65% of HEC Paris MBA students work as interns during the summer. Being bullishly proactive is the key to launching those post-graduation career aspirations!
Sweltering heatwaves, ice cream at the beach, poolside relaxation. That’s summer, right?Not if you’re an MBA student. If you’re intent on maximizing your post-graduation career opportunities, the summer is a key time for internships and networking, company exploration, and overall CV enhancement.
Tony Somers, director of employer engagement in the HEC Paris Career Center, says that of the almost 70% of students who chose to pursue an internship during their studies, the vast majority of them do their internships during the summer.
Over the past three years, the five biggest recruiters of MBA interns at HEC Paris have been Amazon, Schneider Electric, Credit Suisse, L’Oréal, and Johnson & Johnson. HEC Paris features an MBA Internship Day where companies come on campus specifically to recruit MBA students, and internships are regular topics of discussion during the weekly on-campus company presentations organized by the Career Center.
But is an internship really necessary for landing that top job after graduation? Tony says the answer varies depending on the sector. Finance internships continue to be a key element in landing a full-time offer, though there are fewer and fewer positions available in investment banking.
Still, MBAs looking to enter consulting need not beat themselves up if they don’t land a consulting internship in the summer. “While having an internship is always desirable, many go on to get jobs without actually having an internship with a consulting firm,” Tony says.
The biggest change Tony’s seen recently, though, is leveraging internships to break into tech. “Companies here are focusing more and more on the internship channel. Amazon has an intensive recruitment cycle with HEC Paris,” he says. “And, if you land an internship and it goes well, you’re pretty much guaranteed a full-time offer.” The same goes for other tech giants like Facebook and Google.
Here’s a look at where some HEC Paris MBA students have chosen to intern during the last few months, along with their tips for landing that perfect internship experience:
Student: Royce Russell
Company: L’Oréal
Location: New York
Before the MBA at , Royce Russell had a background in fashion—he even had his own line in New York for a number of years.
Royce says he chose the school for its unrivalled strength in the luxury industry and because he knew he’d be learning on a global scale, making it easier to enter a multinational company after graduation.
He plyed the summer-internship trade with L’Oréal in the city that never sleeps.
Royce was bullish about his internship applications, and that’s his advice to MBAs seeking their ideal summer placement. He drew up a list of companies he wanted to work for, looked for internships at each and every one, and contacted them directly.
“Students really need to be proactive as early as they can, even if it’s just a list of companies or industries they want to work for or in,” he says. “Don’t just make it about ‘I want to be an intern for you.’ Highlight what you bring to the table and why they should hire you.”
Royce wound up at L’Oréal by leveraging HEC Paris’s close relationship with the company. He reveled in the opportunity to put to work the skills developed during the MBA. There was a lot of freedom to make the project he worked on his own, he says, and to use a lot of the skills he’d learned in business school.
In the end, Royce’s internship was an undeniable success. Not only is his team actively discussing implementing his project into their actual business model, but he will be joining L’Oréal USA’s MBA management track after graduation.
Student: Stefano Caprara
Company: Johnson & Johnson
Location: Rome
Stefano Caprara began his career in ecommerce with YOOX in Milan, an online lifestyle store for fashion, design, and art. After establishing himself firmly within the company’s HR department, though, he wanted more—and that thirst for knowledge led him to the MBA at HEC Paris.
“I am totally in love with the school,” Stefano says. “The real asset is the people!”
This summer Stefano undertook an internship with Johnson & Johnson. Is switching from luxury and fashion to healthcare a difficult switch? Not at all, he says.
“I entered Johnson & Johnson because an HEC Paris alum contacted me and said, ‘I think this place will suit you’.” After encouraging him to apply, Stefano then had the assistance of the HEC Paris network for six months—an alum in another Johnson & Johnson office was there for him as a mentor, offering advice and tips on how to refine his CV and succeed with the internship application.
The people at HEC Paris, Stefano continues, are schooled in collaboration. Across boundaries, across industries, it’s a real community, he adds. But, there are caveats. Although Stefano tapped into the HEC Paris network to land his internship, his words of advice are to not take anything for granted.
“Obviously you have to step up yourself,” he says. “Finding the perfect summer internship is not something that will just be handed to you.”
Make use of the network, then, but burn the midnight oil to really succeed. The company you end up working for during the summer internship is sticking their neck out for you, Stefano explains. They are spending money to take you on, train you quickly, give you responsibility, and then let you oversee your own project.
