Graduate Profiles

Why did you chose to study your course at Sheffield?

I grew up reading the 'Economist' which made me realise that Economics has an impact on almost every aspect of our lives and helps you to understand how we as a society make choices. I have also always had a passion for languages and having studied Spanish at school made me certain that I wanted to take this further.

Moreover, as an economist I was fascinated by the rise of Latin America and the role that emerging markets might play in the future. This helped convince me that combining languages with a social science would stand me in good stead for whatever I might decide to pursue post university.

What did you particularly like about your course and / or the city?

I love that my course gives me a huge amount of variety which means no two days are ever the same. For example, from analysing the current situation in the international financial markets and macroeconomic policy, to looking at Peruvian political culture and the intricacies of Spanish grammar. It helps you to develop a sound base of vital skills.

Sheffield has the best of both worlds, it is a great city with good night life and shopping and it also has the peaks which are not too far for lovers of the great outdoors. Plus the city has great transport links to other major cities which makes it very accessible.

What top tips would you give to someone thinking about coming here to study?

Get involved with as much as you possibly can. Sheffield has the top student union in the country and with it comes an array of student societies and volunteering activities to get involved in. There is something for everyone. In addition, take advantage of the University Careers Service which has strong links with some of the country's largest graduate employers and can help you to secure work experience during your summer holidays.

Where did you go and what did you do during your year abroad?

I spent my year abroad in Buenos Aires working as a Business Analyst at a global managment consulting firm.

The diverse landscapes, the fusion of indigenous and European cultures and the interesting economic circumstances in which Argentina has found itself over the past few decades made the country a fascinating place to live.

I had initially planned to spend only the first semester in Argentina and the second semester in Spain on Erasmus, but I enjoyed my first semester so much that I decided to stay in Latin America for the whole academic year. I also took advantage of being in Latin America for the whole year by visiting, neighbouring Chile, Brazil and Uruguay.

What have you done since you graduated? How did your degree help?

I have a graduate job lined up at Barclays as a Corporate Banker. My degree has been instrumental in helping me to secure this role. Barclays have a base in Spain and Portugal and have plans to expand into Latin America so they liked that I was both an Economist and a Linguist. The different components of my course have equipped me with a set of core skills necessary to succeed in a professional work environment.