my mistakes each time I went up and spoke to someone"

After attending various talks by the Career Services at ESSEC, I came up with a strategy for the job fair. I decided to first approach the banks which I knew wouldn’t have roles that I was interested in. This would give me an experience of how to interact with them without any real harm at my chances. Once I had mastered the tactics, I approached the banks I was interested in. I started my day at about 9am, and by 11am I had spoken with more than 5 banks already. The first two talks didn’t even last for 30 seconds. But I learned from my mistakes each time I went up and spoke to someone. That was the advantage of having so many banks. In fact, I met with an alumnus of ESSEC who was there representing a bank and asked for some advice. And voila, I was ready to approach the banks I was interested to work for. Soon I got a couple of leads which I had to follow up. And even though this may sound like a fairy tale, Société Générale (where I am currently working) was the last bank I approached that day!

"...I had almost given up hope and started applying through online portals..."

I wasn’t sure that getting only two leads from more than 6 banks was good enough, but nonetheless I followed up on those leads on the same night. I didn’t get a reply for about a week. At this moment, I had almost given up hope and started applying through online portals and other channels. But after about 15 days, I got a call during a lecture from an unknown number. It could’ve been anyone, but my heart was racing like a Ferrari. If this was a football field, I would have crossed my classmates like Messi would pass across all the defenders! I couldn’t pick up that call, but I had a voicemail in French which I thought said that they’re calling from Société Générale and wanted to schedule an interview. I ran to one of my French friends and asked him to confirm the same. And there it was, my first interview call. The next month was occupied with interviews and online tests but I made through this opportunity to start my internship in January, just 4 months after coming to France!

From being the student ambassador to my first internship in France, it has been a joyride. My Return on Investment is more than 100% in less than one year. I was able to make some amazing friends, learn from the best professors around the world and travel to the most beautiful places in Europe all within this one year. To all the people who always ask me “Why France?” or “Why ESSEC”, I would like to ask “Well. Why not?!”

The Apprenticeship: fusing work and study (p.4)

Dominik Weiss

In the Apprenticeship-series on this blog, we follow our students who have successfully pursued an apprenticeship*. In
this final episode, Saint Gobain's Purchasing Department  apprentice Dominik explains his take on the value of the apprenticeship.

Before coming to ESSEC, doing an apprenticeship was not on my To-Do List, as I had already undertaken a Trainee Program before. Therefore, my plan was to complete an internship in France and then to finish the Master as quickly as possible.

In the end and against all odds I decided to do an apprenticeship. Why did I make this decision? The most important reasons to me were the language factor, the responsibility and the career opportunities.

As I want to start working in France after graduation, my French level has to have a certain standard which for me is not reachable through a six months’ internship. I have a lot of responsibility in my apprenticeship which was essential to me and the crucial factor to take on the position. Even though I have already worked for almost two years in a company, this was an experience and level of responsibility I haven’t had before. An apprenticeship is an investment of the company in you. This is a very valuable professional experience as it shows the added value that you bring to the company, especially while working in another country.

Personally I found my apprenticeship on the “Forum Campus”, which is a career fair organized once a year at ESSEC. I hosted Saint-Gobain during the Forum and had a chance to have long and interesting conversations with the company representatives. Even though I applied to different positions and companies online, the best way to create interest and get noticed is by talking to companies’ representatives in person. This also fastened the process and opened the door for my apprenticeship.

"...I found my apprenticeship on the 'Forum Campus'..."

So far it has been two months since I have started the apprenticeship and I really enjoy it. I have just started fulltime, as my semester ended, and I will get my new missions for the rest of the year soon. 

Based on the reasons mentioned above an apprenticeship for me is something that a student should always have on the back of his mind regardless of the fact that he might have already enough work experience to validate for the degree. In any case it is a great experience!

*An apprenticeship constitues a fusing of work and studying: the apprentice (the student) studies part time and works the rest of the time for a company. The company in return pays the tuition fees of the student and a salary. In the past, quite a few students have financed their studies this way. Read more on apprenticeships here.

The Apprenticeship: fusing work and study (p.3)

Aditya Vijay

In the Apprenticeship-series on this blog, we follow our students who have successfully pursued an apprenticeship*. In this episode, Sodexo's Corporate Responsibility Analyst Aditya explains how he sealed the deal.

I got my apprenticeship after about 2 months of intense job search. It was a bit challenging for me because I didn’t have business education background, any previous work experience and I don’t speak French. 

I received great help from Career Services. I spent about 2-3 days creating my cover letter and resume and got it reviewed by career services and a senior student. I applied for a number of jobs and realized that jobs in the career service section at myessec.com is the best source for me to find an apprenticeship. 

I gave few interviews but didn’t succeed because of my poor French skills. It is very important to analyze what stopped you from succeeding after each rejection. After getting an interview call from Sodexo I talked to ESSEC alumni who were working in the company and gathered information about company’s culture and possible interview questions to prepare well. 

After 4 rounds of interviews I got selected.  My suggestion to other students is that you should apply to a good number of jobs, talk to people who are working in the company you are applying for, spend sufficient time on creating your cover letter and resume and don’t get disheartened from rejection but take it as a learning lesson. 

*An apprenticeship constitues a fusing of work and studying: the apprentice (the student) studies part time and works the rest of the time for a company. The company in return pays the tuition fees of the student and a salary. In the past, quite a few students have financed their studies this way. Read more on apprenticeships here.