Hi there, my name is Prome Hossain, a fourth year BComm student at UCC and I recently finished my 6 month placement at Gilead. This placement is part of the BComm degree, where students get the opportunity to immerse themselves in a professional environment and gain insights into their future career paths. By a participating in this, I was able to apply some of the theoretical knowledge I learnt throughout my studies and apply it in a corporate setting.
.jpg)
During the course of the 6 months, I got to work in the Finance team at the GFS office (Global Financial Services) in Cork. At the GFS site, the main goal is to provide financial services that helps the company’s growth whilst supporting their business partners achieving their goals at the same time. The GFS site consists of four teams: Record to Report (RTR), Procure to Pay (PTP), Order to Cash (OTC), and Payroll. I was part of the OTC team where some of my duties included: running and saving financial reports using IT systems, assisting with applying cash receipts to customer accounts as part of the Accounts receivable process and helping maintain and gather documentation for audits, among other tasks.
.jpg)
My time at Gilead has been such a wonderful journey. From the first day jitters, to leaving the office on the last day with such a grateful heart, I can confidently say that I have had such a positive experience throughout the 6 months. Some of the key highlights for me was attending our intern day where I got to meet the other interns and our monthly social hours where all the staff got a chance to come together and relax and enjoy a break from work. Attending these social hours helped me feel more incorporated into the team atmosphere and also gain connections outside the OTC team.
Although I was nervous and worried about not being to do the tasks properly and fitting into a new environment, my manager and my team made sure that I was comfortable and supported me in my learning from the beginning. Everyone made sure I understood the tasks I was given and encouraged me to ask as many questions and let them know if I was facing any issues. The guidance and encouragement that I received from them not only helped me develop new skills but also gave me the confidence to grow professionally and personally.
.jpg)
Studying BComm has really helped me prepare for placement. From perfecting my CV and interviews to developing key business knowledge, it gave me the tools to confidently step into a professional environment. During my time studying at BComm, I built a strong foundation in areas such as finance, marketing, management and accounting, whilst also developing and strengthening skills such as problem solving, critical thinking, communication skills and so much more. All these experiences throughout my time at BComm have allowed me to make the most of my placement whilst also being able to gain more experiences and skills from industry professionals and settings. I am excited to continue my final year applying the knowledge I gained at placement whilst also taking on new challenges, expanding my skillset and getting a better idea of the career path I want to take in the future.
Working at Gilead has changed my perspective on choosing finance as a career. Before starting placement, I was sure that finance wasn’t the path for me, but now I am much more open to the possibility. Working in this field and this company, has shown me aspects that I truly enjoyed and didn’t consider before. I am very excited to see what’s next in my career path and am welcoming each step I go with open arms. If I had to give one advice to someone doing their placement, it would be to go in with an open mind. You might just end up enjoying it more than you expect. Placement is as much about learning what you like as it is about building your career, so make the most of every opportunity.
.jpg)