Joining a business school in France will mean accessing a network of top European employers, experiencing an international environment, and learning from global professors.

The added advantage of being strategically situated in the heart of the French capital, Paris, further amplifies these advantages, given its cosmopolitan climate and proximity to major business and financial hubs including London and Brussels.

Here are five of the best MBA jobs you could land after an MBA in France:

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1. MBA jobs in finance

Finance jobs are popular among MBA grads due to the chance for well-paid, fast-paced careers.

One international rugby star turned HEC Paris MBA used his business school degree to land a top finance job.

French native Jacques Boussuge played professional rugby for 12 years, eventually leaving the game behind to pursue a career in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) at KPMG France.

Later down the line, he embarked upon an MBA at HEC Paris to increase his knowledge of the financial business world. 

Aiming to get as much as he could from the experience, he studied, networked, and strategized his way to success—using the HEC Paris Career Center to get involved in mock interview sessions and company talks. 

“I lived through many stressful situations, and from that I brought to the classroom the ability to manage when you need to deliver high standards in a group,” he says. 

After graduating, he landed a full-time offer with Bank of America Merrill Lynch as an investment banking associate. 

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2. MBA jobs in consulting

Another attractive sector for MBA grads is consulting, with many HEC Paris MBA grads landing jobs at top consultancy firms such as Bain and BCG.

The HEC Paris MBA offers courses in communication, strategy, and economics, which are geared towards those looking to gain the fundamental skills demanded by consulting roles.

Ifelade Ayodele had a top finance job in Nigeria before joining an MBA in France at HEC Paris. 

“I wanted to benchmark what I know with the rest of the world and see what happens outside of Africa, because Standard Bank had already given me that African view,” he explains.

Blending his finance background with his new-found MBA skills, Ifelade landed an MBA career at global consultancy firm Accenture.

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3. MBA jobs in marketing

Many business school grads land jobs in marketing but not everyone can say they work at a globally renowned brand such as Nike.

This is precisely what HEC Paris MBA graduate Christina Poole achieved via her MBA in France. 

Swapping her career in America for studies in France meant she was able to broaden her career options.

“I really wanted to go into industry rather than consulting after my MBA and HEC Paris had really good industry connections with big Fortune 500 companies,” she says.

The HEC Paris MBA program offers seven specialization tracks in topics such as entrepreneurship, strategic marketing, and advanced management. 

Christina even participated in an MBA internship with L’Oréal in the luxury division, helping to enhance her brand management expertise. 

Her insights led to her landing a top MBA job in the marketing division at Nike, where she’s learned about areas such as data-driven reporting and strategic marketing.

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4. MBA jobs in investment  

You’ll have heard about jobs in venture capital (VC) but what about MBA jobs within social impact investment?

Today, more and more business school students are looking for purposeful careers. This was exactly the case for HEC Paris MBA grads, Anna Finizio and Alejandro Ibarra.

Anna’s experience in the 16-month MBA in France introduced her to the relationship between business and sustainability. From her time leading the HEC Paris Impact Club, she broadened her network and skill set.

Since graduating, she landed a job as an investor at European Investment Fund (EIF), which involves focusing on impact venture capital funds in Europe.

Meanwhile, Alejandro used his MBA learnings from the sustainability track, and prior experience in investment banking, to launch a career at a social impact VC fund in Milan as an impact investment associate.

“The main thing I enjoy about my role is being able to bring discussions at board level that wouldn’t usually be happening in traditional investment roles,” he concludes.

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5. MBA jobs in innovation

The technology sector is ever-changing, requiring talent who can keep up with ongoing changes. This is exactly what business school programs prepare grads for.

The HEC Paris MBA program, for example, offers an accelerator program for ambitious grads. The Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) Paris invites students to act as consultants in real-world projects with early-stage, deep-tech companies.

Angie Wu is an HEC Paris MBA grad and joined the CDL Climate track in 2022. She was able to get involved in sustainability-driven projects that provided her with exposure to careers in innovation and tech.

“You really get to see how a company can develop rapidly within a short period of time,” says Angie, “it’s about learning how to divide and conquer and prioritize, which is important for a career in innovation.”

Thanks to the CDL and her MBA in France, Angie has launched a career as head of operations at carbon management platform, Carbonfact.

Landing a top MBA job isn’t just about choosing an MBA program in France, however. Just like these HEC Paris MBA graduates, you’ll need to focus on your studies, build a strong network, and improve your essential soft skills to stay competitive.

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