Graduate schemes in France

The many facets of a graduate scheme

Graduate programmes refer to training and development schemes designed by corporations to address graduates that are looking for an opportunity to jump-start their professional career. Hence, similar to an internship, they offer an effective way to experience a variety of aspects concerning specific job posts, while also gaining a more in-depth understanding of an organisation as a whole. Many employers offer graduate programmes, including ABB, Air Liquide, Alstom, Amazon & Apple.

Training & work experience - The fast track to responsibility

However, graduate programmes are more than just industry placements. They form an introduction to an organisation’s core business, structure and internal culture while encompassing intense training, continuous mentoring, and a view towards permanent employment upon completion. The training fragment often revolves around general workplace skills, such as communication, management, strategy understanding, decision making etc. which are frequently applied across a wide range of business units. Your assigned mentor will be providing on-going career advice and assistance, while also assessing your progress and individual attributes in order to boost your professional development. Most of these internship programmes are with pay.

Your future placement in the organisation hosting the graduate programme will usually be in the form of a junior managerial role. Depending on your skill sets, assessment, and overall performance, though, getting fast tracked into more responsible positions within the company is a common outcome of the programmes.

Tip: Get started on the application process for your graduate scheme by updating your CV and writing a cover letter that is tailored to the job description.

Living and working in France

France is Europe’s second-largest economy and the capital Paris is not only considered the world’s most important fashion hub but is also home to companies from various industries. This makes the country one of the most popular destinations for students and graduates in search for graduate schemes.

While much of the country’s economic activity is centered around Paris, there is also a range of options in other regions. France is a quite urbanised country, therefore, cities such as  Lyon, Marseille, and Strasbourg offer various opportunities to hunt for jobs either at private companies or within the public sector. France is known for its employee-friendly labour laws that include a minimum wage (even for interns), a 35-hour working-week (though this is a hotly debated subject) and a number of other standard contract settings and benefits.  

Being able to speak French at least at a conversational level is a prerequisite for the majority of jobs offered by employers in France, so taking a language course before applying for graduate schemes is highly recommendable for non-native speakers.

Tip: Be aware that the requirements for job applications in France may be different from what you are used to. So spend some time finding out how a standard French CV looks and how to formulate a cover letter for French companies.

Also, prepare for the way that job interviews are usually conducted in France.