Three years after its illustrious opening, the HEC Paris Office in Germany is booming. Alumni membership has tripled, its Ambassador Network extends to 53 companies, and the events it organizes are truly unforgettable (yes, it was that office which organized the Q&A with Michel Barnier, the European Chief Negotiator for the UK for Brexit).

Like the business school’s six other international offices, the HEC Paris Office in Germany works to unite alumni throughout the country, with a special focus on six major cities (Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Düsseldorf and Stuttgart).

“HEC Paris’ success is founded on a very strong international presence,” explains Peter Todd, Dean of HEC Paris. “We believe the Franco-German relationship is extremely important to help continue our European and global development. The Berlin office allows us to be closer to our students and alumni, as well as to academic relations or companies implanted in Germany.”

Both current students and alumni reap the benefits of having HEC Paris representation in Germany. Everyone is welcome to take part in the monthly activities the German office facilitates, which include conferences, company visits, after-work social events, treks, masterclasses and more.

“Working in the German office allows me to actively support the current and next generation,” says Olga Hein, director of the HEC Paris Office in Germany. “I can contribute to building bridges between both countries and therefore empower French-German relations.”

Recently, we caught up with Olga to learn about upcoming projects and the ways her office helps the HEC community to realize their career goals.

Networking Opportunities for Students

On-campus networking events. The German office regularly co-organizes networking events at the HEC Paris campus. Through its efforts, companies such as Siemens, Deutsche Telekom and Detecon have visited Jouy-en-Josas for official presentations and recruiting.

Germany Career Fair. The first-ever Germany Career Fair brought 12 companies to Jouy-en-Josas. The next edition promises to be even bigger, with 20 German companies slated to visit campus on October 16, 2019. Patrick Brandmaier, the new managing director of the French German Chamber of Commerce, will also attend the full-day recruiting event.

Keynote speakers. Student-organized events also get a boost from the German office, as it often helps secure notable keynote speakers. In the past, the office paved the way for dignitaries such as S.E. Nikolaus Meyer Landrut, the German Ambassador in France, to speak on campus.

Assistance with Career Goals

The first step in any job search is to get to know the local market and who’s hiring. The German office recommends the following website (which also provides overview information about France, Italy and the UK). https://www.jobmarketinsights.com/jmi-area/Summary?scopeId=460

Before taking advantage of the German office’s contacts and network, candidates need to invest time in finding career opportunities and ensuring that their profile and values fit the culture of the company to which they want to apply. While the office doesn’t act as a “headhunter,” it does leverage its contacts to pass along CVs and aid with networking.

Job candidates can benefit from the following services arranged by the German office:

• One-to-one meetings to learn about a candidate’s job/internship goals
• Introductions to different networks (HEC Paris and non HEC Paris) in Germany, including business circles willing to provide mentors, career coaching or insights into specific sectors
• CV sharing through several channels, including HEC Alumni, the French German Chamber of Commerce and French German Economic Clubs (Berlin, Frankfurt and Munich), as well as other key institutions
• Access to the Corporate Ambassador Network, in which alumni serve as a vital link between HEC Paris and German companies. HEC Corporate Ambassadors work to promote the HEC brand within their companies and facilitate the recruiting of more HEC graduates. Currently, the Corporate Ambassador Network has relationships with more than 50 Germany-based employers.

In 2020, the office will also have a staff member dedicated to organizing career and mentoring events across the country.

Upcoming Events

The annual French German Women’s Forum takes place in Munich on July 5. Examining Entrepreneurship: Technology, Finance and Culture in France and Germany, the daylong conference features sessions on entrepreneurial culture, venture capital, artificial intelligence and more.

The annual HEC Community Gathering takes place on November 20 in Düsseldorf. HEC Paris Dean Peter Todd will be in attendance.

Connecting with the German Office

To learn about upcoming events, take advantage of its corporate or alumni network, or to become a Corporate Ambassador, email Olga at hein@hec.fr.