“You can try things, but obviously you need to be cautious. You can’t go into any company and just play, but you can experiment a bit,” he says. “To do that you need to network a lot, be informed, and not be shy!”
So, how did the help on the job?
“What I learned at HEC Paris is that the courses really sharpen your management skills,” Stefano says. “The teaching allowed me to stand in front of the senior managers and speak calmly and frankly.”
Stefano explains that the MBA has taught him how to think more critically and strategically. During his internship, he says he was able to advise the company on areas of projects that he felt wouldn’t work well.
“At the end of the day the MBA allows you to develop a lot of skills. It gives you the main tools, and then you can apply them once you are back in the working world. My point is the MBA gives you whatever you want, but it is up to you to be receptive!”
Student Reviews
Cultural experience
I have met the most competent and diverse batch in this school. These people not only thrive on their own but also makes sure that you are doing it with them. The professors will take your had and walk you through all milestones and make sure you are not left behind. I have found their extracurriculars extremely engaging. There was always a room to have social life after academic life. The only hindrance is the location of the school, it is slightly outside city and living in city is expensive.
Internationality and diversity of opportunities
About my programme I would say it is very international and flexible: we have the opportunity to choose exactly the courses we want. But at the same time, the frame of the campus is crucial in students' life and enable us to create friendships.
Great selection of people
While HEC's MBA is highly selective, I really enjoy the type of people HEC's selects to make sure everybody gets the best out of their MBA experience and networking opportunities. Not only it's an incredibly diverse pool of people (~60 nationalities) but most importantly they make sure to let in friendly empathic and curious people.
Best in France for Grande ecole
A prestigious business school. Languages are important. It is better to have a scientific baccalaureate with excellent grades in high school and good assessments.
The courses are well designed as per the latest trends and practicality of learning in stressed upon. Overall, a very good experience.
Diversity and quality of fellow students
Very international and interesting place to be and opens a lot of opportunities, however the administration is very french and facilities are subpar (gym, classrooms) meaning the academic affairs is pretty much useless and lastly we are graded on a curve which can create a toxic environment because of the competition. With that being said the pros outweighs the cons by far.
The quality of the teachers, the campus, the clubs
The school is very international indeed, we have courses with international students and share things with them within the extra academic life (in the social clubs especially). We have great career prospects if we prepare ourselves well - however, the global curriculum is still very finance-oriented, which is a pity for other interesting domains of the company world, which does not rely on finance only. The social clubs are good practice for the management and for now, are quite independent.
HEC Paris awaits you
HEC Paris is really a nice place to do a master's in business. Many classes are useful and interesting (corporate finance, financial accounting, contract law…), some are less - but the curriculum is to be reviewed in the year to come. Regarding the student life, it is incredible, with about 130 clubs, lots of great parties with even greater people. The Jouy campus offers a lot of opportunities to do sports, and you can breathe fresh air every day. HEC also helps a great deal to find an internship or a job.
A dream institute
Enrolling in the HEC MBA was by far the best decision I made for myself. The people and faculty are great, with lots of opportunities to meet people and expand your horizons. Very nice campus where I have had some good running sessions.
The alumni network is superb and very helpful. It also has a good support system for entrepreneurs. Would definitely recommend it!
Good choice for a career boost
The classes were extremely practical and relevant to the current challenges that businesses are facing. You have access to a wide range of professionals and good career prospects once you leave the university.
Cultural experience
I have met the most competent and diverse batch in this school. These people not only thrive on their own but also makes sure that you are doing it with them. The professors will take your had and walk you through all milestones and make sure you are not left behind. I have found their extracurriculars extremely engaging. There was always a room to have social life after academic life. The only hindrance is the location of the school, it is slightly outside city and living in city is expensive.
Internationality and diversity of opportunities
About my programme I would say it is very international and flexible: we have the opportunity to choose exactly the courses we want. But at the same time, the frame of the campus is crucial in students' life and enable us to create friendships.
Great selection of people
While HEC's MBA is highly selective, I really enjoy the type of people HEC's selects to make sure everybody gets the best out of their MBA experience and networking opportunities. Not only it's an incredibly diverse pool of people (~60 nationalities) but most importantly they make sure to let in friendly empathic and curious people.
Best in France for Grande ecole
A prestigious business school. Languages are important. It is better to have a scientific baccalaureate with excellent grades in high school and good assessments.
