Zoom on: Interview with Thibault Galouye ( Bo 222)

Details
AFAM: hello Thibault, you are an intern (VIE) at Orano (Maryland, USA). Please tell us a few words about your VIE role.
Thibault: Hello, indeed, I recently joined Orano Enrichment USA for a VIE position as a Supply Chain Analyst. I am working on Project IKE, which consists of constructing a multi-billion-dollar centrifuge uranium enrichment facility in Tennessee.
I am mainly working within the procurement team, in close collaboration with the project management team. It is very interesting to be working on a project of this scale within the energy industry. I am learning a lot about very different areas related to Purchasing, Project Management, and the specific requirements of the nuclear industry.
AFAM: how did you find this VIE opportunity? Was it difficult to obtain this role? What makes you the best fit for this role?
Thibault: I found this VIE opportunity on the Business France website. It was pretty difficult to find this first job with only six months of experience. At first, I was mainly looking for a VIE opportunity in the supply chain sector, and I think there is a lot of competition for these types of positions. I applied to a lot of offers and finally got this opportunity.

I wouldn’t say I am the best fit, as several different profiles could fit this position by bringing different skills and perspectives. Nevertheless, I think that the nuclear sector is very technical, and the education I received at Arts et Métiers, with its strong focus on industry, is very helpful for me in understanding the requirements of the position.

Also, I think that my recent internship, where I worked with established processes, is helping me now, as I am working on a new project with many procedures and reporting tools to implement. I can take inspiration from my previous experience.
AFAM: We currently have several students in our Shasta internship program. What piece of advice can you give them?
Thibault: I would say: be bold and apply to the offers. Don’t hesitate to contact people, through the Soce or other means. It is also important to prepare for the interviews.
From my limited experience, it is a lot about opportunities to seize, and you have to dare to take them. You also have to be bold and resilient in case of unsuccessful applications.

Finally, I think it could be a great opportunity for them to discover a new culture and new ways of working.
AFAM: how did being a Gadz’Arts help you in your professional life so far?
Thibault: It helped me find my six-month internship, as I sent a message to a Gadz’Arts who helped me get an interview. For this VIE, I think it also helped me, but in a different way: it is more the reputation of the school that helped me secure this position. And as I said before, I think that in this sector, even though I didn’t study nuclear energy before, many of the different skills I developed during my years at Arts et Métiers are very useful.

Finally, I think that it is also helping me in my personal life. I have met several Gadz’Arts who are based in the US, and they have given me a lot of advice and feedback.
AFAM: You live in Maryland? How do you like it? What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
Thibault: Actually, I live in Washington, D.C., and I work in Maryland. I really enjoy it, as there are a lot of different things to see: monuments, museums, neighborhoods, and so on.

There are also a lot of great places to discover around the area, such as Shenandoah National Park and even some cities along the East Coast.
AFAM: thank you, Thibault
Picture ( courtesy of Thibault): Thibault (in the center) with friends at Shenandoah National Park
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