Voluntary Program V.I.E

What is a V.I.E?

A V.I.E is a French volunteer program run by Business France that was originally designed to boost the French economy and promote international mobility among young professionals.

At ALTEN, we offer volunteer positions in various areas. Most of the positions are in consulting, but other positions such as recruiting or marketing jobs are also advertised as V.I.E positions.

What are the requirements for this program?

You must be between 18 and 28 years old, have a university degree, and come from an EU country. The program allows you to work abroad from 6 to 24 months.

It is also important to note that to complete a V.I.E in Germany, you must not have worked in Germany before – however, an Erasmus semester is not a problem.

What steps do you have to take before you can start?

I had to go through an application process first. After I was accepted, I had to take care of a few organizational things.

Among other things, I registered with Business France, opened a bank account in France, and had a medical check-up. Then I started organizing the move. ALTEN helped me with this and paid for moving expenses such as flights and luggage.

Where do we hire V.I.Es?

Basically, all over Germany. Most of them are in Hamburg and Munich, though. We currently have a total of 86 V.I.Es at ALTEN throughout Germany.

Do you need prior knowledge or practical experience?

No, not necessarily, but you do need a university degree.

What would you say to someone who is still unsure whether V.I.E is right for them?

You must be flexible and open-minded. This is essential, especially in consulting. As a V.I.E consultant, you are hired for a project, but these can change from time to time. Then, of course, the team and the areas of responsibility also change. But I think it’s also a very good opportunity to learn as much as possible.

V.I.E positions are mostly junior positions, so you don’t have to be a professional right away. But of course, you should be willing to develop your skills and work proactively.

For me, it’s important that new V.I.Es fit into the team and are themselves.

What tips and tricks are there?

Before coming to Germany, it’s useful to brush up on your German skills. You should always stay on the ball and keep learning.

ALTEN also offers free German courses. As a consultant, it’s not always necessary to speak German; it depends entirely on the customer. In the back office, however, a knowledge of German is important.

Why should I start at ALTEN as a V.I.E?

One advantage is working in an international environment. You get a wide variety of impressions. In addition, consultants can get to know various important customers and thus gain insight into different companies.

Furthermore, many V.I.Es are given the opportunity to continue working at ALTEN afterwards.

Can German graduates also do a V.I.E at ALTEN? For example, at ALTEN France?

German graduates can also go abroad to French companies, but also to ALTEN in Spain, for example.

Theoretically, there is even the option to split the program. This means that you spend one year at ALTEN Spain and one year at ALTEN France.

However, as a German citizen, you cannot be a V.I.E in Germany as that is not what the program is intended for.

What else is worth knowing?

V.I.Es receive international health insurance from Business France. If they are ill, they have an app on their cell phone that connects them to a doctor.

There are VIE communities in various cities that regularly organize after-work events where you can network.

Sometimes there is also the option of working from home.

It is important to note that during the V.I.E program, you are not allowed to spend more than seven consecutive days in your home country.