Get a head start with a VIE voluntary overseas service assignment
Manuelle Malot, Head of EDHEC Career Service - 23/10/2008 18:04 - L'Expansion.com
You may be eligible and the prospects for VI business volunteers are considerable, but it's not always easy to find an assignment in the field, the sector and the country you're interested in...
There are two types of volunteer programmes:
The VI Entreprise or international business volunteer accounts for 80% of business volunteers abroad, giving you an opportunity to carry out an assignment in a French overseas company. Offers are available in the field of commerce, finance, technology or science across every sector of activity. As a VI Ambassade or public sector volunteer, your assignment could be in an Embassy or one of its affiliated services, a locally-based public service structure (government, municipal services, public and university research centres) or with an international organisation or approved association.
Assignments generally last between 6 and 24 months and are conducted in a single organisation. Volunteers are recruited for countries worldwide: 42% of VI are assigned to Europe, 22% in Asia-Oceania, 15% in North America, 12% in Africa, 5% in Latin America and 4% in the Middle East and North Africa.
Find your assignment!
You can get information from the VI information Centre, but this is unlikely to be enough if you want to find assignments in a company and a country that really interests you. It is essential to branch out by contacting firms directly via speculative applications and hidden' job markets.
To find the best VI international business opportunity for you, you should use the same methodology as for an entry-level job search, taking the same rigorous approach and, above all, with the same determination. Like a job search, you need to adopt a marketing approach, in other words, you are offering a service, namely YOU on a market, namely the JOB market, with its specific characteristics that are linked to the international sector, in line with fluctuations in demand and in accordance with the needs, job functions, sectors and countries.
You're offering a service, so you need to define what you can offer and, in particular, your international potential: - your knowledge: highlight any academic mobility programmes you took part in and your language skills. - your know-how: your experience, particularly any international experience. - your people skills: your interests and, above all, any trips abroad...
It is a good idea to focus on certain companies: - companies which already offer VI opportunities on the CIVI site as well as those that don't yet use the system but could, such as SMEs looking to develop abroad who may have assignments in the sector you're interested in. - companies whose VI contracts are coming to an end and which you might anticipate in advance: this is a hidden' market that you may be able to intercept, which could well work in your favour. - some companies may be offering assignments that don't quite match your particular skills and competencies. In this case, why not be proactive... suggest other assignments better suited to your specific profile.
At present, Germany and the BTP sector offer the most opportunities.
Only the contract conclusions are slightly different to that of a normal job search: in the case of a VIE, the company must get in touch with UBIFRANCE, the umbrella organisation which validates VIE requests, and draws up and signs all VIE contracts.
The public service VIA assignment is more limited as you can only reply to offers from the CIVI. If your profile fits and you are recruited, the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs will handle the administrative work for the French Embassies abroad or else the Direction Générale du Trésor et de la Politique Economique attached to the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industry for business-related assignments (Embassy business and trade services) and French chambers of commerce and industry abroad (CCIFE). Timeframes for validating the process can be quite long. Count at least 2 months.
Who can apply?
VI opportunities are open to all profiles. To join an international voluntary programme, you must meet three conditions: You must be between 18 and 28 years old when you apply. You must be a French or EU national (with no outstanding national service obligations in your home country).
Useful addresses for more information
VI information centre, www.civiweb.com UBIFRANCE, http://www.ubifrance.fr/vie/volontariat-international-entreprise.asp Ministère des affaires étrangères : MAE http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/ Direction Générale du Trésor et de la Politique Economique , DGTPE : http://www.missioneco.org/me/ http://www.partir-en-vie.com/
English language sites
VINCI constructionhttp://209.85.129.132/search?q=cache:5WG3vQ0hn7MJ:www.vinci-construction.com/projets.nsf/en/vie.htm+vie+business+volunteers+French&hl=fr&ct=clnk&cd=6&gl=uk
Veolia Water http://www.vie.veoliaenvironnement.com/international_volunteer.htm
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