Career testimonials

First and foremost, my training at Sciences Po enabled me to acquire a truly open mind: designing and implementing public policy requires taking into account a wide range of issues without being an expert in all of them.

The School of Public Affairs at Sciences Po is the school that is most in line with the university campus. Beyond the skills common to business and engineering schools, it gives its students simple but essential skills that are difficult to acquire.

My studies at Sciences Po formed the foundation for my future professional development and equipped me with skills and knowledge that I still draw from almost every day at work.

The position of Public Affairs Consultant is fully in line with the studies offered at Sciences Po, in that it requires the skills taught at the School of Public Affairs (interest in public affairs, knowledge of decision-making processes, ability to summarise, writing skills, etc.).

Listen to your intuition, don't hesitate to ask for advice and don't be afraid to make mistakes: no career path is mapped out in advance. Sciences Po offers a high degree of adaptability, and you should not hesitate to be curious to discover the issues at stake from the perspective of several different players: associations, intermediary bodies, the State, local authorities, the private sector, etc.

Network, network, network. Everyone recommends it, but no one explains how to do it.

Studying European affairs at both Sciences Po and LSE was a great help in reconciling public policy management at an international scale. The European Union is unique in the world because it acts in a concrete way on certain public domains, thanks to the directives and regulations linked to its competences, while bringing together very diverse political cultures within it.

In addition to deepening my understanding of the EU, the Master in European Affairs was in every aspect excellent training experience as it offered numerous discussions, presentations and analytical reports. I have to admit that it was highly intense and I sometimes felt overwhelmed with the volume of readings and assignments during the programme.

The Management and Public Affairs policy stream offers a detailed understanding of the issues facing companies today: reputation, strategic and crisis communication, the link between public authorities and companies, CSR commitments, etc.

It might sound a bit clichéd but the School of Public Affairs really made me realise the importance of public service. The wide variety of courses in the energy stream also taught me to always be more curious and not to be afraid to tackle some of the more technical subjects.

Sciences Po offers many other things, so take advantage of all the opportunities that the programme offers you, use the knowledge and skills that it gives you in the field, in associations, in internships, in work-study programmes, and take advantage of the incredible opportunity that you have to be able to push open all the doors, to be curious, to try everything!

The School of Public Affairs has allowed me to be open to everything, has provided me with the keys to understanding and, above all, to be interested in the world around us.

Never follow a predetermined path because it’s what others expect from you. I am now convinced that, far from being a linear rise to positions with ever greater responsibility, a professional career must first and foremost be filled with experiences that are fulfilling in order to be successful.

The programme offered by the School of Public Affairs, in particular, the Master in European Affairs, offers a comprehensive overview on European public policy issues. This in turn informs the approach and tools necessary to analyse these issues not only from a legal point of view, but also an economic, political and - crucially for a career in European affairs - from an understanding of the commercial context.

The training of the school and more precisely of the policy stream is very varied and rich in content. The first quality is the people. The lecturers as well as the guest speakers were all very inspiring for me and made themselves available, listening to the students, even outside of class. They passed on important information as well as their experiences.

The Public Administration stream has given me a broad, public policy perspective on the topics I discuss with corporate decision-makers, allowing me to engage in interesting conversations with them about new regulations, data protection issues, and carbon footprint reduction.

The School of Public Affairs (EAP) first of all opened up a new field of professional and associative reflection and action by introducing me to the mechanisms of public policy and public actors, in particular the major schools of public service.

The training that the Master in Public Policy gives has allowed me to build up an in-depth understanding of the Franco-European administrative landscape and to acquire a certain versatility that is necessary in my job.

Sciences Po offers all students the chance to build the career path they want, whether it be through a university exchange, an apprenticeship, a research paper or preparation for competitive exams...

The Master in European Affairs at the School of Public Affairs allowed me to deepen my understanding of the European system and its institutions. This was essential in the development of my career because I was able to combine theoretical knowledge in economics with institutional and public policy issues.

The Apprenticeship programme is a very good opportunity to combine a long-term professional experience with the acquisition of academic knowledge. Beyond its multiple benefits in terms of combining knowledge and practice, this year has been very formative in terms of the "transition" between the life of a student and that of a young professional. 

I really like this quote from René Char: "Impose your luck, clutch your happiness and go towards your risk. By watching you, they will get used to it". Without hesitation, my advice would be to be fearless in your professional life. It's easier said than done - it's true - and that's why it needs to be said over and over again.

The training in public affairs offered at Sciences Po is a terrific method for grasping subjects that are previously unknown to you and quickly grasping the main ins and outs. This is invaluable when you have to explain French sensibilities or the intricacies of administrative decisions to Californian decision-makers on a daily basis.

Believe in yourself! Stay humble, but do your best to make sure that the teams you work with see you as a full-time employee (quite simply because you are one).