EDHEC Career Centre: a cornerstone in my career

WHAT IS YOUR EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND PRIOR TO EDHEC? WHY DID YOU CHOOSE EDHEC?

I majored in International Accounting for my Bachelor’s degree in China from Zhejiang University of Finance & Economics. I did a six-month exchange in France during my senior year in University. It was a wonderful experience and I eventually decided to come back for my Master’s degree. How?

The three-year programme included one gap year, which allowed us to build our professional experience through internship experience and allowed us to discover our career interests. And After we can decide which MSc that we are most interested in.

I chose EDHEC for two reasons. First, I wanted to live in France after graduation. EDHEC is one of the most prestigious business schools in France and I knew this degree would equip me to find a job in France. Secondly, I have a particular career interest in Finance. EDHEC Nice campus has a special reputation for its financial education, and its location in Southern France also made it very attractive to me.

HOW HAS BEEN YOUR JOURNEY AT EDHEC SO FAR?

During the three-year MiM programme, I built my professional profile. The three-year programme includes a year of professional experience, which allows us to build our professional experience through internship experience and allowed us to discover our career interests. After this gap year, we can decide which MSc that we are most interested in. I also really enjoyed my stay in France. Nice is a lovely city and I have made many great memories here.

WHAT MSC DID YOU JOIN?

I joined the MSc in Corporate Finance & Banking.

WHAT ARE THE MAIN SKILLS YOU ACQUIRED AND FEEL WILL BE USEFUL IN YOUR CAREER?

The team collaboration and communication skills that I acquired are definitely the most useful in my career. The most valuable experience I gained is through my peers. In addition to solid knowledge in Finance, EDHEC has also provided us detailed guidance about how to secure internships and jobs so we can be more prepared to interviews.

WHERE DID YOU DO INTERNSHIPS? WHAT WERE YOUR MISSIONS?

I did two six-month internships in Paris. I found my first internship at Ogilvy & Mather and worked as the Consolidation & Reporting Analyst for the EMEA region. I was in charge of the financial reports and cooperated with financial controllers across the EMEA region, I was also responsible for responding requests from WPP group’s New York headquarters. I did my second internship at an M&A boutique DragonKnight advisors as a junior analyst. I was given opportunities to work on different projects, such as fundraising, market research, financial analysis, etc. Anytime I had an interview, I always booked a mock exam with Isis Salem Descormiers.

HOW HAS EDHEC CAREER CENTRE HELPED YOU?

EDHEC Career Centre greatly helped me by organising mock interviews. The team of the Career Centre also shared the contact of students who had interned or been interviewed for the positions that I wanted to apply to. It is very valuable since we got first-hand information and know what to expect before going into an interview. The staff also helped me with my CVs, cover letters and writing samples and has given us many tips about networking, which are rather practical. The Career Centre also organised several seminars to help us recognise various opportunities in the finance industry and send us the latest offers to help us find internships and jobs. The annual Career Fair in Paris and the fairs on the Nice campus as well as offered opportunities to talk directly to the hiring managers and people who worked at the companies.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT JOB PROSPECT?

I have found a position as the Junior Inspector at Société Générale in Paris through a graduate programme. I would say that the EDHEC degree definitely prepares students with all kinds of opportunities in different fields and EDHEC Alumni can be found in nearly every financial institution in France.

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR FUTURE ABROAD STUDENTS?

I will recommend future abroad students to learn French or at least have some knowledge about it, especially for those who wish to stay in France after graduation. It will help a lot in both their personal and professional life. Of course, there are a lot of English-speaking positions, but I found the language is still quite challengeable especially if your team mainly consists of French colleagues, which can frequently happen in Paris. Otherwise, do not hesitate to find opportunities elsewhere such as Frankfurt, London, or Luxembourg.

The EDHEC curriculum for my MSc is rather broad and general, which provides us an overview of the different functions in the financial industries such as asset management, investment banking, private banking, etc. That is important for us to find our own career interests and then, stay focused on the goal we set for ourselves.

The EDHEC experience goes well beyond the classrooms. What I appreciated the most during my experience in EDHEC is the people I have met. I am very thankful to the professors, friends, and staff who have helped and inspired me during this journey. I would advise future students to not only focus on their studies but also use this opportunity to build connections and learn from experiences.

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