What was your first student job?

I did two internships in a bank when I was between 16 and 17 years old. The first one was in a branch for a week and then in the legal department for a month. I learned a lot and enjoyed the working environment within the bank and the people I worked with. This experience also gave me an insight into the banking environment.

Then, at the age of 19 or 20, I went to business school and did various internships, including one in a soap and olive oil factory in Marseille. It was really assembly line work, filling cans; a very different world, but just as interesting. Finally, my first paid internship, at the age of 20, was at the Société Générale in Meylan.

How much did you get paid for this student job? Did you do anything fun with the money?

I was paid 1,100 French francs, which I put aside for a trip around Europe.

What was your first “real” job?

I started my career as a junior auditor at Deloitte in Luxembourg in 1998. I was 22 years old. I came to the interview and said that I wanted to do this job for two years to gain experience before leaving to do something else. In the end, I stayed as an auditor for ten years before moving to the human resources department; in total I spent 16 years at Deloitte.

How much did you earn at Deloitte and what did you spend your first paycheque on?

I was paid 85,000 Luxembourgish francs. It may not have been my very first paycheque, but I’d been dreaming of a pair of shoes of a certain price. And I had the pleasure of buying them myself. I kept them for years.

Today, what would you say to a young Delphine Berlemont handing you a CV for a first job?

The advice I can give to a young person about to start a first job is to be open to all opportunities. Don’t be afraid, don’t hesitate. Accumulate as much varied experience as possible. Because in the end, all experiences, whether they are happy or more difficult, help you grow and build your career.