What to do after a Bachelor's degree? The guide to choosing your path without making mistakes

What is a Bachelor?

The Bachelor in Management: a degree recognized by companies

Follow a Bachelor in Management It means giving you 3 years to understand how a company works, learn to work in a team, manage real projects, do internships or work-study programs, go abroad for a semester or a year, obtain a double degree in prestigious international universities... A Bachelor is not only an academic degree. It is a concrete immersion in the international professional world.

When you graduate from a Bachelor's degree, you already know how to build a market study, manage a budget, pitch an idea, and lead a meeting. Sometimes we even lived a semester abroad or took part in the life of an association. And above all, we have experienced things: failure, doubt, success, taking initiative. It is this mixture of academic learning and lived experiences that makes the Bachelor so professional.

At this point, we know each other a bit better. We feel what we are attracted to (or not), what we project ourselves into. And this is often where the real question arises: do I have enough luggage to enter the workforce, or should I go further?

A recognized diploma, a first step towards the world of work

Officially, a Bachelor confers a Bac +3 level. It therefore allows access to middle management positions in many sectors. But the reality of the market is sometimes more demanding and meets the objective of short studies.

To access strategic functions, a bac + 5 is required by companies and requires a specialization in a Grande Ecole Master. A Bachelor opens the doors for companies to start a career through middle management positions.

It is also a question of maturity: at the end of a Bac +3, some feel ready to work, others need to take a little more time to specialize, refine their project, or strengthen their employability by integrating a Master Grande Ecole as an initial or work-study program, an international course, or more structured support.

Another point not to be overlooked: academic recognition of the institution of origin. A Bachelor's degree approved by the State, which confers the License grade, guarantees a continuation of studies in Master Grande Ecole. But some schools get international accreditations like AACSB, EQUIS, or AMBA. If a school has all three, we then talk about “triple crown” — a label owned by less than 1% of business schools in the world.

On a CV, the degree represents recognition of the diploma allowing the continuation of a Grande École master's degree, international openness and high educational standards. For a recruiter, it is a way to immediately identify a solid degree, especially in competitive environments or abroad.

What studies should you continue after a Bachelor's degree?

A Bachelor is like a launching pad: you can already take off... but you can also go up to altitude. And for that, the passage through a Bac +5 remains, even today, a profitable strategy.

Why? Because the majority of positions of responsibility, especially in large groups, are calibrated for profiles with a Master.

And because in two years, you have the opportunity to specialize, strengthen your business expertise... and double your value on the market.

Integrate a Grande Ecole Master into a business school

It is the best known and most structured option. The Master Grande École gives you access to a comprehensive training over two years, with increasingly advanced specializations in M2.

This course is distinguished by its academic requirement, but above all by its close ties with the professional world : work-study programs, long internships, field trips, interventions by company managers.

Some schools, such as BSB, even offer to take these two years. 100% alternating.

Result? Your tuition fees are taken care of, you are paid every month and you come away with two years of experience to be valued on your resume. All in a logic of personalization thanks to support systems such as Pathfinder™, which helps you build a clear project that is aligned with your personality.

Opt for an MSc or a specialized master

You have a clear passion for digital marketing, the Data science, the corporate finance, the luxury management or even the Wine Business ? The MSc (Master of Science) and our specialized Masters immerse you in a specific business universe with expert speakers and promotions that are often very international.

For example, at BSB, students can choose from 12 programs like the MSc Luxury Management & Innovation, the MSc Artificial Intelligence & Digital Strategy Management or even the MSc Wine Management — all taught 100% in English and aligned with the current needs of businesses.

It is an opportunity to acquire a expertise highly sought after, often with an international outlook reinforced by Field Trips, partnerships with companies and supervision by professionals in the sector.

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Continue abroad, at a university or choose a gap year

What if you took the time to live a strong experience before specializing? A gap year in business, a semester or a master year abroad (e.g. in law, culture, tech) are all ways to Cultivate your uniqueness. These courses exist in most major business schools, as long as you anticipate them well.

At BSB, the flexibility of the course and the international DNA of the school precisely make it possible to build a tailor-made Master, with University exchange, alternation, double degree or associative experience according to your profile. The important thing is that you can find your path... even before you graduate.

Continuing studies is not limited to business schools. Some students choose to apply for a University master in France, especially in economics, management, or applied human sciences. This often involves a return to a more theoretical approach, but it can also offer bridges to teaching or research.

What you need to remember: the Bachelor gives you a solid foundation. Continuing your studies allows you to transform this base into a strong specialization, a proactive network, and a career accelerator.

The right choice? The one who gives you both meaning, expertise and concrete opportunities and that allows you to go further, at your own pace, with the right tools.

Is working after a Bachelor's degree a good idea?

Even though more than half of Bac + 3 graduates continue their studies, the job market opens up widely at this level: the diploma is recognized as a first managerial passport. Two questions dominate: what jobs? and What are the salary and career prospects?

