Kypros Perikleous

Why did you apply to the University of Bradford?  Please include the following: What was your first impression of the university and the city?  What did you enjoy most about your time in Bradford?

I have applied to the University of Bradford because it represents the values I was expecting to develop at that time, in relation to my future plans. It was the first time I came to the United Kingdom and I was extremely impressed of how big the University was. My first thought was that I will never be able to find the classrooms! Throughout these four years, I really enjoyed meeting new people with different cultural backgrounds. I have been involved in many activities offered by different clubs of the University, such as sports, charity and social clubs.

Why did you choose that particular course?

I choose BSc (Hons) Accounting & Finance for plenty of reasons. Initially, I have been influenced from family members working in that field, therefore, I knew what it is like to be an accountant and this seemed pretty interesting to me. Moreover, I always used to like dealing with numbers and figures, and this is mostly because I enjoy the process until being able to find a result. The most interesting part of my studies so far, is when I have to complete projects, either individual or group, that require research for different companies, and then analysis of different aspects.

What tips would you give to prospective students?

Accounting and Finance course provides students with the opportunity to enhance fundamental skills required in the workplace, like problem solving, analytical, and numerical skills. There are different features consisting of the whole concept of Accounting & Finance that probably some people have never known before. These features can be management accounting, financial accounting or even stock exchange, to which I am personally interested.

What support have you received from Career and Employability Services and Placement Staff?

Career and Employability Services always have the answers I was looking for!  The services provided, helped me during all the years of my studies, but specifically when I decided to take a placement year. Two modules offered from Career and Employability Services; the Self Development as well as the Employability and Enterprise Skills, were extremely important not only for understanding workplace in the UK, but also to help me developed the skills required to be successful.

Furthermore, in the second year of my studies, I had the opportunity to take part in a mock assessment centre, in which I had interviews with different employers and they provided me with feedback on my performance. I can say with confidence, that these activities were vital for my personal development, as well as for assuring a placement year at Yorkshire Water.

What action are you taking to improve your employability whilst at University?

Returning for my final year, I will make sure that I keep in touch with people I used to work together, and I will also try to make new connections. Also, I will try to get a part time job so I can enhance my work experience.

What advice would you give to your fellow students about finding placement and work experience opportunities?

My primary advice would be to apply for that job you really like, no matter what!  Even if you get rejected, it is an experience that is learning you a lot.

Tell us about your placement.

I have completed my placement year at Yorkshire Water as a Master Data Administrator. During this year, I have been assigned to different projects, like GDPR, and Vendor Data Project. Some of my responsibilities were to contact the suppliers and to keep records up-to-date. The participation in different projects helped me to adapt easily to changes, and also to gain multiple skills, such as attention to detail, numerical, decision making skills, and last but not least, it helped me to develop my communication skills, both written and oral.

How will the placement year benefit you when you return to study at the University of Bradford?

I strongly believe that the placement year helped me both in personal and employability levels. At personal level, it helped me to realise how important commitment is, and from a personal perspective, this is the only ingredient in the recipe of success!

From the employability perspective, this placement year boost my skills which can be extremely helpful for me to find a graduate job. Also, it helped me understand how different topics we are analysing in theory at university are used in practise in real life.