Caroline Dubus, vocational bachelor's degree in building trades (2023), project manager for fixtures at Ateliers Duvernois

Caroline Dubus, former UCO student, shares her experience at the Université Catholique de l'Ouest and her career path in this interview dedicated to UCO Alumni.

Can you tell us about your background?

I started with a Bac S, then went on to do a BTS in interior design in the Orne region, and then went on to study for a Licence Professionnelle in building trades at UCO Laval, encouraged by my teachers and parents. I didn't particularly want to do it, but I don't regret it at all, as it's a course that really adds value to my BTS. I was able to develop more specifically the customer, management and interpersonal aspects with teams and customers, and that's something I really appreciate in my current job as a technical draughtsman and project manager.

What have you gained from your work-study degree at UCO?

The courses were really what I expected. I'm a very technical person, and it took me out of that. Now I can communicate more easily with customers and teams. I'm much more at ease.
When you do a work-study program, you get to see a business model, with its administration, workshop and fitters. We get to see how each stage of the process works, something we don't get to see in the initial course. So it's really interesting to do a work-study program at the bachelor's level.

How would you describe the license in a few words?

Mutual support, because we need to help each other, for example with projects or even with feedback from each other's companies. Each company has its own way of doing things, so it's also a good way of seeing other horizons.
Work, because there's a lot of personal work involved. You have to hang in there, it's pretty tough. As it's condensed into one year, you can't hang around, but it's easy to do, and anyone can do it. As long as you're motivated to go for it, there's nothing to worry about.

What are your responsibilities and what do you like about the job?

I love drawing technical plans and then presenting them to customers. I also place all the orders for materials for the company. It's quite a big responsibility, which I wouldn't have been able to take on if I'd only had my BTS. I also have to deal with sales people, customers and teams.
I'm also responsible for making sure that the job goes smoothly, from the moment the estimate is signed to the end of the installation, that there are no problems, and if there are, to resolve them as they arise so that there are as few problems as possible at the end.

What advice would you give to a student hesitating to take the degree?

Maybe it's a bit weird, but even if you don't want to go or it seems too difficult, you still have to try, because it's opened up so many avenues for me that it's really a plus.

You can't stop at the BTS, you have to do the licence. It's extremely important, even when it comes to choosing a job.

You recently changed companies. Has the license been an asset?

It's very difficult to be recruited with just a BTS. A bachelor's degree gives you that extra edge and knowledge.
I've applied for jobs that required 5 years' experience, but I barely had 2 with the sandwich course, and that didn't stop companies from hiring me.