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As part of IÉSEG’s Bachelor in International Business (BIB) program, third-year students participated for the first time in a special day marking the conclusion of their studies: the “BIB Bootcamp.” Featuring a masterclass on AI, a serious game, and meetings with alumni, this event was designed to serve as a true springboard into the professional world.

For this inaugural edition, the Corporate Relations Department and the Academic and Student Experience Department, which co-organized the event, brought together 99 students from both campuses in Lille. For this class, composed mainly of international students, the event was a highlight, promoting team spirit, networking, and learning for the next stage of their journey.

“The idea is really to make this Bootcamp a stepping stone,” explains Roseline ANDAN, Career Development Manager for International Programs. “We want students to become aware of the tools at their disposal to successfully enter the job market, while focusing on the importance of soft skills—also referred to as ‘people skills’—which make all the difference to recruiters today.”

This event, intended to boost students’ professional integration, offered a rich and varied program thanks to the participation of external speakers. Students attended the “AI and Future Careers” masterclass, which focused on how to use AI as a strategic tool to optimize their professional profiles and refine their online networking skills.

The experience then took on a more playful and collaborative dimension with a Serious Game co-developed by the Career Center and the CETI (Center for Educational and Technological Innovation). Students stepped into the shoes of ambassadors for a multinational corporation to collaboratively solve complex challenges. This interactive exercise, which placed people skills at the center of the game, allowed them to test their ability to collaborate in an international environment, as well as under pressure. “A shared sense of accomplishment”: this is what most students took away from the experience, praising the game’s collaborative aspect.

The interactive dynamic continued throughout the afternoon thanks to a range of resources available on campus. Following the hands-on workshops (“Rock Your Profile”) led by a LinkedIn representative—designed to help them refine their profiles on the professional social network and learn best practices—the soon-to-be graduates explored a variety of booths offering guidance on their next career steps. They had the opportunity to meet the IÉSEG Network team, the alumni network, as well as academic directors to learn about opportunities to continue their studies at IÉSEG (Grande École Program, Specialized Master’s Programs)

“Some Bachelor in International Business graduates enter the job market directly after the program, while others choose to continue their studies with a master’s degree. We’ve noticed that students aren’t always aware of all the options available to them once they graduate, which is why we organized this mini-forum featuring booths dedicated to the various programs offered by IÉSEG, to help them navigate their next steps.”

Roseline ANDAN, Career Development Manager for International Programs

The highlight of the day was a roundtable discussion featuring five graduates of the Bachelor in International Business with diverse and inspiring career paths, which allowed current students to better envision their future, whether academic or professional.

A student who’s joined the Grande École Program‘s master cycle at IÉSEG after the BIB program, along with four graduates currently in the workforce, shared their personal insights and experiences with genuine enthusiasm. The many questions asked by current students demonstrated their strong interest in this special and authentic moment of sharing.

Discussions continued in an informal setting during the networking cocktail reception at the end of the day, further enhancing the quality of the conversations. This first edition of the Bootcamp thus concluded on a particularly positive note, hinting at promising prospects for future editions.

This first edition of the Bootcamp thus concluded on a particularly positive note, hinting at promising prospects for future editions, and marks an important milestone in IÉSEG’s integrated career support program. By creating this direct bridge between the academic world and their future professional lives, the School equips its graduates with all the tools they need to succeed in their careers. Everyone left with a strengthened network and greater confidence to tackle the next steps in their careers.