Experience is an invaluable asset in today's business world. Right away, recruiters are asking newly graduated students what sort of work experience they have. Even for internships and exchange programs, they inquire about it. Today, a student must not only be able to acquire strong academic skills during his studies but he must also find a way and the time to gain experience through internships and other activities. An excellent way of getting this valuable experience is by working for a Junior Enterprise. But what exactly are they and how do they help youth acquire the skills necessary to be efficient in today's workplace?

A Junior Enterprise is a fully operating firm but there's one small quirk: everyone working for it is still a student at the host university. Each JE offers different services but they all have the same common goal, which is to prepare their members for the professional workplace. They do this by allowing their members to put their skills to use in the field as well as teach them the soft skills needed to transition from college to a business environment.

The first part of this extremely rich yet challenging experience takes place inside the JE themselves. Learning how a firm works in an economic class is one thing, taking part and voting in a General Assembly is an entirely different experience. As a student, you are usually working alongside students from the same studies with similar ways of thinking. On the other hand, in a JE, members must learn how to work alongside others from different backgrounds, whether they are from law, economics, engineering or other fields of studies to reach their goals. Everyone will have a different perception on how to do things in the business world and team-working skills are brought to a whole new level because of this. As members evolve over time in their JE, they also take on more responsibilities, pass on their knowledge to the newcomers while receiving those of their predecessors, in whatever domain they interest themselves in whether it be project management, accounting, marketing and so on. Strong organizational and communication skills develop as well. However, this 'career' only lasts for a few years, the time of their studies yet it is a very intense learning experience in how to work, organize and behave in a firm.

JADE Network, as well as professional partners, also come in to help by providing valuable training that students will not find in their curriculum and give them a head start in learning professional skills. Thanks to all of these elements, there is a strong culture of learning, sharing and teamwork within the movement as a whole where everyone is always trying to improve. Moreover, international meetings where JEs from around Europe gather together for training, team-building and networking are incredibly enlightening experiences that bring a strong international diversity to the movement where members have the chance to meet other youth from across the continent. However, there's more to Junior Enterprises than simply training.

The second, most challenging part of the adventure is going out into the field with all these newly acquired skills and accomplishing something with them. Junior Enterprises face the same cut-throat competition for clients as any other firm would and it takes a special kind of bravery, motivation and determination to go out into the business world so early. Essential skills such as negotiation or networking are put to the test right away and members quickly learn and improve them by experience and trial and error. Thankfully, you never go out alone and there are many professionals you meet along the way that will help and support you.

Sadly, Junior Enterprises are still a rather unknown project in the business world but they are always welcomed as they bring youth and dynamism to the work environment. Once a project is launched, members face the challenging mission of meeting a set of objectives and deadlines and there's more in jeopardy than a simply college grade now. Learning how to work under pressure while facing the real consequences of your team's actions is another strong skill junior entrepreneurs will learn over time. Managing and assuming one's responsibilities correctly under strain strengthens an individual.

The Junior Enterprise adventure is truly a trial by fire challenge. It's by jumping head first into the fray that is the business world that students learn the vital skills to work effectively in the workplace. Such skills are valued by potential recruiters as they take interest in a student that will be able to adapt right away to the professional workplace. They will not have to teach them the basic soft skills needed to work efficiently and their new employee will get down to business right away. This is an invaluable advantage for job seeking students when facing competition for a highly sought after job offer.. These skills will prove useful right away in many other situations that you can imagine. Participating in a Junior Enterprise takes a lot of time and energy, but the adventure and payoff are more than worth it.

Edouard de Mahieu

Edouard de Mahieu is currently following a master in management at the Louvain School of Management in Belgium as well as the External Relations Manager for LSM Conseil.