Ebun Fasubaa screamed with delight when she heard she had landed a Government Counter Fraud internship.
The experience is going 'really well' for the Accounting and Finance student from De Montfort University Leicester (DMU), who has been in post with HM Revenue and Customs for two weeks.
She applied for the six-week role with the counter fraud team in London to gain valuable experience and learn new skills in a real-world environment.
The 21-year-old said: "It's been relatively easy joining, as the team have been very welcoming and super helpful. Also, I am glad to have another intern with me, someone who is literally in the same position.
"My highlight so far has been travelling to Lincoln and presenting in front of other fraud investigation services departments about the development of a counter fraud apprenticeship.
"The internship is giving me experience and further practical knowledge on fraud. Visiting other departments, such as the forensic accounting team, has given me an insight into what I may be interested in and what the roles actually entail."
Ebun heard about the opportunity from Forensic Accounting module leader Dr Paschal Ohalehi and sought help from the employability team - part of the #DMUworks careers programme - with her cover letter and CV.
Career development manager Ann Baughan offered advice and Ebun secured an interview.
"I didn't feel confident, so the careers team helped me with interview techniques preparation," she said.
"The Cabinet Office told us to work on three behaviours - working together, delivering at pace, and changing and improving. I went through that with employability officer Rebecca Barnes.
"I was so excited I screamed when I got it. It's really exciting."
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Having always been interested in accounting and finance and with previous work experience as an accounts assistant in her home county of Kent, Ebun chose the DMU course because of the number of exemptions from professional exams.
"The students' union was important, too, and I also like the city," she said. "There are a lot of things to do in Leicester.
"I'm so happy I came to DMU."
The highlight of her first year was joining the African and Caribbean Society.
"I thought it would be just social gatherings but there was a lot more and it involved events about anything that affects us."
In second year, getting a First was her high point. "I didn't expect it, but I was so happy," she said.
Ebun appreciates the efforts of module leaders to bring academic learning to life.
"They bring in people from ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) and CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) for talks and email us about different opportunities. DMU's partnership with ACCA means we have so many opportunities to help us achieve," she said.
But there's no doubt about her favourite module - Forensic Accounting.
"I'm so happy I picked this, as it led to the internship," she added.
Posted on Friday 2 August 2019