Elevate your Master’s in Management with a professional immersion year

The immersion year also enhances students' professional networks. Building relationships with colleagues and industry professionals opens doors to future job opportunities and mentorship, helping students navigate their career paths more effectively. 

Lorenzo found this network invaluable in securing his current full-time position, telling us: “It was thanks to the internships that I managed to obtain an offer for a full-time position, something which would have been impossible otherwise.  

“In general, by exploiting the professional immersion year in the best way, students can build a powerful network and show recruiters the technical skills they have acquired.” 

Academic training provides a strong theoretical foundation, but applying this knowledge in a real-world context sharpens problem-solving, communication, and leadership abilities.  

Working in industry allows students to engage with business challenges, collaborate with diverse teams, and adapt to fast-paced environments—skills that are highly valued by employers. 

Akshit Pareek studied the Business Management track at EDHEC and currently works for Chanel. One of his internships was with L’Oréal Group, where he had several responsibilities that required him to put theory into practice: “I worked as an Assistant Brand Manager for five luxury brands and ensured the proper adaptation and execution of global brand guidelines in developing markets.  

“I was entrusted with significant responsibilities, such as streamlining product labelling practices and managing high-priority projects. This role also gave me the freedom to propose new ideas and solutions, which was a valuable learning experience.” 

Lorenzo had a similar experience on his professional immersion year: “For most students - including myself – the gap year represented the first real chance to shine in the job market. It’s an opportunity to practically learn how to apply in a concrete way the theoretical knowledge acquired in class, and, secondly, the best way we have to understand what we really like to do ‘outside school’.” 

Graduates with hands-on industry experience are often more attractive to recruiters because they have demonstrated the ability to apply their academic knowledge in a professional setting. Their familiarity with corporate structures, industry-specific tools, and business challenges gives them a competitive edge in the job market. 

Akshit firmly believes his experience working for L’Oréal Group and Pernod Ricard Group during his professional immersion year has helped him get the full-time role at Chanel which he holds today: “Both experiences complemented each other and strengthened my confidence, skills, and credibility, playing a key role in making me a strong candidate for my current role." 

Lorenzo agreed: “Thanks to my gap year, I have built a profile that will allow me to keep doing what I love for the years to come - hopefully." 

A professional immersion year can be a transformative experience, providing clarity on career goals, strengthening professional skills, expanding networks, and increasing job market readiness.  

By combining academic learning with practical experience, students emerge more confident, focused, and prepared to succeed in their chosen careers. When comparing business schools and Master’s in Management programmes, choosing a school that can offer you professional immersion is a no-brainer.