Charles Van de Voorde (SKEMA 2019): SKEMA Business School, a necessary door opener

A graduate of the PGE International Marketing & Business Development programme from the Class of 2019, Charles has since moved to Dublin and is working for a recruitment agency as Marketing and Communications Executive. 

Charles, tell us a little about yourself…

I’m 27 years old and originally from Lille. I’m a graduate of the PGE Class of 2019 and Marketing and Communications Executive for Approach People Recruitment in Dublin, Ireland. SKEMA Business School is a family affair since before me my father, Christophe Van de Voorde, also graduated from SKEMA Lille (Class of 1987). I joined SKEMA for an M1 programme in 2015 on the strength of my academic qualifications, after completing a two-year undergraduate diploma (DUT TC) in marketing, rounded off with an internship in Canada, then a 3rd year of undergraduate study (LP CAI) in the United States. I have a passion for photography and travel. Thanks to SKEMA, I was able to combine study and pleasure by gaining an internationally recognised qualification while travelling to the four corners of the world (Suzhou campus in China and Belo Horizonte in Brazil).

Could you tell us about your professional journey since SKEMA and, more importantly, about your current role?

After obtaining my degree from SKEMA, I immediately started to look for work experience overseas. I got the opportunity to discover expatriation at a rather young age and after a very international academic path I wanted to continue down that road.

What reasons prompted your move to Dublin?

When I was job hunting, I didn’t restrict my search to Ireland... (And actually I didn’t know much about the country). My wish was primarily to work abroad and this opportunity that presented itself seemed like a perfect match for my profile and fit in well with my plan to live and work overseas. Dublin is a real opportunity for people looking to give their career a boost. In Ireland, on average, career evolution happens faster than in France, salaries are generally higher, and many international companies have set up their European headquarters there (Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, Indeed, Apple (Cork)). And finally, Ireland is a country that is both very dynamic (Dublin, Cork...) and very natural. Some Irish landscapes are breathtaking; in fact, it’s why some of the scenes for Harry Potter and Star Wars were shot in Ireland. 

Can you describe your current position for us?

I’m currently Marketing and Communications Executive for Approach People Recruitment, an international recruitment firm that has been based in Dublin for 21 years.

My job is to promote Approach People in Europe, to our clients, candidates and consultants.

• Externally, I manage press relations, relationships with our partners and service providers, our online presence (website, content creation, social media), our accreditations and awards, the creation of our marketing materials (brochures, leaflets), and I’m in charge of attracting new talent.
• Internally, I keep the network of consultants in our Dublin, Paris, Geneva, Barcelona and Madrid offices engaged through challenges, newsletters, events, etc.

For this role, the firm was originally after someone with five to eight years of experience in a similar position, but during the interview process I managed to prove that I was up to the task. I was chosen and the firm planned to hire someone more senior to manage me. In the end, I managed to upskill quickly so I was able to remain autonomous in my role.

What stands out the most for you about your studies at SKEMA?

SKEMA opens doors in the job market. The education delivered there is recognised both in France and abroad. The L’Etudiant, Financial Times and Le Figaro rankings continue to confirm this, and SKEMA BS is now the fifth best business school in France. On top of the theoretical knowledge learned in class and the opportunity to apply it during different internships, SKEMA forges a unique mindset. In 2020, the pandemic once again proved the importance of soft skills like adaptability, resilience and communication. In my opinion, SKEMA encourages the development of these soft skills, through mobility between the different campuses, group work, and exchanges with other international students for example.

What advice would you give students and alumni wanting to go and work overseas like you?

Take the leap; it’s never too late.

Expatriation has so much to offer: you learn about yourself, you learn about others, you discover new cultures, you develop new skills (language skills, for example). Whether it’s to boost your CV or for personal enrichment, working overseas is always beneficial.

My advice:

Really think about your expatriation plans beforehand so that you are well prepared. The internet is brimming with good advice and the experiences of French people who have already done it. Read blogs, watch vlogs, join expat groups on Facebook, follow specialised accounts on Instagram… There’s even a radio station run by French people around the world that regularly gives advice to expats and puts them in touch.

Tap into your network: the SKEMA network, your personal and professional circles. It’s always easier to get help from someone you know, who can advise you and get you a foot in the door in a company overseas.

Know your value on the job market in France, but also the equivalent in the target country. This way you won’t give a completely unrealistic answer when asked for your salary expectations. Each year, pay scales are published and they are easy to find online.

What have you got planned next?

Approach People launched my international career and we have some great short-, medium, and long-term plans together in this growing company. I want to get as much as possible out of this experience, see these plans through, and as long as there is more to learn, I will stay here! Today, I had my first experience on air, doing a radio interview about expatriation.

In the longer term, in marketing still, I’m considering working towards a management position to add that to my skill set. Time will tell; we’re not there yet!

What are your fondest memories of your time at SKEMA?

I could tell you what it feels like to walk along the Great Wall of China for the first time, to cross the Lençóis Maranhenses desert on foot, or to be at the carnival in Salvador da Bahia… But that would be limiting myself to just a few of the many extraordinary experiences I had while studying at SKEMA. In short, I would say that SKEMA has contributed a great deal to my personal development thanks to the travel and the people I met, some of whom have become my best friends.

Contact: Charles Van de Voorde, Marketing and Communications Executive at Approach People Recruitment