The courses are well designed as per the latest trends and practicality of learning in stressed upon. Overall, a very good experience.
Diversity and quality of fellow students
Very international and interesting place to be and opens a lot of opportunities, however the administration is very french and facilities are subpar (gym, classrooms) meaning the academic affairs is pretty much useless and lastly we are graded on a curve which can create a toxic environment because of the competition. With that being said the pros outweighs the cons by far.
The quality of the teachers, the campus, the clubs
The school is very international indeed, we have courses with international students and share things with them within the extra academic life (in the social clubs especially). We have great career prospects if we prepare ourselves well - however, the global curriculum is still very finance-oriented, which is a pity for other interesting domains of the company world, which does not rely on finance only. The social clubs are good practice for the management and for now, are quite independent.
HEC Paris awaits you
HEC Paris is really a nice place to do a master's in business. Many classes are useful and interesting (corporate finance, financial accounting, contract law…), some are less - but the curriculum is to be reviewed in the year to come. Regarding the student life, it is incredible, with about 130 clubs, lots of great parties with even greater people. The Jouy campus offers a lot of opportunities to do sports, and you can breathe fresh air every day. HEC also helps a great deal to find an internship or a job.
A dream institute
Enrolling in the HEC MBA was by far the best decision I made for myself. The people and faculty are great, with lots of opportunities to meet people and expand your horizons. Very nice campus where I have had some good running sessions.
The alumni network is superb and very helpful. It also has a good support system for entrepreneurs. Would definitely recommend it!
Good choice for a career boost
The classes were extremely practical and relevant to the current challenges that businesses are facing. You have access to a wide range of professionals and good career prospects once you leave the university.
Diverse
HEC, as an academic institution, serves as a launching pad for students to excel in their pursuits and careers. The diversity among students and professors is truly remarkable. The chance to attend seminars across five major continents is unparalleled. The exposure and relationships it fosters are invaluable.
Super diverse
It's a super diverse and fascinating environment with tons of chances, but the management is very French, and the facilities like the gym and classrooms are not great. This makes the academic side quite ineffective. Plus, we're graded on a curve, leading to a competitive and sometimes toxic atmosphere. Despite all that, the benefits definitely overshadow the drawbacks.
Surreal academic experience
What stood out to me about HEC was the direction and insight it offered on coding approaches. Prior to joining the program, I attempted self-learning, but I felt disoriented and lacked a starting point.HEC enabled me to grasp the basics of programming and provided support when I encountered obstacles. Without that guidance, I doubt I would have achieved the progress I have made to date.
Good security
HEC boasts a dedicated team of security personnel who undergo rigorous training to ensure the perpetual maintenance of tranquility and orderliness within the institution. Their unwavering efforts are directed towards fostering a sense of security among the student body, thereby enabling them to channel their energies predominantly towards their academic pursuits.
Innovative teaching method
I am thoroughly enjoying my time at HEC, from the innovative teaching methods to the welcoming campus environment, which is particularly supportive of international students. The extracurricular opportunities, such as sports and associations, are incredibly valuable. Additionally, the career services offered are exceptional. Overall, I find my experience at HEC to be truly enriching.
mim
HEC Paris has been a transformative experience for me. The caliber of the faculty, the diversity of the student body, and the global network it offers are unmatched. The curriculum is highly flexible, allowing students to tailor their learning experience to their career goals, and the focus on real-world application through case studies and consulting projects provides invaluable hands-on experience. The campus itself is beautiful, and the opportunities to engage with leading companies through internships, competitions, and networking events have been incredible. HEC truly prepares you to be a leader in today's complex business world. I couldn’t have asked for a better program to propel my career forward.
Unwavering enthusiasm
Here's the first paragraph:
I embarked on a journey to Paris, where HEC University welcomed me with open arms. As I stepped onto its prestigious campus, I was captivated by the infectious energy and innovative spirit that filled the air. The passionate faculty, industry experts, and fellow visionaries from around the globe shared their knowledge with unwavering enthusiasm."
Exceptional Experience
HEC offers an exceptional experience that I highly recommend. The small-town setting allows for a unique blend of academic rigor and community engagement. The peaceful campus and close-knit student body create a warm environment. Proactive engagement with professors yields valuable guidance. Friendships may blossom slowly, but persistence pays off. The city's beauty, scenic views, and diverse eateries near campus enrich the experience. University dining may not impress, but it's decent.
