Fabrice TCHIMOU

I am eternally grateful toward the International University of Grand-Bassam (IUGB) for granting me the opportunity to pursue a degree of Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering Technology (MET) with a concentration in petroleum ‘technology. IUGB’s MET program is a hands-on and challenging program that provided me with theoretical and practical engineering knowledge and skills required to excel in my professional career. In addition, getting involved in extracurricular activities such the Speech Club, the Science Club, and the Student Government Association (SGA) has played a major role in both my personal and professional development.

Each regular semester (Fall and Spring), IUGB organizes a Career Day event titled “Get into the Professional World”. The event is designed to help students engage with local and international companies and find a profession that suits them. At the event, I had a great time discussing with many employers. ‘To me, however, two companies that stood out from all the rest were Cargill and General Electric (GE) dfor two main reasons: both multinational companies specifically provided details about how bilingual students with a background in engineering can be a valuable asset to their company in Cote d’Ivoire and within Africa; and they both showed a great interest in recruiting IUGB students and alumni.

I received the opportunity of an interview with Cargill, at their production site in Yopougon on February 18, 2019. Although I made it to the second and final round of the recruiting process, I was not selected. However, I learned a whole lot from the Cargill interview process. This learning experience has definitely allowed me to better prepare myself for the next opportunity. One thing that best defines me as a person is my ability to quickly recover from failure, learn from past experiences and strike back. Within the next few weeks, I received two invitations to interview for two different positions within two segments of General Electric: an Edison Engineering Development Program position within GE Power and an ASPIRE Leadership Development Program position within Baker Hughes, a GE company. After numerous interviews and a final assessment day, I was selected among multiple candidates to join the company as a field specialist.

My academic background at IUGB has been such a learning and rewarding experience. I am proud to say that I am the first ever IUGB alumnus to be part of Baker Hughes, a GE multinational company focused on smart energy.