Placement Year Review at GlaxoSmithKline

The Role

Role Description

Student in the lab, you have your own lab project.

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

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

I had an absolutely fantastic year, it's really propelled my abition to go into a career in research.

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

★★★★★★★★☆☆

Rated 8/10

You feel like one of the team, and you're treated like a member of staff rather than a student.

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

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

My supervisor was fantastic, he really made my placement. He gave me lots of support and was always happy to answer questions

4. How busy were you on a daily basis?

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

Some days it was busy, other days it was quiet, but it was nice to have variation

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

★★★★★★★☆☆☆

Rated 7/10

Lots of responsibility over your experiments but also a lot of supervision at the start

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

It looks fantastic on my CV and it means I can go into a lab, pick up a protocol and have an idea of where to start!

The Organisation

7. What was the general atmosphere in your office?

★★★★★★★☆☆☆

Rated 7/10

Really friendly, with other students in the office too. But also quiet when people were working

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

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

Really well organised, probably because they take on so many students

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

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

A lot! They really support you and make sure your skills are developing.

10. What were the perks on your work placement?

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

• Flexi Time
• Subsidised Canteen
• Sports and Social Club
• Staff Sales/Staff Shop
• Above 25 days holiday

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

★★★★★★★☆☆☆

Rated 7/10

I have been told to "get in touch when i graduate" but the company were making a lot of cuts when I left so we'll have to wait and see!

Other Information

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

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

Yes, everyone was extremely sociable and there are lots of other students

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

★★★★★★☆☆☆☆

Rated 6/10

Pretty cheap, but rent was a bit pricey because you're close to London.

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

★★★★★★★☆☆☆

Rated 7/10

Pretty limited in Stevenage but you're extremely close to London where there's lots to do

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

★★★★★★★☆☆☆

Rated 7/10

You have evenings and weekends off so lots of free time

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?

It was a really fantastic year, and it's extemely sociable because they take on so many students.

Review 194/231 for GlaxoSmithKline

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