The word of juries

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“I am looking for a candidate who has one foot in academia and the other in the real world”.
Alexandre Courbin, Senior Marketing Manager at Malt-Jury HEC

What oral exams are you taking?
I take the Triptych, in which three candidates have to give their opinion on a topic one after the other, Persuading, Reacting and Observing. I like this exam because it allows me to judge the candidates in different situations. It is very interesting to see the same person three times because it allows them to call out different qualities and very often makes up for a difficult first pass.

How did you become a jury member?
I have always been involved in the world of teaching. As soon as I left the ENS Paris-Saclay in 2015, I started giving courses alongside my professional work. One of the institutions I got in touch with was HEC, which offered me the opportunity to take part in its admissions panels in 2017.

What qualities do you look for in a candidate?
In a convincing candidate, I look for clarity of thought and speech, the ability to defend a point of view, and good references. For the responder, responsiveness and repartee are of interest. For the Observer, it’s more about critical thinking and the ability to listen.
Generally, I like a candidate who has one foot in academia and the other in the ‘real’ world.
With references to economics, philosophy and general knowledge, but also with illustrations from current events.
“I bring a complementary vision of academic assessment”.
Franck Pignède – Senior Manager, Financial Advisory, Transac services, for Eight Advisory – NEOMA Jury

What is the advantage of a professional jury in an oral entrance exam?
As a 2013 NEOMA graduate, I have always been connected to the school, especially through the Alumni Association, of which I am still the treasurer. As a professional, I bring a complementary vision for judging an academic jury. I have recruited a number of people myself. I can draw on all this experience when I attend these interviews, which are still an exercise in verification and seduction.

How do you conduct these interviews?
I have always preferred humility and conversation. Above all, I try to understand the state of mind of my counterpart. If I can be demanding, it is always with courtesy. We are dealing with young people who are doing their first ‘professional’ interviews with us. Doing interviews with us. So there are certain boundaries that must not be crossed… After that, it’s all about getting it right.

What makes a successful interview from your point of view?
We have candidates who come to us with their hands in their pockets… I do not mind a bit of relaxation, but you also have to be serious! On the other hand, I do not like prepared speeches. Examiners want a sincere exchange, not a recitation. For me, a successful interview is a genuine exchange where you have gone beyond a certain varnish. One piece of advice I always give to applicants: Be yourself!

“More than knowledge, a good state of mind… “
Guerric Laspougeas- Director LPI Quality Ltd – Excelia Jury

How did you become an Excelia juror at Excelia?
I graduated from this school in 2006 and worked in China for more than 10 years before returning to France in 2018 and settling in the La Rochelle region. I then returned to my old school to strengthen my professional network, but also to get closer to the young people who are now entering the corporate world

What qualities do you look for in a candidate?
It depends on the type of course they want to take. A student applying for a dual course should have already thought about their career plans and the pace at which they will work. Applicants for an academic course, on the other hand, will be judged more on their openness to the world, their motivation to join the school and the opportunities they plan to take in the coming years. We will also judge their level of maturity, self-knowledge and openness to the world. and openness to the world.
More than knowledge, I am looking for a good mindset.

What is your idea of a successful interview?
Above all, I try to assess the professional and human situations the candidate has faced to see what he or she has learned from them. learned. Asking the student to talk about a difficult situation or a challenge is a good way to assess his/her maturity, openness and wealth of experience. If the candidate has a project, I assess their general knowledge of the job or project.
Beyond the rhetoric, you need to understand his motivations to see if they are in line with what Excelia offers.