Suleman Mughal

I decided to undertake a placement because:

I felt I did not have adequate work experience in my field of study at the time, so I wanted to gain relevant work experience as this will have an advantage over others in future graduate applications.

The best thing/s about my placement is:

That even though it’s an economics placement, I'm not only learning about economics in a completely new light, but also data analysis and statistics, subjects I don't study much at university, as well as access to learn other disciplines too. Having access to learning resources that I don't have at university, such as learning Python coding from experienced data analysts, and training courses with other economists has allowed me to diversify my knowledge and skill set.

A placement will help me in my final year as:

I now have industry knowledge and experience in Economics, allowing me to be better informed on what aspects employers find most appealing in applications. I have also become more confident with Economics in general, now having a greater understanding of concepts put into action in public policy, which I can apply in my third year.

If I could give you one piece of advice about securing a placement it would be:

To apply to as many as possible, even if you think you won't get it. Worst thing they can do is say no and you learn from the experience anyway. Also look up what the specific skills an employer wants in a candidate, like certain competencies and have examples to back yourself in your application.