Every December, there’s a moment when the year starts to feel like a messy browser with 37 tabs open. You remember you did a lot, but it’s strangely hard to describe what changed, what you learned, and what you want next. That’s exactly why an annual review matters: it turns a blur into a narrative—and a narrative into direction.
And if you’re an Indian student in France, that direction isn’t only about grades. The real work is also: finding internships/jobs, adapting to French academic and workplace culture, and building a network from zero. If you don’t pause to review, it’s easy to repeat the same year, just with a new calendar.
The problem with “big goals” (and why a review fixes it)
Most people start January with goals that sound ambitious but aren’t connected to evidence. “Get an internship.” “Improve my French.” “Network more.” These aren’t bad goals. They’re just vague. A short review forces you to answer better questions:
- What did I actually do this year that moved my career forward?
- What worked in France (and what didn’t)?
- Which skills did I prove, not just “practice”?
- Who are the people in my network that matter—and did I maintain those relationships?
- What are the next three steps that are small enough to finish?
A review helps you to go beyond simply planning for the next year. It helps you to communicate, and builds your personal brand as well as a proof of work + story. If you can describe your wins with metrics, your lessons with clarity, and your goals with specificity, your profile improves, your interviews improve, and even your LinkedIn starts sounding like someone recruiters take seriously.
Introducing the 10–15 minute annual review (France edition)
At Ask Sétu, we have adapted the well-known “Yearly Review” by Dickie Bush & Nicolas Cole into something that fits real student life: short, structured, and France-specific.
It’s designed to be:
- Career-first (skills, outcomes, interviews, portfolio)
- France-specific (cultural adaptation + French communication)
- Network-heavy (coffee chats, referrals, follow-ups)
- Short enough to actually finish (10–15 minutes)
Here’s what you’ll do in the review:
The magic is step 10. A review that ends with “I should…” is just reflection.
A review that ends with “I did…” records action and helps build momentum.
Get the template (copy + fill)
- ✅ Copy + fill it out your own document
- Tip: Go to File → Make a copy (on desktop) / ⋮ → Share & export → Make a copy (on mobile).
- ⏳ Set a 15-minute timer. Write bullets, not essays. If you get stuck, write “N/A” and move on.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PEAhIjvP7LILbSlz5H7UwKBf7ZfjspRtZHzZsP-opSo/edit?usp=sharing
If you’re too impatient (or too busy) to do the full 10–15 minute version, here’s the 30-second LinkedIn version you can copy-paste and fill.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Y0FWxd0W7TYKkjg7QUgoT9obX-bPwR0d89BHVkamuH0/edit?usp=sharing
If you want the original inspiration behind the yearly review format, it’s here.
Your next step (and how Ask Sétu can help)
If you want to go beyond reflection and turn this into real progress, Ask Sétu can help you build a stronger CV and LinkedIn, create a clearer internship or job search plan, and develop a networking approach that feels natural, while also guiding you through the “France factor” (communication style, applications, interviews, and positioning yourself as an international candidate). If you’re looking for more clarity and momentum in France, reach out when you’re ready.
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