When afterwork rhymes with network
Une soirée pour nouer des liens

With a drink in hand

On May 3^rd, the weather was great for a drink outside. This was the perfect opportunity for France Alumni to launch its first afterwork. Many people came to the meeting organised in the Zoco Bar, in Paris 10^th district. Whether they had just entered the labour market or were already working, and whatever their country of origin, they joined together around a common experience: their bonds with France, where they studied at higher education level with the help of Campus France. From cocktails to small bites, the atmosphere soon became warm.

"The aim of the party was to informally socialise while having a drink”, said Nabil M’Silti, in charge of the digital strategy of France Alumni. “We want to push these reunions to monthly events in order to change them in networking phases. We want to put professionals in charge of supporting alumni in their job research or company creation. This a pleasant way to make this process enjoyable."

For this first event, Campus France had a VIP: Charles Maridor, chief of networks at CCI France International. This incubator with status of association networks 113 chamber of commerce and industry in 83 countries and designs events in the foreign business community.

"CCI France International represents 33,000 companies. Those are French companies operating abroad, but also foreign companies dealing with France. Our network promotes economic support and French know-how. The bonds with Campus France are thus obvious”, said Charles Maridor during his speech to alumni. “Speaking French and knowing how to manage business in France is an asset for foreign students. We support companies in their global implementation by providing offices and service infrastructures."

Beyond digital

Cultural diversity was obviously a big subject during the party. "This is the South American corner!" said Alex Bautista, a Colombian alumni, while talking with Jorge Moron, an Argentinian alumni. Alex studied in the ESSEC, then became sales manager at Saint-Gobain group.

"I've been working in France for two years. The France Alumni network provided me with the keys to enter labour market. Also, I am very grateful to Campus France for their support in my administration processes when I was a student."

Standing next to him is Jorge Moron, a veteran of the network. "I registered when the network was first created, in 2014. At the time, I was still a student in communication in the University of Burgundy in Dijon." Today, Jorge is a correspondent for the Spanish-speaking radio Ozonico in Montreal. "I often check the France Alumni Website for professional purposes. There are often cultural information and events provided that I find very useful."

Not far from them, two young men are checking their name tag to guess their country of origin. "Is that from Mali?" said Binnassoua Yehouessi, an alumni from Benin. "Nah, it's from Togo!" replied Komlan Assilatahoun. He is an engineer who studied in the École des Mines in Nantes, and is now a consultant for a French company. "Thanks to a scholarship managed by Campus France in Togo, I could study a specialised Master's course. Afterwards, France Alumni has been very useful in my job research and helped me improve the targets of my applications. This is the first time I come to a networking event and I find the idea interesting, both to improve professional relations and make friends."

Next to him, Binnassoua Yehouessi is sipping a mojito. "I studied law in the University of Panthéon-Assas and I am currently studying to take the bar exam. My primary objective is to go back to Benin to teach in the university. The alumni allows me to make contacts and prepare my professional return in my country."

The network keeps improving

A few days ago, France Alumni registered 26,000 alumni and keeps counting. This shows how the social network of a new kind improved since its creation in autumn 2014.

To celebrate this success, Anne Benoit, communication director, gave copies of "Ma France", a book published by Campus France in late 2015, to the alumni at the party. The book tells the stories of former foreign students who studied in France, and their view on education, cultural, social, touristic and even food topics. At the end of this long and pleasant party, alumni went home feeling supported in their future project and convinced that culture knows no borders.

[Photo credit]

© Igor Lubinetsky/Animal pensant