Rahul Gupta
Country Of Origin: India
Degree: BSc Accounting and Finance, 2020
Trainee Chartered Accountant, Flemmings
Why did you choose to study at LUMS?
I chose to come to LUMS firstly as it was ranked one of the best universities in the UK. I was also amazed by the campus which is huge and also the services LUMS was providing its students. The in-house careers team was really good as they had various workshops for students to attend, for example CV Clinics, mock interviews, mock assessment centres, etc. When I myself experienced this after arriving in Lancaster, I realised that all these things will really help in guiding me in the right direction and prepare me for applying for various job opportunities.
What was the best thing about your course?
The best part about the BSc Accounting and Finance programme was that throughout my three years it gave me the opportunity to work in different teams for coursework assignments and projects. This gave me a great opportunity to work with people from different parts of the world with different backgrounds and culture. I was able to learn a lot of new things this way and LUMS also offered a wide range of subject options ranging from tax, audit, finance, etc.
What/who inspired you most at LUMS and why?
The LUMS careers service has really inspired and helped me by giving guidance and providing me with a direction when it comes to applying for internships or graduate jobs. I have gained a lot of knowledge from them on various interview and CV tips which helped a lot.
Did you do a project, placement or study abroad? What did this involve and what did you gain?
I was part of a Business Game which was held by LUMS at the end of the year, where we had to run a virtual business. We had to analyse the market and the market situation and accordingly increase or decrease our product price, cost on marketing, sales, market research, etc. After several rounds of the game, we understood how the market is functioning and what necessary adjustments we need to do in our approach. And when the game was finally done our team was ranked in 13th position on the stock exchange out of almost 100-150 groups, which, I believe, helped in developing good skills such as leadership, team-working ability, interpersonal skills, etc.
Describe your time at LUMS in three words
Motivating, Memorable and Rewarding.
What are your best memories of your time at Lancaster?
The best memories of my time at Lancaster is that I met so many wonderful people from all over the world, spent quality time with them and these connections will last a lifetime. Being part of the Lancaster University Cricket Club and winning Roses was a completely different feeling.
What are the best things about living in the Lancaster area?
The campus has all the basic things that you need, ranging from grocery stores, cafés, restaurants, sports centre, etc. and there was also good connectivity to nearby places such as the Lake District and Manchester.
Which parts of your Lancaster experience were the best preparation for your job?
Where we had to give presentations, work in teams and especially the Virtual Business Game which is part of the Accounting and Finance programme - these all gave a great idea on how things will be when proceeding to do a job.
What impact has your Lancaster experience had on your career?
This experience has been wonderful as it taught me a lot of new things. The Autumn Careers Fair is a must-go as there are so many employers who come and share their insights about the application process and various other things which provide a headstart when you start applying for positions, as you are aware in advance what to expect.