Professional opportunities after a Bac+3 in business, management and management

As soon as you receive your diploma, several doors open up:

• Business development & sales
  You go behind the scenes of turnover like Business Developer or sales engineer. Your daily life? Hunt for new markets, negotiate firmly and manage a client portfolio that is growing rapidly.
  
  
• Marketing & communication
  Put on the hat ofassistant product manager, communication manager, marketing assistant Or of Community manager. Between launching a new range and creating buzzy content, you measure performance in real time and adjust the strategy like a KPI pro.
  
  
• Finance & management control
  Excel columns become your playground. Asjunior analyst or junior management controller, you monitor budgets, raise margins, and inform management on investment decisions.
  
  
• Customer relationship
  If you like human contact, become Talent Acquisition Assistant or account manager. You will source the best profiles or manage a portfolio of subscribers, by cultivating this rare quality: active listening.
  
  
• Human resources & CSR
  Sensitive to human dynamics and social issues, you can start as HR assistant or CSR mission manager. Recruitment, integration, quality of life at work or sustainable actions: you will be at the heart of internal transformations, with a real capacity for impact from the first missions.
  
  
• Entrepreneurship & start-ups
  Dreaming of adventure? Launch your project or become the right-hand man of a CEO. Business plan, growth marketing, pitching to investors: the learning curve is as steep as it is exciting!
  
  
• International Business Management
  Area manager, export sales assistant or international sales assistant... These positions are available from the Bachelor's degree, especially if you speak several languages. You manage international customers, monitor sales and manage a network of partners abroad.

💡 Good to know : Bachelors based on alternating courses show a rapid integration: 85% of graduates sign a permanent contract in less than four months. BSB offers to do your 3rd year of Bachelor as a work-study or as an initial one, you have the choice.

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Average salary and evolution: how much is your Bac + 3 really worth?

Let's be direct! At the end of a Bachelor's degree, the salary grids are no longer those of an internship. For a first sales or marketing position in the Paris region, the remuneration revolves around 30,000 to 35,000€ gross annually — a bit more if you're into finance or tech, where people like to pay for mastering Excel in a ninja way

But the diploma is only an entrance ticket; the curve can climb quickly. Three years later, those who have added a well-designed work-study program or a specialized Master's degree to their CV are already flirting with 40,000 — 45,000€, sometimes more so when they managed a six-figure budget or managed an international project in fluent English

The recipe? Measurable responsibilities (a portfolio, a P&L, a team), an English that no longer lags, and a specialization that sets you apart among recruiters. In short, your salary increases at the same speed as your ability to solve real business problems.

Key accelerators:

1. Have managed a budget > €100,000 or a significant customer portfolio;
   
   
2. Master professional English (TOEIC > 850);
   
   
3. Specialize (data, green finance, luxury, wines & spirits, etc.) via an MSc or a Grande Ecole Master with a specialization.

Short parenthesis “geography of salary” because not everything is at stake in Paris

In the Paris region, as we have seen, the entrance envelope flirts with 30,000-35,000 € crudes. For an identical position in Lyon, Nantes or Toulouse, count on average 7% less* — that is to say a fairly balanced range between 28,000 and 32,000€.

The gap exists, but it is often accompanied by a rent divided by two and a purchasing power that breathes; some graduates therefore see it as a winning trade-off, especially when remote work enters the equation. In the end, Paris pays better on the payslip, the province compensates in terms of quality of life.

It's up to you to choose the scale that suits you.

🔎 Zoom Bac +3, +2
A Bachelor's degree (bac + 3), supplemented by two years of apprenticeship in a Master, frequently propels you towards a first executive position: 92% of apprentices at a triple-accredited Grande École sign a permanent contract in less than three months.

To remember : the Bachelor in Management already opens a door to qualified jobs, but your speed of progress will depend on three levers: sectoral expertise, field experience (internships/apprenticeships) and network.

The profile of students who choose this path

Students who decide to work just after their Bachelor's degree do not necessarily have a homogeneous profile. But some traits come up often.

They are often personalities Autonomous, pragmatics, who need to experiment in order to move forward. They were able to experience a very engaging work-study program, or a significant internship that convinced them to extend their professional experience rather than going directly to a Master's degree.

There are also those for whom the financial question is central. The desire to become independent, not to increase the cost of studies, or simply to take a break. Working then becomes a way of building a project at their own pace, without haste.

Finally, some simply need something concrete. They need to see what they are learning for. To act, to confront yourself in the field, to test yourself. They are often enterprising profiles, to whom studies have given solid foundations, but who want to write the future in their own way.

The main thing in making this choice is to be in line with yourself. Working after a Bachelor's degree is not a default path: it is a demanding path, where you learn quickly, where you grow a lot... provided you go there with clarity and intention.

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How to choose the right path after a Bachelor's degree?

Asking the right questions (profile, ambition, professional project)

There's no right, one-size-fits-all answer to the question, “What to do after a Bachelor?” ” — only good questions to ask yourself. And sometimes it's the simplest ones that open up the best prospects.

What do I really like to do? In what environment do I feel good? Do I want to specialize or, on the contrary, broaden my horizons? Do I see myself evolving quickly in a company, creating my own company one day, or working internationally?

