BNP Paribas supports young people, the bank’s future talent

01.10.2021 | Recruitment

While the health crisis has impacted young people’s confidence about the future all around the world, it has also made them more eager to act for the environment. BNP Paribas has shown its understanding and support as a leader in sustainable finance by playing an active role in helping them to develop careers in line with their aspirations. The BNP Paribas group is not only supporting young people as a responsible employer, but also as a bank and company committed to a more just and inclusive society.

The message is clear: for 63% of young workers, improving society should be the top priority for companies. This impressive number was revealed by an international study conducted in August 2020, just a few months after the start of the pandemic. One year later, it’s still a safe bet that young people will have an even stronger desire to find meaningful work that contributes to a more just and sustainable world.

BNP Paribas, a springboard to joining the workforce

With 300 types of jobs and a presence in 68 countries, BNP Paribas not only has the capacity to welcome young people - students and recent graduates - and launch their careers, but it can also offer them a wide variety of opportunities and experiences. To make this happen, BNP Paribas provides support at every step on the way to joining the workforce. First, it maintains an active policy of internships and work-study programs, which are an essential breeding ground for future talent. Once again this year, BNP Paribas is committed to recruiting 2,000 people in France on permanent contracts, two-thirds of whom are newcomers to the workforce, as well as 2,000 interns, 2,000 work-study students and 200 young people on VIE programs.

Discover all our job offers (permanent contracts, fixed-term contracts, VIE, internship)

This year, the Group recruits in France :

2 000

people in permanent contracts, 2/3 of whom are new to the workforce

2 000

internships

2 000

work-study students

200

young people in viE programs

This approach applies globally across the Group, which offers, among others, special "Graduate Programs" in many countries that combine internships, meetings and certified training in partnership with leading universities. In the Asia-Pacific region - including Singapore, Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai - the Group organizes meetings in schools and universities and offers ten-week summer internships to students. In Europe (notably in the United Kingdom and Belgium) and the United States, BNP Paribas also offers training and employability programs. In France, the bank holds 500 events each year to meet with students and has 400 partnerships to strengthen its relationships with schools, universities and training organizations.

Learn more about the APAC Graduate Programme

In addition to recruiting, BNP Paribas also works to spark and maintain the interests of young people all throughout their careers, allowing them to change jobs and even countries if they desire. In 2020, more than 23,000 people moved inside the company in France and abroad across the Group.

In 2021, BNP Paribas was certified as a "Top Employer Europe", for the 8th consecutive year

Seeking young talent passionate about climate issues

BNP Paribas, the leading bank in the European Union and one of the world’s leaders in sustainable finance, has clearly expressed its mission within its statement of purpose: "We serve our customers and the world we live in". The Group can only achieve this mission with the help of committed and active employees who are knowledgeable and trained in social and environmental issues. This is purpose of the "We Engage" training program designed for the Group's 193,000 employees. This mission also involves recruiting candidates who want to help create the conditions for responsible growth and support the Group's customers in their transition to a more sustainable economy.

This is also the goal of the Sustainability Graduate program, which gives young graduates access to extensive information on sustainable finance issues. It comprises three work experiences in three different countries, training certified by the Cambridge Institute for Sustainable Leadership and a mentoring program. "This program gave me the chance to join a leading bank and to participate in projects that combine value creation and positive impact. The three experiences gave me a comprehensive perspective on BNP Paribas' initiatives to support companies seeking sustainable growth," says Alexandre Schmitt, a graduate of HEC Paris who joined BNP Paribas after completing the program.

We serve our customers and the world we live in.

Learn more about the Sustainability Graduate program

Taking action for equal opportunity

Another field of action for BNP Paribas as a responsible employer is professional development. In France, for example, where one out of three disadvantaged students drops out of certain courses of study because of the cost of higher education, BNP Paribas sponsors L'Ascenseur (Paris), a facility dedicated to helping young people find employment, and supports the work of APELS (Agency for Education through Sport). Internationally, BNP Paribas also works to promote education and workforce integration, particularly in Germany and Asia, where the Group is involved with several associations including APEX (Association for Pan-Asian Excellence) to help future leaders develop their personal and professional potential.

A fulfilling career guaranteed

More than one in four BNP Paribas employees in Europe is under the age of 35, proof of the fulfilling careers they can find at a Group that promotes inclusion and inter-generational dialogue, notably through its WeGenerations employee network. The Group's appeal as an employer is reflected in a number of rankings, such as Universum : BNP Paribas ranks as the 7th most popular employer for French students in 2021, notably for the variety of positions offered, career development support available and its inspiring mission.

3 questions for Valérie Bocciarelli, Group Employer Brand, School Partnerships and Skills Manager in France

What is BNP Paribas' main strength as an employer?

Valérie Bocciarelli (VB): I would say the diversity of perspectives! We are a Group with 300 jobs across very different environments. People who join us can move on to completely different jobs, in entities of all sizes, sometimes even in other countries thanks to internal mobility. I remember a young man who joined the Group as a bank advisor, then moved to HR, and is now part of our IT department. In France, we have between 8,000 and 10,000 transfers per year. In 2020, for example, amid the pandemic, one employee in six changed jobs. It is possible to take on many different challenges within BNP Paribas!

Do you receive feedback from candidates?

VB: Yes, of course, and this is very important to us. We have set up a series of indicators to learn what candidates like and dislike. We know, for example, that they value our ways of communicating with them: Both interactive and genuine; ‘Genuine’ because we inform candidates in concrete terms about our business lines and the prospects offered to them within the Group, ‘interactive’ because we allow them to interact directly with our business ambassadors via the Jobpreview platform. Since we believe that institutional rhetoric turns candidates off, we prefer to give the floor to our employees and managers. After all, they are the ones who will recruit and work with the candidate!

Do you have a message for young people who would like (or are not sure if they would like) to join you?

VB: We are looking for women and men who want to serve the world we live in by contributing to projects that have a positive impact on the economy, the environment and society. The scope of the options is very broad within the Group, both to take a step forward together and to develop them in a more sustainable way. Many of our employees did not think they would be here for very long, and then suddenly realize that a decade has gone by. With so many different activities and company structures within the Group, it can really make time fly! I think anyone who looks into what we offer would end wanting to join. So join us or ask your questions to our ambassadors on Jobpreview! (in French)

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BNP Paribas supports young people, the bank’s future talent

BNP Paribas, a springboard to joining the workforce

This year, the Group recruits in France :

Seeking young talent passionate about climate issues

Taking action for equal opportunity

A fulfilling career guaranteed

3 questions for Valérie Bocciarelli, Group Employer Brand, School Partnerships and Skills Manager in France

What is BNP Paribas' main strength as an employer?

Do you receive feedback from candidates?

Do you have a message for young people who would like (or are not sure if they would like) to join you?

More information

Discover our job offers

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