Placement Year Review at GlaxoSmithKline

The Role

1. To what extent did you enjoy your work placement or internship?

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

I felt that the placement was very well organised and I was able to learn lots of new things. Working for such a large organisation, although challenging at times was extremely rewarding and there were plenty of opportunities for development through the year.

2. To what extent did you feel valued by your colleagues?

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

When things were done correctly, I was always congratulated. If I ever found anything difficult, there was always support available within the wider team no matter how small the problem. My ideas were always taken seriously and I was treated like part of the team.

3. To what extent were you given support and guidance by management/your supervisor(s)?

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

Management and supervisor's were always available whenever I needed guidance or support during my role. However, the majority of the time I was able to complete tasks alone, knowing I could speak to someone if there were any problems. There was always lots of encouragement for me to do more within the team and business.

4. How busy were you on a daily basis?

★★★★★★★★☆☆

Rated 8/10

This varied each day, some days were much quieter than other whereas on other days I would work more than my contracted hours. However, I enjoyed the busyness as there always something new to do as I felt that I could always do more.

5. How much responsibility were you given during your placement?

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

At the start of the placement I had little responsibility but this was because I was new to the role and had lots to learn. However, during the placement, I felt that at times I was regarded on the same scale as members of my team as senior management would approach me directly to answer their queries. I was also asked to attend new project meetings in order to give me more responsibility and to allow me to experience different areas of the role.

6. To what extent did/will the skills you developed, and training you received, assist you in your degree studies and beyond?

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

Not only did I grow in terms of my knowledge of finance, I was also able to grow many employable skills such as communication, team working and building relationships which I will be able to use during my degree and the next steps of my career.

The Organisation

7. What was the general atmosphere in your office?

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

Everyone always seemed to get on with one another and personal relations especially within my team were always friendly.

8. How well organised was the overall work placement or internship set up?

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

The overall placement was set up well, however I feel that more information should have been given regarding the role before the start date. Also a network for placement students would have been useful at the start of the placement; this was later introduced and we all found this extremely helpful. If I had any queries, I always had someone to talk to either at work or back at university which was great!

9. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

I am extremely satisfied with the training and development the company invested in me. Although I didn't attend any courses, I was always pushed within my team to come out of my comfort zone and I felt that this development helped me during my time at the company.

10. What were the perks on your work placement?

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

• Subsidised/Company Gym
• Company Parties/Events
• Staff Sales/Staff Shop
• Working from home

11. How appealing are future employment prospects within the organisation?

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

I was fast-tracked on to the Graduate Scheme and am hoping to return to the company if the interview stage goes well!

Other Information

12. Was there a good social scene amongst any fellow placement students/colleagues?

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

A network was set up for the placement students, but there was already a good social scene as many of the students lived together.

13. What was the cost of living and socialising in the area you worked in?

★★★★★★★★☆☆

Rated 8/10

This depended on the place visited, it wasn't too bad as there are always vouchers available on the internet but it wasn't as cheap as university.

14. What was the Nightlife like in the area you worked?

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

Always somewhere to go to suit all needs!

15. Were there many opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work?

★★★★★★★★☆☆

Rated 8/10

Reasonable opportunities but at time struggled to attend due to working hours or other commitments.

In addition to these questions, is there any extra information you would like to leave about your experiences on your work placement that other students may be interested in?

I would definitely recommend the experience to everyone. Not only will you grow in terms of skills, but you will get the chance to meet new people and have an experience which is extremely different to university!

Review 191/231 for GlaxoSmithKline

Previous Next