A year heading up Junior IMPACT: a formative experience

Arthur and Valéria, both 2nd year students and Chair and HR Director respectively of Junior IMPACT for the 2020 term, have just handed over to a new team. A good time, then, to look back over this rewarding year, which required much adaptation due to the unprecedented COVID-19 situation.

What is Junior IMPACT?

Junior IMPACT is a student association committed to catering to the needs of businesses by providing an array of services on the part of ENSTA Bretagne engineering students (studies for example). These studies are paid and enable the students, on the one hand, to put the theoretical knowledge they have learned at ENSTA Bretagne into practice and, on the other, to develop new skills.

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What motivated you to join Junior IMPACT?

Valéria: When I arrived at ENSTA Bretagne, after two years immersed in the theoretical learning of intensive preparatory classes, I was keen to get an insight into the workplace: how a business is run, administrative tasks, team management, contact with clients – I was interested in everything. For me, Junior IMPACT was an opportunity to enter such an environment and to learn a great deal from it.

Today you are handing over, what are you taking away from this experience?

Arthur: I learned so many practical things during my time working at the J.E. You really are immersed in a professional setting, since the J.E. is kind of like a company. From a purely personal point of view, acting as Chair gave me management experience. I also learned a lot on an inter-personal level, and about managing a team, with its highlights but also its challenges and problems. You have to be able to understand and take into account everyone’s ideas and what is driving them when it comes to making a decision. Belonging to a J.E. gives you truly unique experience for beginning to imagine what it’s like in the workplace, and for looking ahead to the engineering profession.

What challenges have you overcome?

Valéria: I had to manage situations I’d never handled before, like some team members losing motivation because of a lack of communication and fall in activity during lockdown.

What are the advantages of getting involved in the J.E.?

Arthur: There are lots! You develop different skills than those you learn at the school by taking part in the J.E. Firstly because you are working within a particular association (which is part of the largest student movement in France), but also and above all thanks to our partners (ALTEN, EYs, BNP Paribas and the National Confederation of Junior Enterprises/CNJE for example). They put on advanced and detailed training programs for us on certain points to do with our role within the J.E.
You also develop skills on certain aspects of our future profession as an engineer. This experience provides an invaluable addition to our CV, and some recruiters look very positively on this investment and unique experience gained by Junior-Entrepreneurs. It should also be pointed out that the board members of Junior IMPACT do not receive remuneration of any kind. They participate in the day-to-day activities of the J.E. and are in charge of running it. Only the students recruited to conduct the studies are paid for the work they do.

Valéria: Generally speaking, no matter what position you hold, the main thing you learn as soon as you join the J.E. is how to organize yourself. Our timetable isn’t necessarily well-suited to this extra workload, so you have to manage to juggle your study obligations with the work of the J.E.

What are the highlights of your year with Junior IMPACT?

Valéria: The moment that has really stayed with me from my J.E. adventure is without a doubt the change in status during the Chairs’ General Assembly in February 2020, when Junior IMPACT changed from being a Junior-Initiative to a Junior-Enterprise. I also enjoyed our participation in various congresses organized by the CNJE to represent Junior IMPACT and ENSTA Bretagne, thereby giving us the opportunity to be able to contribute to the school’s outreach and standing through the different assignments. The Handover on December 16th was also a highlight as my team officially handed over to the next team in office, which will continue to keep the association going. In short, the Junior IMPACT experience is thoroughly rewarding.