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?!”
