Specialty Care Marketing Associate Review

I have enjoyed my time at MSD significantly due to the welcoming and supportive individuals I worked alongside! Not only have I been able to be on placement with other likeminded students but I have been able to work across many of the brand teams, which has given me the opportunity to learn about an array of products and have the opportunity to attend external events.

I felt extremely valued by my colleagues and supported throughout my placement here at MSD. My colleagues gave their time to sit down and discuss projects when perhaps I needed more understanding/clarification on the task in hand. I was continuously recognised throughout the year verbally and made to feel as though I was not just a student but respected as an adult as part of the Business Unit.

From start to finish I was given weekly guidance from my manager and if she wasn't in office, I felt as though I could seek guidance support from other managers. She collated constructive feedback half way through my placement and also towards the end, which gave has enabled me to work on my strengths/weaknesses. At the beginning of my placement, she handled my work load to ensure I was given challenging tasks and that I was overwhelmed.

It varied from time to time. At the beginning when I was to learn about the brands/processes of the pharmaceutical industry I wasn't busy at all but as I was given more responsibility and now towards the end I am very busy but not to the point whereby I feel overwhelmed. I thought it was good in one way when I was perhaps 'too' busy as I learnt to prioritise and say no if I wouldn't meet deadlines due to other tasks.

Undertaking smaller projects at the start enabled me to build up the trust with the managers, who then could see that I was able to take on more responsibility when given the next project. This has continually built up throughout the year to a point where now I am given challenging projects whereby sometimes I feel out of my comfort zone but supported and challenged.

This placement has been the focal opportunity during my time at university to develop my skill set. I feel that I am now more self aware and have built on my strengths and weaknesses. I have gained real world experience and developed my professionalism, in which I wouldn't have developed had I not taken this opportunity. It will largely assist me in my career/degree studies due to now having a greater understanding regarding how the theories I have learnt at university are applied in a working environment.

I had never dreaded coming to work on a Monday or any other day of the week. The atmosphere was friendly and welcoming! Although at times it was very quiet due to people being on field visits or at external events, there was always someone around. There were times when people were very chatty and other times during busy periods whereby colleagues just got there head down in work, however the atmosphere was still positive/friendly.

Having had an array of students before me, MSD had experience working with students. However as I was the first student within my Business Unit I was worried this wouldn't be the case for me, but it was. The managers had received guidance and training to ensure each student was given similar opportunities/guided. The Leadership Team listen to how to improve the placement program and have I have seen the difference since the beginning of my placement.

The invested largely in me. I had the opportunity to attend many meeting whereby self development/leadership was on the agenda and take tests that told me a lot about who I was as a person. I have received training on the brands I work for and the processes that I was to be involved with in marketing. The company went to a great extent to invest in me and invited me to events/meetings whereby they knew I would develop skills/confidence.

Since starting my placement they have now set up a grad scheme which will allow for graduates to have the opportunity to comeback to work at MSD or join for the first time. Knowing this gives me confidences that If I want to come to MSD then I will be supported through a program like the grad scheme and if selected, have the opportunity to do so.

Due to there being around 20 other students and many more graduates, I have had the opportunity outside of work to socialise and explore London. There was also many opportunities for me to join other colleagues for meals out outside of work, where I was always considered as an adult. However, with MSD being located in a quiet time we found sometimes there was much to do within our immediate surroundings.