Alumni Insight: What advice would you give to your former self?

23 March 2020

We caught up with our undergraduate alumni and asked them what piece of advice they would give to their former self before they started at University.

Luis Peiro-Camaro Adán - BSc International Business (with Languages) (2013 – 2017)
Analyst, Graduate Program at S&P Global Ratings

“If I had to give one piece of advice to my younger self ready to start university, it would be to dare to go that one step further, to be proactive in looking for new experiences. I strongly believe that university is not only about learning, but also about the experiences that play an important role in determining your future self. Make the most of everything that Warwick Business School, University of Warwick has to offer, the diversity of students from all over the world, student societies, courses, teamwork experiences etc. Most importantly, stay open minded and reflective, do not just accept things as a given, challenge ideas, develop your own opinion and do so by enjoying you experience at university! There is no experience, whether good or bad, from which you cannot learn something about.”

YasmineYasmine Lemrani Alaoui - BSc Management (2016 – 2019)
Analyst at J.P Morgan

“Start off strong and don’t fall behind – in order to stay motivated throughout the year, the best piece of advice I could give my former self is to be organised as soon as possible. I learnt that planning my days in advance was a great way to stay on top of my work and stay motivated. I would also tell myself to make sure I attend all of my lectures and prepare my seminar work in advance. Especially during the exam period, I remember when I felt that I needed a break I would go running with my friends or go boxing; there are a lot of exercise classes at the University of Warwick which is brilliant for when you need a break from revision. Finally I would tell myself that whenever I felt overwhelmed, I shouldn’t hesitate to reach out to my personal tutor, they are there to provide support.”

Murtaza MohammaedMurtaza Mohammaed - BSc Accounting & Finance (2015 – 2019)
Assurance Associate at EY

“My one piece of advice to 2015 (fresher me) would have been to step out of my comfort zone earlier on and interact with people from different parts of the world to learn about how the world works. Finally, I would advise to keep academics a priority whilst remaining open for any non-academic growth opportunities presented at Warwick. To anyone who is thinking of applying to WBS I would say that it is a great place to study with a plethora of opportunities available to you.”

Alessandro Bianchi Maiocchi - BSc Management (2014 - 2017)
Business Intelligent Analyst at UCapital24

“I would tell myself to get involved in all possible activities from day one, learn which societies or sports clubs best suit your personality and ambitions and to make the most of being within that society/sports club environment. On the academic side, I would say to develop a mindset for continuous growth and remember to focus on all the modules within your degree. The timetable is designed in a way where the modules you complete in your first year will benefit you for second year and so forth. And of course, enjoy your time at WBS. You have the best years of your life ahead!”

Sabine WatsonSabine Watson - BSc International Business (with Languages) (2010 – 2014)
Global Brand Manager for ITL - Intelligent Label Solutions

“I would tell a younger Sabine to come prepared - and this is applicable to both the social and studying side of University.

From a social perspective: be prepared to step outside your comfort zone and start from scratch to meet amazing lifelong friends. Come prepared with all your bits and bobs for the kitchen and your new room so that you can spend more time getting to know your new environment!

From a work/studying perspective: do not just turn up to your lectures and seminars. Do the reading and research beforehand (like you did in your final year!) by doing that you’ll find that the lectures not only make more sense but you can also ask the right questions to help you gain a deeper understanding of the subject and help you achieve that first. You’ll also find that in doing so, you actually end up panicking less when the dreadful revision period begins and you’ll be able to remember the facts better and faster.”

Eleanor BurgessEleanor Burgess - BSc Management (2016 – 2019)
Marketing Co-ordinator at BBC Studios

As a recent WBS graduate, I will always look back on my time at Warwick as being such an amazing chapter of my life. However, when starting university I do remember feeling quite overwhelmed, as there were so many activities going on and things to do. From making new friends, living in student halls, joining societies, cooking (or attempting to, in my case!) as well as managing the workload, it can be challenging to balance everything. With this in mind, the first piece of advice I would give my former self is to make the most out of every opportunity on offer and to not be afraid to do something that is out of your comfort zone.

I would also encourage myself to maximise the career support from when I first arrive on campus. From CV workshops to interview preparation techniques and Employer Days - there are so many opportunities to gain experience and grow your network as a student at WBS, especially through the WBS CareersPlus team.

The final piece of advice would be not to worry or overthink things too much; your first year is about finding your feet and settling into the start of a new chapter. If things don’t make sense right away, don’t panic. You can do it, and don’t doubt yourself and your ability!

Are you ready to make your mark in the world of business? Download our Undergraduate brochure to find out more about the courses on offer at Warwick Business School.