HR Professionals in Paris Talent Shopping
•Horizons Maroc Forum on December 1
•40 major Moroccan companies and 1,500 visitors expected
Returning home after years of studying abroad often leads to confusion and hesitation about the future. The Horizons Maroc forum, to be held on December 1, 2007 at ESCP-EAP in Paris, aims to be a meeting place for Moroccan students and graduates in France. The goal is to create a platform connecting Moroccan companies with these students, whether they are looking for internships or jobs. "The goal is to encourage as many Moroccans as possible to find professional opportunities and also to counter the brain drain," emphasizes Amine Bennis, president of the Association of Moroccans from Grandes Écoles (AMGE-Caravane), organizer of the event. "The forum is gaining more and more audience. Most come to learn about the job market or look for an internship," adds Bennis.
Several companies have already confirmed their presence for this 12th edition of the forum: ONA, CDG, OCP, RAM, Meditel, BMCE Bank, BMCI, Crédit Agricole, McKinsey & Company, Procter & Gamble, Ernst & Young.
But in this hiring race, it's not just Moroccan companies. French companies also have a say. As proof, 54% of visitors to the last forum had already worked in France. "This is true, but according to a survey we conducted, these young people express a certain desire to return home. That's why they come to the forum, to inquire about opportunities to return," assures Bouziane.
All sectors will be represented, from finance to industry, including construction, consulting, and auditing. "All sectors are hiring, especially banks, which are the most competitive," says Imad Bouziane, president of the 12th edition of the forum.
In total, 40 of the largest national companies and more than 1,500 students and graduates, compared to 29 exhibitors and 1,200 visitors at the previous edition. Alongside the forum, workshops will be organized focusing on finance, consulting, and retail. A space will be set up to advise students and introduce them to creating eye-catching resumes. The last forum led to the hiring of 160 students, with an average of 3.7 effective recruitments and 2.7 internships per company. In addition to this, many recruitment procedures are still underway, as well as those indirectly linked to the forum. "I attended the forum because it was the only opportunity to directly contact national companies. I was hired right after the internship I got thanks to the event," says a graduate of ESTP Paris. "It's also important to know that the cost of living is becoming increasingly high. So a good salary in Morocco and the possibility of advancement are always good motivations to return," he adds.
As for the visitor profile, it consists of 44% engineers (Centrale, Mines, Ponts et Chaussées, Telecom, ENSAM, ESTP, ENSAT...), 31% are salespeople (HEC, ESSEC, ESCP EAP, EM Lyon...), and 25% are university graduates.
The association is not only focusing on the forum; a mailing campaign has been launched. "Word-of-mouth, born from the notoriety the forum is gaining, is also effective. We also rely on our website, which is very popular," adds the president of the 12th forum.
About AMGE-Caravane
The association brings together Moroccan students from major engineering and business schools in France. Its 2,500 members are 45% from engineering schools, 47% from business schools, and 8% from universities. Its objectives include bringing together Moroccan students in France to help them get to know each other and share values of respect and solidarity. Facilitating the return of graduates to Morocco by allowing them to meet national companies and professionals is also among the objectives. Even better, the association offers support to students in preparatory classes up to the grandes écoles.
Published November 13, 2007
L'Economiste
