Valérie at home…such a nice week

Hello everybody.

     A cople of days ago, a close friend of mine, Valérie was at my place. She is half American, half French and I met her when I was in the US as an exchange student. Her brother Matthew has already visited my place last february. Both are really “international”. Matthew is a student in South Korea right now (acutally when I’m writting the post, he might be in North Korea or China to visit) then he will go back in France, at Toulouse to study a year. 

      Valerie is now in Russia for summer classes. And when she came to my place, she definitely felt in love for my campus at Lille. She was hesitated between Grenoble and Lille for an exchange program, and she finally decided to go to Lille for a semester. I advised her to go to IESEG, and I sent them an email and also an email to Eric Leinen, my contact at the ASU about her.

      I can’t wait for seing her again. It was a real pleasure to see her. We went to “la fête de la musique”, BBQ, le Lac du Héron, le Lac Saint Jean, we visited the campus…

 

That’s so nice to have international friends. It reminds me how small the world is, how how important it is to stay open-minded.

Best

—XxX—

SAN MARINA & TOTO – Sales

Hello everybody.

      Just a small post to let you know that I’m working again at San Marina (shoes store) for 2 weeks. But I’m not working at Wasquehal anymore, it was definitely too far away, so I’m working at Les Tanneurs, which is a mall located in Lille.

      I have a 2 weeks contract. It’s now the Sales period in France. At the end of this contract, I have an internship at TOTO (the fabrics store that I have been used to work during my first and second year of University) I’ll work there as a manager, I would like to finish the report that I began when I was a freshman, this report was dealing about statistics, the way that people feels about the organization of the store.
The first part of this report is available on this blog, so if you want to have a look on it, leave me a message in order to have the password which protects this post.

Best

—EmmA LEDUC— 

Master à l’Université Catholique de Lille

Bonjour à tous

I received a mail yesterday from my University. It is said that I succeed my interview and I can apply online for a Master of management as soon as possible.

Best

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bonjour à tous,

J’ai reçu un mail hier de l’Université Catholique de Lille m’informant que j’avais réussi mon entretien et que j’étais sélectionnée pour le master “Management des Entreprises”.

A bientôt

~~~EmmA LEDUC~~~

San Marina

Hello everybody.

     I’m really sorry about this late post. I’ve been busy working this last cople of weeks. Actually, one of my closest friend gave me the opportinuty of working in a shoes store during 2 weeks, the end of my contract was saturday. 
     I don’t know why, but this year, I have a lot of problems to find a job. Last year, it was (too) easy (to be real). So when Hélène told me that her manager was looking for somebody, I was glad that she gave her my phone number.
     Nadine Catteau, the manager of San Marina (Wasquehal) was looking for somebody able to learn and sell quickly, and I made the cut. I guess that my experiences at TOTO and GRAPHIGRO helped a lot.

     San Marina was far away from my place, more than 2 hours in transportation, but I don’t regret at all. In 2 weeks, I have learnt more that I could expect. Nadine is really sincere, she told me what are my strong and weakness points.
     She said I have a very impressive resume, but the problem are my “motivation letter” and interview. I’m well-dress, she said that I have a beautiful smile and voice, but I’m a too busy person. I’m not available every week. For exemple next week, an american friend of mine is coming to visit me to my place, and I have my interview at IESEG business School.
      At the end of the interview, Nadine started thinking about keeping me for the long run. I well remember this part of the interview.
” – I may need you for more than a week, the co-manager is sick, but she didn’t tell when she thinks going back to work. Are you available for 2 weeks ?
- Yes I am. I’m great that you asked.
- Really ? Can I also expect to keep you until the end of August ?
- Oh, yes why not…
- But I can’t create 2 contracts, one for 2 weeks, then one for July and August, so are you available until august ?
- Well, it’s difficult, because in 2 weeks I have my interview for IESEG then an american friend will come to my place
-OK”

     So after 2 weeks, my contract was finished. She kept my resume and she might transfer it to another San Marina, closer to my place. But because I’m not all the time available, I failed to have a longer contract. 

     I also want to talk about the importance of firendship in that kind of situation. Hélène gave my phone number to her manager, but she expected to work for San Marina for July and August, the point is she took 2 week of vacation, one week after the beginning of Sales. When she told me that her manager was interesting by me, she told me “but be carreful, don’t steal me July and August !”.
Of course I didn’t want to, but I knew that her manager was also looking for somebody avaibable for all the Sales period long. So she might not have the contract. But I couldn’t accept this contract either, even if I was available. She is my closest friend, and friendship is so important to me.
And when I said that to my manager Nadine how I felt about that, she said : “You’re right, you must keep Hélène as a friend. She is a wonderful person”

     So I would like to finish this post with special acknowlegments. I would like to say thanks to Hélène, yes, she is wonferful. I learnt so much during this 2 weeks. I’m writing right now a motivation letter for Camaieu, and I notice that a part of me has changed. The way that I’m thinking the companies and the managers is different. Now, thanks to Nadine Catteau, I know what the compagnies are looking for.
I’ve always thought a good ethics was the key to succeed your business, because you share this ethic with your staff. The manager has a main role in that situation, because we usually try to copy him / her.
I have so much to say about Nadine. But I just want her to be sure that I’m greatful.

 

     Tomorrow, I have my interview for IESEG and on Tuesday Valerie is arriving ! On the 25th of June, Sales will begin, so I’ll apply for Camaieu which is looking for staff.

 

Best

~~~EmmA LEDUC~~~