Nos Quartiers ont des Talents

Nos Quartiers ont des Talents is an assocation which aim is to help young graduated (bac+4 and more) in their job search : working on tools (resume, cover letter, job interview preparation), working on professional projects, networking...and help on self-confidence.

For more information and download the Activity Report of 2011 : http://www.nosquartiers-talents.com/node/50

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Fabien, member of the association, sponsored by Jean-François Thunet

An encouraging career beginning / The calm…

I used to study in the IAE of Lyon 3 University where I obtained a Master 2 in PMO Entrepreneurship and Management. After my graduation, I successfully applied to be a transmission company advisor with a fixed-term contract for the Saône-et-Loire Chamber of Commerce, where I was working for two years.

Back to reality / … Before the storm

At the end of my contract, I came back to Lyon to find a new one. As I have chosen a particular and narrow sector, there were few job offers. I had the chance to find one which matched me for two years. However, I quickly understood I needed to go in for another sector: there were few or no job offers. I had to find what corresponded to my professional profile. It was not easy; the competition on the labour market is becoming fiercer.

So, I turned to wealth management. It was different, but it enabled me to develop other competences. After a few months of experience and with the market fall, I decided to quit it. I started again looking for, first targeting the bank sector. Although, I had a too high level degree compared to what banks were searching for (two or three year degree).That was the moment when I joined the association.

My leg-up’s mentor

I was lucky having a great mentor, Mr. Jean-François Thunet, Amaris France and North America director. He was here when I needed him (even during his holidays), but he was not all-present. He always knew how to answer my questions and advised me to have the right thoughts. He also opened to me his network so that I could develop my researches.

There is another important thing to consider when you are looking for a job: your moral is unstable. In bad moments, no one is here to neither support nor help you to go further. My mentor knew find the right words to think positive when it was necessary.

My assessment experience with NQT

This experience confirmed to me that the network is something highly important and that we always have to keep it active. I think I met what we can all a good manager (close to people, listening, always with a good advice). I also learned that applying with quality is good, but not enough. You have to answer to job offers in large quantities (e.g.: twenty by week in the region of Rhônes-Alpes).

When you are looking for a job, it is not easy every day. Sometimes, your moral is down, but you have to go on.  There is a little chance if a job comes to you without doing anything, you have to go to seek it, and for it, you have to take steps, with a mentor if possible.

My advices? Develop and keep active your network, apply a lot even if the job does not match perfectly with your criteria and broaden your field of vision (sectorial and geographic).