BETC HERE I COME

Finding an internship here in Paris has been almost as stressful as finding an appartment here back in August. But finally I have succeded!
I have been wanting to write about this as I go along, writing about the struggles, the various interviews, the different opportunities I have applied for etc. but I have also been directing potential employers to this website and I didn't want them to see any negativity. So I have chosen now, that everything is secured and my convention de stage is signed, to tell all.

I began sending off applications back in October. I applied first to all the major fashion houses like Chanel and Dior. Hitting the send button on these applications is one of the most nerve racking things I have ever had to do. I worked really hard to write a creative and interesting cover letter, to perfect my one-page CV, but sadly I had no responses. Not one. My dreams of working in the luxury goods industry shattered. I have to be honest I was very disappointed and upset. I have no idea why my applications weren't pursued. I don't know if it's because of my level of study, the fact I'm not french, my lack of something else. It has always been my dream to work in luxury goods so to not even progress to a single interview in this industry was discouraging.

However I was determined to do an internship so I continued to explore as many other opportunities as possible. I found that France generally is very laid back (or maybe disorganised) when it comes to organising internships. Once we started to get to mid november I was really starting to worry I wasn't going to be able to find an internship at all. In the UK applications were closing for summer 2016 internships but in France no one was responding to my applications, or they would say they would call me in for an interview in a few days time, and then email 2 weeks later because they'd been "busy".

I tried lots of different ways to make contacts and to meet companies. I went to a really interesting Start Up Fair in November and subsequently met with a cool Start Up who have built a new instagram search engine tool to provide businesses with user generated content.  I interviewed for a company who have created a new software tool in collaboration with Microsoft (these people offered me an internship but it was to do their US relations so would consist of working mostly in English which I didn't want). But I didn't seem to find any opportunities that could give me what I wanted in terms of learning and experience.

I started to think about what I liked about the fashion industry and what other industries had the same skills. I love the creativity involved in fashion,  how designers can take inspiration and then turn it into a business. I wanted to work in a fast-paced, creative and strategic business. So I started looking into advertising and applying for internships in this industry.

I had spoken to BETC back in July regarding an internship but they had told me it was too early so I should get in touch again in the autumn. After meeting with them at the Sciences Po jobs fair, and after 3 different interviews they finally offered me a job!! It was one of those moments in life when I felt so proud of myself because I had done this all by myself. I had written the applications in french, done the interviews in French and proved that I could be good enough to work for them. I am very excited, and also relieved to have sorted an internship because January is fast approaching!

BETC is the best advertising agency in France (ouf). They are hugely creative and renowned in the industry in France, and part of the Havas group worldwide. Their most notable campaigns include the Evian baby adverts and they regularly win advertising prizes for their campaigns. So i am beyond excited to have the opportunity to spend 6 months working in such a dynamic company. I think it will be a challenge for me because I don't really know what the advertising industry is like but I am excited for the chance to learn lots, to improve my french even more (I will be forced to speak at work which I am not in lectures) and to work hard.

I will probably do an update nearer just before I start, and of course and end-of-uni recap. Congratulations if you have read this far. Sorry this was a long one.