“It’s like a little riding hood!”
A person available to us, who wants to help us.”
When she talks about her mentor, 23-year-old Lina's voice is full of enthusiasm.
The young woman, currently in the 2nd year of an international marketing master's degree at the IAE in Annecy, is one of the beneficiaries of the mentoring program offered by the Business Club of the University of Savoie Mont Blanc.
For a year, a professional builds a special bond with a student, to support them in their training or professional project.
Lina's mentor is called Anne-Marie.
At 28 years old, the international buyer in Geneva is an IAE alumnus.
“I find it reassuring that alumni of my training provide concrete testimony of what their master’s degree has given them!
», underlines Lina.
The pair have been talking regularly since October.
Her mentor notably supported her in her search for an internship.
“She helped me refine my project and gave me tips for approaching businesses.
She motivated me a lot, told me not to give up, even if I received standard rejection emails,” the student remembers.
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It was Alain Hivet, director of Jean Lain Mobilités concessions and vice-president of the Business Club, who proposed this mentoring 4 years ago.
Initially to support dropouts, in the 1st or 2nd year of university.
“The idea was to get them into the professional world or get them back into university.
But I realized that many young people admitted to studying but did not know what profession.
It's a bit like I get in the car, I start, I drive, but I don't know where I'm going!
»
“I love the idea of someone doing this to pass on, to help”
Alain Hivet was one of the first mentors.
“The student I supported needed to be reassured in the idea of moving into commerce.
Many students, like him, have questions about the evolution of professions in 4 or 5 years..." And there, exchanges with professionals allow us to better plan.
With a dedicated contact person, more accessible than teachers, and above all involved on a daily basis in the world of work.
“I love the idea of someone doing this of their own free will, to pass it on, to help.
I find that very beautiful of them,” enthuses Lina.
Especially since in her entourage, the young woman did not necessarily have a resource person who could advise her on her direction.
“In my family, I am currently the only one to have studied for such a long time.
It's a bit like my secret garden, I don't talk about it.
They encourage me but don't understand exactly what I'm doing!
», confides the young woman.
“She’s part of my network now, I have her in my LinkedIn contacts, on WhatsApp.
»
Lina, IAE student
Lina and her mentor communicated regularly, whether by videoconference or by email.
“She was always very attentive, taking time out of her work day to advise me.”
Since Lina started her internship, she has less contact with her mentor, because of less time.
But for all that, the link remains.
“She’s part of my network now, I have her in my LinkedIn contacts, on WhatsApp.
We can support each other - who knows, one day, maybe I could help him too!
»
Around 120 pairs were created in this third year of the program's existence.
At all levels of study for mentees: those at the start of their course who need to be reassured about their orientation or supported in a reorientation, those at the end of training who want to open their networks and be supported in their search for employment or those who want support in creating a business.
At 18, Kévin, a first-year eco-management student in Annecy, chose to follow the mentoring program to “obtain a professional network and also discover companies and sectors of activity that may interest me” .
His mentor, operations director in a local industrial company, was able to show him around its structure but also put him in contact with employees.
“Next Friday, I’m going to speak with one of them, specialized in finance,” explains the young man.
In order to refine its orientation project.
The university to develop its employer brand
On the business side, exchanges are also beneficial.
“It is clear that the university is increasingly seen as a resource center for businesses, which also allows them to recruit young people for internships, work-study programs or young graduates.
It is also a way for companies to make themselves known and develop their employer brand,” says Nicolas Borghese, director of the Business Club of Savoie Mont Blanc University.
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“It also allows us to know this generation better,” adds Alain Hivet.
It's primordial.
With this tendency to plan on several professions during their career, the CDD/CDI distinction which has less importance, the absence of desire to become an owner, etc.
".
A positive result for everyone.
“Overall the mentors are very happy with the relationship that is created with the young person,” says Nicolas Borghese.
They speak of a breath of oxygen, of freshness, of invigoration.
»
Working in complete confidence between university and socio-economic actors
On the side of the two Savoies, links between socio-economic actors and the university have been developing for many years.
The Business Club was created in 1991. Under associative status, it brings together 80 local businesses.
And multiplies actions to establish contacts between students and local structures.
“Universities have accomplished very important work to strengthen this link with the socio-economic world,” underlines David Melo, vice-president of the Savoie Mont Blanc University in charge of orientation, relations with high schools, professional integration and communication.
And the Savoie Mont Blanc University in particular, inspiring other establishments who come to observe its systems.
“For a student to succeed, you first need quality training”
David Melo, vice-president of Savoie Mont-Blanc University
“What is impressive is that work is done with complete confidence between the University services, the Business Club and the entire socio-economic fabric,” underlines David Melo.
And is deployed in a lasting relationship, even at the level of training design.
“It is we, as academics, who define the educational framework and the requirements associated with training, but they are designed according to the realities of the job market.”
“For a student to succeed, you first need quality training.
It must also allow as individualized support as possible, and be connected to the realities of the socio-economic world,” concludes David Melo.