They learn. They contribute. They drive Soitec forward.
More than 100 work-study students and interns are currently growing across all company departments: R&D, human resources, communication, finance, sustainability... Everywhere, they hold real responsibilities and fully contribute to Soitec's projects.
Different paths, the same energy. Discover the journey of Maëva Therond, marketing assistant within the Marketing department.
Maëva: thriving by building bridges
As a work-study marketing assistant at Soitec, Maëva is completing her fifth year of work-study training. At the intersection of technology, creation, and team relationships, she helps turn complex technical features into clear, accessible, and valuable messages for customers.
From biology to tech marketing
After earning a science-focused high school diploma, Maëva initially chose to study biology. However, she quickly realized that this field, heavily focused on processes, left little room for human interaction and creativity. After six months, she decided to redirect her studies toward a Bachelor in Business & Marketing at IDRAC Business School in Grenoble. She completed this program through a work-study contract with an electronic components import-export company: "It gave me my first technical background in a field I knew nothing about," she explains.
This initial experience confirmed her interest in marketing and deep tech. Wanting to take things further, she joined GEM (Grenoble École de Management) for a Advanced Master's in Technology Management and Responsible Innovation, then joined Soitec in October 2024 for a two-year work-study program.
Translating tech, a concrete daily challenge
Within the marketing team, Maëva supports various business lines in promoting their product offerings. Her role? Translating complex technical characteristics into a clear and attractive offering for clients and value chain stakeholders. Webinars, flyers, landing pages, promotional campaigns, or event media: her assignments take many different forms.
"We have to turn technical features into a readable offer. It is very stimulating to switch quickly from a technical domain to more creative work."
Positioned at the interface between engineers, product marketing managers, and marketing operations, she collaborates with a wide variety of profiles.
This positioning at the boundary of technology and creativity is something she is passionate about. She particularly enjoys the tangible aspect of event management. After working on booth visuals, banners, or posters, she gets to see her creations come to life at events where Soitec participates.
"When we receive event photos, we can concretely see the impact of our work and the visibility it brings to the company."
Reaching out to others to bring projects to life
Maëva benefits from a high level of autonomy in her work. While some requests are directly assigned to her, she must also identify new opportunities herself and understand the needs of the different teams.
To achieve this, she prioritizes informal discussions, reaches out to colleagues, and strives to put herself in their shoes.
"You have to stay curious about what is happening around you, reach out to people, and continuously bring fresh ideas to the table."
This approach helps her better understand the challenges facing the business lines and design marketing assets that are tailored to their needs.
Throughout her work-study experience, she has developed key essential skills: autonomy, proactivity, and the ability to grasp complex technical data and translate it into clear value propositions.
Work-study programs: a springboard of confidence toward the future
After five years of work-study programs, the results speak for themselves for Maëva. For her, work-study is the ideal pathway to build real professional credibility and learn to communicate on equal footing with experienced professionals. She strongly encourages students to take the leap:
"Work-study programs are a great way to discover yourself and learn what you like and dislike. You are there to learn in a supportive educational environment, and it is an excellent way to steadily build self-confidence."
As she prepares to enter the job market, Maëva is looking toward international opportunities and aims to move into strategic marketing and project management, with a desire to work closer to the final product.
One thing is certain: she will take away a strong sense of confidence from these work-study years for the next steps in her career.
