Alexandra and Julian, current ESSEC MiF students, have gained ample job opportunities during their studies
Two students in the ESSEC Master of Finance reveal the ins and outs of their Master’s journey, including networking with alumni and gaining extensive career opportunities from the ESSEC MiF
The school offers an eclectic mix of specialized degrees, including a well-renowned Master of Finance (MiF).
The ESSEC MiF is a one or two-year program designed for students looking for jobs in sectors ranging from corporate finance to fintech. The program regularly sees graduates land roles with top companies such as Barclays, J.P. Morgan, HSBC, and Goldman Sachs.
BusinessBecause spoke with Alexandra Hepner and Julian Weidemann Reig, two students currently enrolled in the ESSEC MiF, to find out about their journey onto the program, and how it has boosted their career prospects.
Why the ESSEC Master in Finance?
Alexandra was born and raised in France but has lived across the world, including in Montreal, Canada, for her undergraduate degree.
Her year interning in the private equity team of Edmond de Rothschild in Geneva drew her to a career in finance.
"This experience was pivotal in my career choice. It helped me realize that to become a proficient analyst, I had to hone my technical skills and gain insights into the industry," she explains.
Alexandra chose the ESSEC MiF because of its reputation, international focus, and extensive alumni network—ESSEC has a 62,000-person alumni network, working in five continents and 71 countries.
The ESSEC MiF is one of the few specialized curriculums in finance authorized bythe French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation as a Master’s degree. This is a guarantee of the quality of teaching delivered and the value of their degree. This accreditation was a crucial part of Alexandra's decision as it constitutes an advantage when applying to jobs in France as well as internationally.
Julian discovered his interest in finance after moving from his hometown of Hamburg, Germany, to Valencia, Spain. There he pursued a Bachelor of Business Administration and discovered an interest in investment banking.
He did internships at EY, PwC, and UniCredit's CIB division, after which he received offers from several programs but chose ESSEC to tap into the French business network.
"I wanted to learn French and open myself to the French-speaking job market. I knew that ESSEC has a superb placement in France as well as outside of it," he explains.
Whether you study in Singapore or Paris, ESSEC has the option of a one or two-year program, depending on your background and latest degree — one-year if you completed a four year bachelors and two-years for a three year bachelors.
Both programs are rigorous and Alexandra, who enrolled in the two-year program, found balancing the coursework, applications, interviews, and social activities an adjustment at first. She found her rhythm through the varying teaching formats, such as case studies and pitches, and a supportive social environment.
“The people I met here have been a huge source of support and inspiration. While the application and interview processes are stressful, everyone has been so helpful and selfless in helping run mock interviews, sharing feedback or sometimes, providing comforting words.”
ESSEC MiF offers core and elective courses in the second year. Core courses include Mergers and Acquisitions and Big Data Analytics. For elective courses, students can choose between modules including Portfolio Theory & Investment Analysis and Financial Risk Management.
The one-year option and alumni network attracted Julian to ESSEC. His social circle was a highlight. They spent months together preparing for exams and applications through mock interviews and CV reviews. While work was intense, they were also able to enjoy some time off.
“I went on trips with my classmates to the South of France and Spain, went to great parties organized by ESSEC, and enjoyed Paris as much as we could,” Julian explains.
ESSEC Master in Finance | Careers after graduation
Alexandra and Julian have both found success in their careers after graduation. Alexandra has landed a full-time job in Investment Banking in Paris, and Julian is interning at Goldman Sachs.
Alexandra says her career development began as soon as she started the ESSEC MiF.
"We hit the ground running by attending seminars on how to network, succeed in online tests, and prepare applications," she adds.
ESSEC's Career Center has consultants available for one-on-one appointments where Alexandra received valuable help on her applications.
"The ESSEC MiF has allowed me to jumpstart my career by opening doors and creating exciting opportunities," she says.
The ESSEC MiF starts at the beginning of August, and Julian found this extra month, the career services, and the alumni network invaluable when preparing applications. Julian notes the heightened attention he received from companies after starting the ESSEC MiF.
"I had applied two years before for the same positions at the same banks but never managed to get an interview. Then, one month into ESSEC, I started to receive interview invitations.
Both Julian and Alexandra feel the ESSEC MiF was instrumental in helping them launch their careers.
“ESSEC boosts your career progression immensely and puts you in a position in terms of knowledge, network, and opportunities you would never achieve on your own or at least not in such a short amount of time,” he says.
