I'm looking at French MBA programs specifically HEC, ESSEC, EM Lyon, Grenoble and EDHEC -- I'm not interested in INSEAD at all.

Also, I'm an American citizen, therefore, I will have no issues related to H-1 visa sponsorship. I will just need to get a job back home preferably at a larger media company with international operations.

Thanks in advance for your time and consideration.

C'mon people, help me out. Anybody?

Interesting question.
I don't think you will have difficulty finding jobs in U.S. (because american loves MBA like they love their IPhone) but you won't leverage your european MBA to the fullest because most american employers are american-centric (ie. they won't care whether you have graduated from IESE, HEC, ESSEC, IMD because they cannot tell the difference anyway).

So you'll probably will be getting better jobs with indiana MBA rather than HEC MBA in the U.S. because all american know where's indiana is.
But if you have a degree from HEC, you might need to explain what grand ecole means during the job interview.

That's my opinion.

Interesting question.
I don't think you will have difficulty finding jobs in U.S. (because american loves MBA like they love their IPhone) but you won't leverage your european MBA to the fullest because most american employers are american-centric (ie. they won't care whether you have graduated from IESE, HEC, ESSEC, IMD because they cannot tell the difference anyway).

So you'll probably will be getting better jobs with indiana MBA rather than HEC MBA in the U.S. because all american know where's indiana is.
But if you have a degree from HEC, you might need to explain what grand ecole means during the job interview.

That's my opinion.

I'm looking at French MBA programs specifically HEC, ESSEC, EM Lyon, Grenoble and EDHEC -- I'm not interested in INSEAD at all.

Also, I'm an American citizen, therefore, I will have no issues related to H-1 visa sponsorship. I will just need to get a job back home preferably at a larger media company with international operations.

Thanks in advance for your time and consideration.

Hi Bianca

I want to do a French MBA because I want to be a more appealing candidate for international assignments post grad. French is arguably the second most widely spoken languages in the business world after English.

I want to work for a larger multinational firm post grad. I have reason to believe that having an MBA from a top international MBA program, that has a truly globally focused curriculum, may be considered a strength, not a weakness, in a large multinational firms environment.

Lastly, I already have my bachelors degree from a U.S. university and I plan on doing a second masters (after the French based MBA) at a U.S. school (within two to three years of earning an MBA). In this regard the one year length of most of the French programs is appealing.

I like the dual HEC/NYU MBA. I will look into it.

Hi,

I am a HEC MBA grad. The program is good and generally well recognized outside of the US. I would second the advice of the poster above and try for the dual degree or at least an exchange. Please note that only 1-2 people per intake are chosen for the double degree.

However, it's a great MBA for working in Europe. Ironically a HEC MBA is better outside France than inside France, as France is generally not up on the whole MBA thing, and there's some conflict between people that went to the Grande Ecole (undergrad) and ISA (what most people in France call the HEC MBA)

If you plan on getting a job in France, you will need to be absolutely fluent in French. There is no avoiding this. Your salary will also be 20-30% lower than elsewhere in Europe, this affects HEC's MBA ranking quite a bit as probably 1/3 of the graduates stay in France. (avg. salary, salary increase, and % employed after graduation are all affected because it's a pain to get a job in France, especially as a foreigner.)

That said, if you want to work abroad a few years in a large multinational, HEC is a great place. Everyone recruits there.

-Chris

For an american grad studying outside N. America, it will be an additional exposure.
You shiuld go to france, and do take crash course in French 3-4 months prior to MBA.
French is easy to learn, if you have 1.5 years french learning experience, you should be Ok.

MBA is not only getting education or brand name, but you also need to enjoy the whole experience.
And studying in the suburb of Paris, one should get a chance to enjoy Paris.

I used to have the same dream to live in France, but I have to postpone it due to financial crisis.

Hi,

However, it's a great MBA for working in Europe. Ironically a HEC MBA is better outside France than inside France, as France is generally not up on the whole MBA thing, and there's some conflict between people that went to the Grande Ecole (undergrad) and ISA (what most people in France call the HEC MBA)

I wonder what exactly people mean when they say "everybody recruits there".....

Hi,

However, it's a great MBA for working in Europe. Ironically a HEC MBA is better outside France than inside France, as France is generally not up on the whole MBA thing, and there's some conflict between people that went to the Grande Ecole (undergrad) and ISA (what most people in France call the HEC MBA)

What conflicts are there between people from the Grande Ecole and ISA? I've never heard of this before.

I wonder what exactly people mean when they say "everybody recruits there".....

I've had people tell me that I didn't graduate from the "real HEC" in job interviews. Idiotic, but it happens.

I wonder what exactly people mean when they say "everybody recruits there".....

As in everyone who normally recruits at a top MBA...i.e McKinsey, GE, KPMG, Bain, Boston, Goldman, JPMorgan, etc.

I wonder what exactly people mean when they say "everybody recruits there".....

As in everyone who normally recruits at a top MBA...i.e McKinsey, GE, KPMG, Bain, Boston, Goldman, JPMorgan, etc.

Just curious, because I have heard of HEC before but didn't know that their placements were that good.

Do you have the placement numbers? How many did McKinsey/BCG/Bain/Goldman/JPMorgan/PE companies recruit?

Just a handful of recruits or a majority went to those companies?

Just curious, because I have heard of HEC before but didn't know that their placements were that good.

Do you have the placement numbers? How many did McKinsey/BCG/Bain/Goldman/JPMorgan/PE companies recruit?

Just a handful of recruits or a majority went to those companies?


I don't remember exactly off the top of my head, but they do a summary of hires in the brochure every year. Around 2-3 per firm per year, out of a student body of 200 or so. However, our class didn't strike me as being heavily MC oriented, most went to large multinationals, luxe, or investment banks.