Linn Kristin Soma
MSc Business Analysis & Consulting, 2013
Consultant at Capgemini (Norway)
Before joining the MSc I completed a degree in Psychology at the University of Strathclyde. Although I enjoyed Psychology I did not see it as the right career path for me, and decided to apply for the MSc in Business Analysis and Consulting, as my favourite part of my Bachelor Degree was conducting analysis on data.
I looked at a few similar courses across the UK, but I chose Strathclyde because of the Business School’s good reputation, the Management Science department’s excellent connections with industry and the strong focus on practical learning. However, the aspect that appealed to me the most and set the course apart from others was the opportunity to complete placements - an external placement in January and the chance to write a Masters project for an external organisation over the summer. I did not have much relevant work experience prior to the course, and saw this as a great opportunity to be able to work on some real projects for real clients, and hence gain some advantages over other graduates when later applying for jobs. I completed my 3 week January placement working for AMEC in Aberdeen, and the 3 month summer project working for Sainsbury’s Bank in Edinburgh. I gained valuable insights into how it is like to work for a modern financial institution, as well as experience with SAS programming.
The course was demanding, but also very rewarding. I learned many new skills in a short period of time, and also got hands-on experience working with SPSS, VBA, Business Simulation Software and Risk Modelling Software, to mention some. The fact that the course was so international was also great; I met some amazing people and made many good friends.
I believe the course has equipped me well for working life – I walked straight into a job as a consultant for Capgemini in Norway. At the moment I am involved in a project with one of the Norwegian financial institutions, working with SAS data warehouse development.
I would not be where I am today without this experience!
