“The VIE at Inetum in Portugal gave me the opportunity to combine a rewarding professional experience with great quality of life.”

How did you find out about Inetum and how did your integration go in Portugal?

After graduating in computer engineering in Reims, I decided to continue my computer engineering studies abroad to discover other cultures. The VIE program gave me the opportunity to do just that. I was attracted by Portugal and Inetum had posted an advert on the Business France platform for a position in Lisbon. The fact that Inetum is one of the biggest IT companies in France was a major factor in my decision.

How did your integration go?

I was very well received by my colleagues, and my professional integration went off without a hitch. I didn't speak any Portuguese at all, but the language barrier wasn't a problem as we speak English at work and several of my colleagues also speak French. And Inetum offers courses with an in-house Portuguese teacher.

Which team did you join and on what projects?

I joined the Consulting team for EDF on a TMA Finance project. My work involves the development of three applications linked to the management of property loans, nuclear power plant equipment, and time & absence.

What were the main challenges and how did you overcome them?

Learning relatively old technologies for applications developed in Java and PHP dating back to 1999-2000 was the hardest part, due to the lack of online resources and an inactive community. I had to quickly understand what was expected of me to become operational and bring value. Fortunately, my colleagues were very supportive in helping me understand the projects.

What lessons did you learn from this experience?

Whatever the technology, old or new, knowledge of languages is always reusable. But above all, it's the learning process that has proved beneficial. I was able to learn and adapt quickly, which is a valuable skill.

Why did you decide to continue your career with Inetum after your VIE? 

I like the project. The EDF project is interesting and I think Inetum is making good progress in this area. And I really like life in Lisbon. Getting a permanent contract with Inetum in Portugal offered me a unique chance to combine rewarding professional experience with quality of life.

What are your goals and expectations for this new stage in your permanent contract?

Initially, I'm going to continue my role with EDF, which has given me complete satisfaction and enriched my professional development. Eventually, once I've gained professional experience, why not move on to a project manager or tech lead position.

What advice would you give to future candidates considering following the same path as you as a VIE?

First and foremost, you need to be well prepared for your arrival in the city and the formalities involved, especially when it comes to finding accommodation. Personally, finding accommodation took me a long time, and the language barrier didn't help at first. For the rest, my advice is: “Don't be afraid of the unknown! Go for it!” It's really an opportunity to live a very enriching experience, well supervised by Business France and Inetum, which provides real follow-up on my tasks, my expectations, my training needs, etc. In my opinion, Inetum is a company that cares about its employees.