Who has never thought about giving up everything to change careers? Sometimes suffered, often chosen, retraining has never bothered the French so much, especially after the coronavirus pandemic. Covid-19. To give meaning to their daily lives, earn a better living or simply get a change of scenery. Here are the keys to succeeding in this vital turning point, depending on your qualifications and your age. How to find oneself in the jungle of diplomas whose number is exploding?
Jean-Jacques remembers the first time he landed on the website of the major business schools looking for training in commercial management. He must admit: he was lost. Just on the portal of a prestigious establishment like ESCP, more than fifty courses are offered. There are all durations – from one day to thirty-six months -, all modalities – in English, in French, remotely -, and accessible to both baccalaureate and bac + 6 graduates. These diplomas outside of university system is a hit and attracts both senior executives and jack-of-all-trades eager to start their own business. But how do you navigate this ocean of training?
The fear of imposter syndrome
At 57, Jean-Jacques, this commercial director of an SME who had not studied, dreamed of resuming a course, in particular to treat his “imposter syndrome”. “I needed to gain legitimacy in my role and I wanted to stay in the game,” insists the man who finally chose a master’s degree in business development management at Edhec, started in 2016. He spent nearly 20,000 euros in tuition fees for a program he followed on weekends and a few Fridays, in Paris or Lille. Social networks, finance, management… Over the course of eighteen months, he acquired the theoretical foundations he lacked.
Like many, if he chose a business school, it is above all for its reputation. Most candidates fear the “empty shell”, so they naturally turn to reputable brands. But be careful, you should find out about the specialties of the establishments. Each school has its own pedagogy and its own master’s degrees. Only the Executive MBA is essential, it remains the star program in the establishments’ brochures. It is also the most expensive. The price ranges between 40,000 and 100,000 euros. Demanding, it stands out as a highly recognized diploma. Most often accessible to professionals with around fifteen years of experience, it mainly lasts two years and is time-consuming.
A structured educational approach
Other masters without the MBA designation exist and refer to the same level of studies recognized by the State. They are often more specialized. We find, for example, at Neoma a master’s degree in business development for large account clients and at HEC, a master of science in finance. Cédric Dupray, business manager in the field of industrial maintenance, joined a master’s degree in general management at Essec, in 2020, in order to resolve growth problems in his company. He praises a “structured” and “adapted” educational approach, capable of providing “keys and tools”. A feeling that echoes the ambitions of these courses, as Sami Attaoui, academic director of the Global Executive MBA at Neoma, explains: “When we address established profiles, we offer them a more formal, less hybrid approach by compared to students leaving school.”
But these masters are not accessible to everyone, you must have a bac +3 or present solid experience linked to the program. This is what pushes more diverse profiles to turn to training where the diploma has a lower value: certificates. Much less expensive, these studies also take less time. Rather, they aim to “color” your CV by providing validation of acquired knowledge of concrete know-how. However, they retain the most important advantage of business schools: access to their network. Enough to satisfy those in a hurry and those who have always preferred the back of the class to the front rows of the amphitheater.
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