What were the most fun aspects of university life at Lancaster?

Lancaster University’s college system provides a great way of enjoying the university experience. With nine bars on campus, college sports tournaments, and a real community feel, there is no shortage of entertainment at Lancaster. There are also many clubs and societies that students can get involved in, giving them the opportunity to make new friends and pursue their passion, or to try something completely new. Being part of the Economics society at Lancaster gave me the opportunity to get to know my fellow course mates, and to socialise with them outside of the degree.

Did you do a project, placement, study abroad? What did this involve and what did you gain?

As part of my degree I completed at 15-month placement at Johnson and Johnson. During my third year, I worked within the pharmaceutical division of the company, in the Finance department as an analyst. From day one I was given projects and responsibilities that I was accountable for, which at first was daunting, but gave great learning experiences. These included being the lead for intercompany accounting for the business and reporting of financial data to senior managers based at the U.S headquarters. I also managed a European-wide project to implement a new IT interface for the Finance teams. This experience truly provided me with the tools needed to work in a fast paced and technical environment, with soft skills such as time management, communication and teamwork at the heart of role.

How would you summarise your experience at Lancaster?

My experience at Lancaster has been the best of my academic career so far, giving me the opportunity to pursue my interests both academically and socially. I have made long lasting friendships, and have gained new skills that will serve me in my future career.

If you used the LUMS Careers support services, how did this help you to get your job?

The careers department at LUMS helped me greatly in getting a placement with Johnson and Johnson, right through the application process, from helping with my CV, to advice on interviews and assessment centres. The team are readily available and are always willing to help, either in workshops or in one-on-one appointments. The careers fairs also show the extensive link with industry that LUMS has, with many top employers coming onto campus. These give students a great opportunity to meet employers and find out more about what career might interest them.

What you are going on to do next and how the skills you gained during your time at Lancaster helped you with this?

Since graduating from Lancaster I have worked for Johnson and Johnson in their Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) department, within the Global Functions team. In this role, I am responsible for budgeting and forecasting activities, where I am able to use the quantitative skills that I have learnt as part of my degree. After completing a year, I will be returning to LUMS to undertake a Masters degree in Management to further my skills and opportunities.