I feel that I have grown significantly as an individual through my studies in Sheffield, preparing me to succeed in my future career

After enjoying Business at A Level, I wanted to pursue this at university

Having enjoyed studying Business for my A Levels, I had a basic knowledge of how businesses are run in theory. My personal strengths also inclined me to take up a course in Business Management and I felt that there would be more opportunities ahead for me if I were to choose this path.

Upon completing my A Levels, I chose to take a gap year. During this time, I was fortunate to secure an 8 month long internship at a leading multinational company in Sri Lanka that produces and sells Fast Moving Consumer Goods. This was my first experience in a business environment and seeing first hand how a company operated, which instilled a sense of curiosity in me, making me want to learn more about how businesses across the world are run and managed.

I chose to study Business Management at the University of Sheffield due to the content the course offered and its relevance to current day corporate issues and operations

I eventually chose to study Business Management at the University of Sheffield not only due to the University’s Russell Group status and the Management School’s Triple Crown accreditation, but mostly due to the modules and content the course offered, with its relevance to current day corporate issues and operations. I felt that learning about the different aspects of a business and how it is managed, be it human resources, finance, marketing or business operations would be important in gaining a holistic view on how a business can be run competitively and profitably whilst managing and ensuring a positive work culture. My ambition was to have both theoretical and practical knowledge and as this course offers the option of a placement opportunity during the 3rd year, it felt like the ideal course for me, as I would get to learn from leading businesses in the UK which would add value to my course as well as for my personal development.

I felt excited about becoming part of a warm and supportive environment

The fact that the University of Sheffield throughout the years has been able to maintain its reputation as one of the best student friendly environments also encouraged me to opt for it. It was very important for me to be able to adjust and settle well into a new environment given that I would have to live here independently for the next few years.

During my time here in Sheffield through my own first hand experiences, I’m glad to say that this is entirely true. The Management School hosts regular enrichment sessions as well as student wellbeing activities that have helped me maintain a good balance between my academic and social life. These events, like the Winter Social and Support Dogs Day, helped me spontaneously make friends with common interests.

My move to Sheffield from Sri Lanka was a huge adjustment

Being from Sri Lanka, a sunny and tropical island nation, and having to adjust to Sheffield’s climate and culture was a big step for me. In order to help us settle in faster, the University organised many events and activities to welcome us as freshers, and this indeed helped me to connect with new friends. Therefore, I feel it’s important to take part in as many of these events as you can during your first few weeks in Sheffield. Whilst I did have moments where I felt homesick during my first semester in Sheffield, it has been an incredibly exciting experience for me as I have learnt to become more independent and responsible. I also believe it has helped me become much more resilient and stronger as an individual.

The Sri Lankan Society provides a safe, inclusive and welcoming ‘home away from home’ to Sri Lankan students in Sheffield

Within the society, I am the Social Media Officer. I am responsible for maintaining the society’s main social media pages by designing eye-catching posts to promote our events and also for liaising between the committee and other societies that reach out to us seeking opportunities to collaborate.

My role as Social Media Officer has taught me many valuable things. It has helped me to continue to build on my team working skills whilst also teaching me the importance of managing my time in order to balance my academic and extracurricular activities effectively. Moreover, through this experience I have also learnt to familiarise myself with software like Canva, and Adobe Photoshop which have come in handy not only for my tasks as a social media officer but also in broadening my skills, giving me an introduction to the requirements of digital marketing.

The Futures First module would have to be one of my key highlights so far

Having had the opportunity to study the module ‘Futures First Professional Self Management’ during my first year, I think this would have been one of the key highlights of my course so far. This module really helped me understand and consider my future career pathways early on, by giving me a better understanding of the current job market, skills and competencies that I need to acquire and what recruiters are looking for in potential candidates. Looking back at it now, I can confidently say that this experience has helped me develop my strengths and skills in more ways than I could ever have imagined, which I find particularly useful when applying my industrial placements.

In addition, the tips and support I have gained from the Employability Hub have proven to be extremely valuable

I have had the opportunity to seek support from the Employability Hub at the Management School when looking for advice on how to prepare an eye-catching CV for prospective employers and also for general advice on industrial placement applications. Apart from one on one meetings, the Employability Hub also hosts enrichment sessions where the staff take time to guide you through the process of identifying your skills and also showing you how you can further develop new skills that would help you stand out among a crowd when applying for placements.

My advice for prospective students

If you choose to study Business Management at Sheffield, try and attend all your workshops and tutorials, as this is where you will be applying the theories you learn at lectures into practice.

Also, don’t be afraid to ask questions! All our lecturers and teaching staff are extremely understanding, friendly and supportive and are always there for you when you need to clear your doubts, whether it's in person after class, during tutorials, or even through an email, so don’t feel shy!