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At IÉSEG, professional experience is considered an essential part of the educational program. The internship policy is not simply a complement to academic teaching: it is a logical and mandatory part of it. No student can graduate without having completed all the required professional experience (13 months for the Grande École Program, 8 months for the Bachelor in International Business, and even 4 months for the Specialized Masters).

“It is impossible to graduate from IÉSEG without having worked in a company,” says Virginie ALLARD, Deputy Director of Academic-Corporate Relations at IÉSEG. “Internships are part of the requirements to obtain a degree. Why? Because it is through internships that we discover corporate life, apply our knowledge, face real business issues, learn to find solutions, learn to take responsibility, and manage teams. Thanks to internships, we are fully immersed in the reality of the professional world!”

This requirement reflects a strong conviction: professionalization is built over time, through gradual exposure to the realities of the business world, in close coordination with academic learning.

A three-level progression, from the field to pre-employment

At IÉSEG, the internship policy is based on a progressive increase in responsibility, structured around three main levels. This approach, common to all undergraduate programs (Grande École Program and Bachelor in International Business), takes students from the operational field to increasingly skilled roles, culminating in an final internship that serves as a springboard to employment.

Discovering the company through hands-on experience

The first level is the professional and social introduction internship, which takes place at the very beginning of the program. Each year, nearly 2,000 IÉSEG students immerse themselves at the lowest level of the corporate hierarchy, without managerial responsibility.

Their tasks are purely operational: cash register, stock handling, shelf stocking, reception, service, or similar functions. The goal is to gain a practical understanding of how an organization works.

“We want every student to experience what it means to be managed, to receive instructions, and to work as part of a team,” explains Virginie ALLARD. “This experience teaches humility and gives students a better understanding of what management entails. In addition to the tasks they perform, students are then asked to provide an analysis so that they can reflect on the relational and organizational dynamics they have observed. This internship is an opportunity to gain a first-hand understanding of organizational sociology. ”

Students can also gain this initial experience abroad. For more than 12 years, as part of a partnership with Disney, 150 students have traveled each year to Walt Disney World® Resort (Orlando, Florida). Parades, hospitality, catering, cleaning, handling… they perform a wide variety of operational tasks. This internship is extremely rewarding both professionally and personally, as it offers an inside look at an iconic company and a culturally rich region.

Others choose assignments within organizations with a social or environmental impact: rescuing turtles on the seashore, collecting waste, building schools or orphanages… Whatever the host organization, the goal remains the same: to discover the company from the bottom of the hierarchical ladder in order to better understand how it works.

Applying academic knowledge

The second-year sales internship marks the beginning of the direct practical application of academic learning. Students apply the skills they have acquired in class, particularly in the areas of customer relations and business development.

Whether working in B2C or B2B, students learn how to engage with customers in person, analyze their needs, build a value proposition, negotiate, and develop a business relationship. Assignments may take place in a store, in field sales development, or in business development roles.

“In business, there will always come a time when our students will be in a sales relationship, either on the customer side or the salesperson side. They must therefore learn to listen, negotiate, and master buying and selling skills, and that is exactly what this two- to three-month internship prepares them for,” emphasizes Virginie ALLARD. “Marketing and sales courses become truly meaningful when students are confronted with the reality of the customer.”

Companies such as Hermès, Decathlon, Lacoste, Chanel, Longchamp, Leroy Merlin, and Ralph Lauren regularly welcome students for internships. Each year, thanks to the school’s various partnerships with luxury brands, dozens of students gain insight into the demands of international companies.

At this stage, students remain supervised, but they begin to produce measurable value for the company. The link between theory and practice becomes tangible: the concepts learned in class are tested, adjusted, and understood through experience.

Taking on responsibilities and building a professional identity

The third level consists of internships with responsibilities, generally lasting three to six months. Students hold assistant or junior positions in a field related to their career plans: marketing, finance, management control, human resources, strategy, project management, or business development.

It is no longer just a matter of applying tools, concepts, and knowledge, but of addressing actual issues. Students discover internal processes, organizational constraints, and strategic trade-offs, and begin to build their professional network.

“This internship is often the first glimpse into a profession,” explains Virginie ALLARD. “Students get to try out a sector, validate or refine their choice of career path, and gradually build their professional identity.”

Some choose to extend this experience by taking a gap year to gain even more professional experience, a choice that is highly appreciated by companies.

The final internship: full professional immersion

At the end of the program, the six-month final internship marks the achievement of this journey. It is often similar to a pre-employment period.

Students are integrated as full-fledged employees. They have the time needed to analyze, suggest, and implement concrete solutions. This extended experience allows them to embrace the company’s culture, values, and operating methods.

In all IÉSEG programs (Grande École Program, Bachelor’s, Specialized Master’s), “The final internship should open the doors of the company to the student,” explains Virginie ALLARD.

“It is a chance to apply everything they have learned during their studies and allows them to enter the job market with a sense of legitimacy, confidence, and autonomy.”

Even though career paths are less straightforward today than they used to be, this stage remains crucial in the transition to a first job.

A strong link between academic and professional experience

The internship policy cannot be understood without its close link to academic content. Each level of experience correlates with a level of maturity in learning.

The initial lessons resonate with the discovery of organizations. Courses in marketing, finance, strategy, management, and negotiation are gradually applied in intermediate internships. Finally, specialisations at the end of the program are fully embodied in long internships with responsibility.

“We are a bridge between theory and practice,” insists Virginie ALLARD. “Academic knowledge takes on its full meaning when it is put to the test in the real world. Conversely, experience in a company feeds into the understanding of concepts.

“This ongoing connection ensures pedagogical consistency: students do not view their internships as interruptions, but as integrated steps in their educational journey.

Gaining as much experience as possible to facilitate entry into the job market

Beyond the mandatory internships, IÉSEG offers great flexibility in terms of additional internships and gap years. Students can take one gap year per cycle and gain a wealth of experience, both in France and abroad.

“The job market is looking for young graduates who already have experience,” emphasizes Virginie Allard. “We give our students the opportunity to gain significant experience even before they graduate.”

By taking full advantage of these opportunities, students can gain between one and two years of professional experience by the time they graduate. This wealth of experience is a decisive asset for professional integration: it enhances the credibility of their profile, makes it easier for recruiters to envision them in the role, and speeds up the hiring process.

In addition, the international dimension of the program, with the opportunity to gain experience abroad, helps to develop adaptability, cultural openness, and agility—skills that are particularly sought after in a globalized professional environment.

Training agile and resilient professionals

IÉSEG’s ambition is not limited to preparing students for their first job. The goal is to train individuals who are capable of evolving throughout their careers.

“We don’t train people for a single job,” concludes Virginie ALLARD. “We train women and men to be adaptable, resilient, and capable of supporting corporate transformations. Internships are where this agility is built, through direct contact in the field. “

IÉSEG’s internship policy is designed to provide a progressive path to professionalization. It enables each graduate to enter the job market with substantial experience, a detailed understanding of organizations, and a lasting ability to adapt—all essential tools for successful employment.