There are more than 50 nationality in the grade, so there are opportunities to interact with people from all around the world. In terms of academics, the BBA course offers diverse courses for the 1st
Student
Verified
6/04/2022
On Campus
Creativity, adaptability and entrepreneurship
The Master in Management program at the ESSEC Business School allows the students to choose their courses accordingly to their preferences and their professional targets. We can also go through international exchange and take part in internships with companies that are also partners with the school. The school is also next to the city of Paris.
Prithwiraj
Verified
17/11/2021
On Campus
Top business school in France
Doing PhD in essec took some time, to be precise about five years. But the experience was very good and cost effective too. There are opportunities for the student for teaching assistantship and that helps both financially and in career. In the final year I could manage to teach marketing to M1 students and this helped shape my career
Student
Verified
30/10/2021
On Campus
Great college
The program is well suited for early professionals with an engineering degree preferably or a degree in economics. I would suggest taking the ceasure irrespective of the experience level as it helps you take your time to adjust to the job market.
Student
Verified
30/10/2021
Blended
Good school in France
I am currently enrolled in M2 in Essec business school. I am specialising in marketing management. The Grande Ecole programme is valued in France and my school ranks very high up. There are a lot of opportunities for internships and CDD.
Student
Verified
9/02/2020
The program curriculum
BBA program. The program is really practical and useful, provide us many international opportunities. Like internship and humanitarian experience, and the flexibility is also really cool, we can choose different campus and tracks as we want.
Véronique
Verified
11/12/2019
International Course
This school is very international and business oriented. Highly recognized by the companies The campus has been renovated and is very functional and modern from now on. Excellent atmosphere. Reputation of essec is a plus
kevin
Verified
11/11/2019
Friends, Career opportunities.
The program I did gave me the opportunity to start in Singapore. I got the chance to know all the students that started there and we bonded and made some friends for life. The career opportunities that ESSEC also gave me were unbelievable.
Student
Verified
25/09/2019
Practical and useful
I think the best thing about Essec is that it's not focusing on academics rather it emphasizes on future job mindset and professional experiences..
The classes are interesting and we have plenty of workshops attributing to different sectors..
The campus is very nice with a good cafe and wonderful library.
The only problem is the location of the campus. It's quite far from Paris.
Kartik
Verified
14/02/2024
On Campus
Amazing experience! Must try
I think its a very amazing school with great and experienced faculty. Also the alumni network is very solid and useful. The school has a great balance of studies and work experience which is really essential for a student.
Ali
Verified
28/05/2024
On Campus
GBBA: Diverse, Enriching, and Career-Boosting
My experience at ESSEC Business School has been outstanding. The Global BBA program offers a rich academic curriculum and diverse learning opportunities. I appreciated the chance to study on different campuses, including an international exchange, which broadened my perspective. The social environment is culturally diverse and vibrant, enhancing both my personal and professional growth. The administration is attentive, constantly offering new academic and student life opportunities. The campus facilities and classrooms are excellent. I highly recommend ESSEC for its excellence, global exposure, and career opportunities.
Maximilien
Verified
5/06/2024
On Campus
ESSEC BS BBA REVIEW
The English track BBA program at ESSEC is simply exceptional. Courses are taught by internationally renowned professors who are experts in their field. The subjects taught cover a wide range of disciplines from marketing to finance, strategy and entrepreneurship. The English track is a major asset because it allows you to develop perfect mastery of professional English, essential in today's globalized business world. Some students love student life at Essec, which is one of the best in France, but it all depends on taste.
Clément
Verified
14/06/2024
On Campus
Great program, incredible school
I love almost everything about this school, from the student life to the academic program and the opportunities it provides.
I'm currently at the Paris campus, in Cergy, and I'm really enjoying it.
The BBA program is very rich and diversified, you can start with geopolitics and then finance, what I mean is that there's a great balance between the subjects in this program.
I was also lucky enough to spend a semester at the Singapore campus, and I loved that experience on the other side of the world.
ESSEC is also known for its dynamic and rich student life, with access to several parties a week and the various associations within the school.
If I could recommend just one school, it would be this one - I'm 100% satisfied.
Rayane
Verified
21/10/2024
On Campus
Great experience
First of all, what I appreciate the most is the academic environment. The courses are extremely stimulating and are taught by high-level professors, often experts in their field. The diversity of subjects offered, ranging from marketing to finance, including entrepreneurship, allows you to acquire a complete and versatile education. The group projects, although sometimes stressful, are also an opportunity to learn to work in a team, which is essential in the professional world. One area that I feel could be improved is the management of student events. Although many activities are organized, I have noticed that some events can lack organization or communication, which can frustrate those who want to get involved. Better coordination between the different student associations and the administration could really improve the overall experience.
