Alumni: Calum’s Experience as the President of the Management School Society
Calum Armstrong is a recent graduate of the BSc Business Management course and was elected as the President of the Management Society.
My experience at the School has been exceptional and has challenged me in ways that has helped me to flourish both academically and professionally. Throughout my academic career at Queen’s, the School have provided me with many opportunities such as providing a platform for enhancing the course for future students and supporting me through the entirety of my placement at Microsoft.
Being accepted into the school to study Business Management, the staff encouraged all students to step outside their comfort zones and to leverage this opportunity for our own benefits. From this, I began my journey by becoming elected as a first-year representative which fuelled my academic career. Now I am leaving completing four years consecutively as a course representative, which has allowed me to see the progress and changes voiced come into fruition along the way.
Coinciding with becoming elected as first-year representative for the course, I also became the first-year representative for the Management Society. Both roles allowed me to meet so many new people who I now call close friends. They provided the steppingstones I needed to progress further personally and within my degree. I remained in the Management Society throughout my years at Queen’s, meeting many amazing people along the way and organising very successful events.
In my final year I became the President of the Management Society. With the support of my incredible team, we organised the biggest formal of 2022, and one of the biggest formals ever as an independent society at Queen’s University Belfast, with over 400 students in attendance. I leave the Management Society with an enhanced reputation, and I am proud of what the team and I have achieved.
Becoming president of the Management Society and leaving Queen’s University Belfast with not one, but two degrees, has been made possible thanks to the School, and all the staff and pupils I have met along the way with their unwavering support.
Through the DegreePlus programme, I was credited with another degree which is recognised by hundreds of employees worldwide. By obtaining my industry placement with Microsoft in Ireland as an Erasmus student, I was able to receive the credit for the programme upon completing my year abroad. DegreePlus offer various other paths to obtain the certification - it recognises the work of students who go beyond their degree whether it is through involvement with societies or course representation.
I found my placement with Microsoft with the encouragement of the Placement team. Through guidance with interview questions and my CV, I was confident when completing the interview rounds for Microsoft. I went through three different stages, all of which provided different situations to get a better understanding of me as a person. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Microsoft, my manager was an amazing support and friend throughout my entire journey as an intern.
I was pushed out of my comfort zone and developed skills that I previously believed I could not. Staff at Microsoft believe in you and it was encouraging to be in such a progressive company. My intern cohort based our events on mental health, which we were awarded for due to our first event getting the most attraction as an intern event. My specific team cohort were nominated on a global scale for our efforts on optimising the process of our roles. This was an amazing achievement to even be recognised globally and see our work in action. It helped fulfil my placement with Microsoft along with the opportunity to work in such a global and successful company.
The experience as an Erasmus student has not only awarded me with this extra degree, but it has also provided me with the knowledge and enhanced transferable skill base to be successful in the modern workplace. But most importantly, it provided me with new and exciting opportunities, pushing me out of my comfort zone to achieve things I did not recognise I could. Making incredible memories and friends along the way. I decided to become an advocate for placement and stepped up to become lead ambassador for placement students.
As the lead ambassador for placement students, it was important for me to share my journey open and honestly. I vouched that placement is an amazing experience which provides challenges and struggles to help students grow and develop in the real world. I was an outreach for those struggling to find placement or needed that extra push to enhance their CV or interview skills. This too was a great experience, as I was able to cherish and join in on the success of my fellow peers when securing a role for placement.
Originally my next steps were to follow up with my placement with Microsoft and potentially continue my career there. But after all the hard work over the last few years, I intend to travel for the next year and experience what the world has to offer a little more before I solidify my decision with my next career move. My last step for now is to thank the School and all the staff, with special thanks to Stephanie Graham (Senior Lecturer) and Jill McGrath (Placement Coordinator) who have been a phenomenal support along the way!
If you are thinking of doing a degree with the School, do it. You will be provided with challenges along the way that will help you grow professionally and personally, all with an amazing support network right at your fingertips.
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