UU Business School student, Ben, wins BDO interview award

Ben Murphy has won a two-week placement with BDO as runner-up in the BDO Interview Award. Ben is pictured with Laura Jackson (left), BDO Partner and Professor Gillian Armstrong, Ulster University Business School.

As one of the top performing students, Ben Murphy, a former pupil at Ballyclare High School, received a two week placement and mentoring in the BDO Northern Ireland offices in Belfast.

Organised by the Business School and the University’s Careers/Employability Unit with support from BDO Northern Ireland, the Award process comprised interview skill training provided by BDO senior staff as well as a series of mock interviews undertaken by senior staff from both organisations over a four-day period.

Professor Gillian Armstrong, a Head of Department within the Business School, said: “Building tangible and practical links between our students and local businesses is a vital part of delivering invaluable work-based learning. By working in partnership with BDO we have been able to provide interview experience and the opportunity to practice those skills so essential for successful future recruitment.”

The participating students are all undertaking an innovative module on Career Entrepreneurship as part of the BSc (Hons) Accounting and the BSc Finance and Investment Management programmes within the Business School.

Laura Jackson Partner at BDO Northern Ireland and involved in the creation of the scheme with UU added, “We are delighted to congratulate Ben for his success in the BDO Interview Award, now in its second year.

“The BDO Interview award is one of many activities that are so important for developing students’ skills, experience and employability for their future careers.”