This questioning, if honest, often makes it possible to sort out what you think you should do and what you really want to build.

There is also another dimension: that of rhythm. Some need a breath of fresh air after three intense years. Others are in a rush and want to capitalize right away. You have to listen to yourself, observe how you feel. The best choices are rarely the ones you make by copying others.

Finally, it is useful to look in the face The skills we already have and those that still need to be developed. Apprenticeship, specializations, experiences abroad or coaching can then become levers for structuring a series of studies that is both coherent and ambitious.

Mistakes to avoid when choosing a course of study

The most common is to choose by default. To enroll in a Master's degree because “everyone does it”, or because it is more reassuring than facing a real decision. This type of choice, if not aligned, can lead to demotivation in the first weeks.

Another trap: focus only on the reputation of a school or a diploma, without checking if the content corresponds to your desires. Just because a program is recognized doesn't mean it's right for you. You have to look at the specializations offered, the formats (initial or apprenticeship), the possibilities of field experiences, the quality of the support.

Some people don't think to check if the degree is approved by the State and has a master's degree. This detail, which seems administrative, changes everything in terms of recognition and academic quality, especially if you want to join another course or go abroad later.

Finally, many people overlook the impact of their future environment. Studying also means living in a city, joining a class, feeling good in a school. The living environment, the premises, the culture of the establishment or the general state of mind are decisive elements, which are often underestimated.

Choosing the right path after a Bachelor's degree is not just answering the question “where to go?” It's taking the time to understand wherefore Here we go, and how will this step serve a greater trajectory.

If you are doing your Bachelor's degree at BSB, our Pathfinder support system^TM will allow you to build an academic, professional and personal project aligned with your personality and values. Each student has personalized and unlimited access to our coaches in order to make an informed choice for their future.

Student testimonies: what they chose after their Bachelor

At the end of their Bachelor's degree, the choices of students vary, but some courses stand out clearly. The majority of them decide to pursue a Grande École Master's degree, often on an alternating basis. This format allows them to finance their training, gain experience, and especially of specialize in a field they are passionate about.

This is the case of Manon, who after a 3rd year of a Bachelor's degree in work-study in the ready-to-wear sector, joined the Grande École Master with the specialization Marketing & Communication. “I needed to combine theory and field. The work-study program allowed me to confirm my interest in the sector, and to get fully involved in my business. Today, I am a junior product manager in the same structure.”

Romain, for his part, chose specialization Entrepreneurship & SME Management. After a successful apprenticeship as a development manager in a local business club, he decided to stay in Burgundy to develop his own project. “What I learned in business fed my entrepreneurial project. Courses on business planning, leadership or growth strategy gave me the tools to get started.”

sarah, passionate about finance since her 2nd year, went on to specialize Banking & Financial Engineering. She did her apprenticeship at a regional bank, where she was gradually given more responsibilities. “The combination between academic standards and the trust of my company has made me enormously progress. I am now hired on a permanent contract, while preparing for my CFA level 1 at the same time.”

And then there are those who choose to go abroad or change fields. Camille, for example, went on to MSc Wine Management, within the School of Wine & Spirits Business. Coming from a general bachelor's degree, she wanted to give meaning to her passion for the world of wine. “I don't come from a family of winemakers, but I've always liked this sector. The MSc allowed me to quickly become professional and to find an apprenticeship in a trading house in Beaune.”

These trajectories are varied, but all have the same requirement in common: Give a clear direction to your professional project after the Bachelor. The structuring framework of the Grande École Master, the specializations offered, and the possibility of completing them alternately are often the triggers for this maturation.

Finally, it should be remembered that BSB is one of the few schools to have the triple international accreditation (AACSB, EQUIS, AMBA). A prestigious label that less than 1% of business schools in the world have, and which is a real Asset on a resume, especially for those who aim for careers internationally or in large groups.

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FAQ — What to do after a Bachelor's degree?

Is a Bachelor's degree enough to find a stable job?

Yes, more and more companies are recruiting at Bac +3, especially in sales, marketing or management. That said, for positions of responsibility, Bac +5 is the norm.

Do you have to do a Master's degree to make a good living?

Not mandatory, but recommended. A Master's degree (especially a work-study program) allows you to specialize, acquire business experience and access better paid positions, often right out of the gate.

How to finance your studies after a Bachelor's degree?

Apprenticeship is the queen solution: it makes it possible to finance 100% of tuition fees and to be paid. Other options exist: grants, student loans, student jobs or course time arrangements.

Is work-study available after a Bachelor's degree?

Yes, many business schools offer Master 1 and Master 2 courses alternately.

What are the criteria for choosing a school after a Bachelor's degree?

Check the Master's degree, the international accreditations (AACSB, EQUIS, AMBA), the wealth of specializations, the work-study or international opportunities, and especially the quality ofsupport the student in a path that suits him. A school like BSB, for example, checks all of these boxes.

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* Sources:

publication.Ensegnementsup-Recherche.gouv.fr

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