Haematology Marketing Intern Review

I really enjoyed working at Pfizer and learning more about marketing however there was not always a lot of work and sometimes I found it less stimulating than I was hoping.

I did feel valued by my immediate team most of the time however occasionally your work and what you have done didn't feel appreciated and it was hard for the wider team to value what you were doing.

I didn't feel very supported after my original manager went on maternity leave, I think there was never a proper handover of what a manager of an intern was supposed to do and that came across in the lack of support, this got better once the new manager understood what was needed of them but I don't think there was alignment between the person I reported into and the person I worked with.

I found some days I was more busy than others, however when it isn't busy it is quite boring and un-stimulating, but when it is busy it is such a good placement

Although I wasn't that busy the projects I worked on I had quite a lot of responsibility.

I think all skills I have developed in my placement year will aid my studies and future employment as I have developed self-reliance, presentation and communication among other skills all necessary for either studies or employment.

It is a good office to work in but as staff are allowed to work at home it can be very quiet and dull.

I did not think there was much planning or structure for this placement and that it varies a lot across the business and where you are placed, I think with a bit more planning and structure this could be a really good placement.

The company treated me pretty much like a permanent employee and I was given leadership, presentation and guidance training as part of being the marketing team, we were allowed to go to the big internal meetings which aided in team building amongst other things and allowed to go to bigger meetings that were international however I feel that in the department I was in they did not invest in me as much as other interns in other departments.

There is a new graduate scheme that is starting but is only taking on 4 people, the department I have worked in doesn't normally take in graduates as they don't have the capacity and already have interns, however this may change over time.

The interns were all connected before we started by Pfizer in a facebook group and we tried to do things together every so often, in the business unit I worked in we all became good friends and went out and did a lot together, living with fellow interns was also good and meant we had people who knew what we were doing and could chat with.

I lived 20 minutes away and carpooling meant you got vouchers that translated into money so I didn't have to pay for fuel but the office was in the middle of no where and you had to drive or get a Pfizer run bus at certain times, my rent was not that bad but the area wasn't great and there wasn't much to do in the surrounding area although there were some lovely walks.

There wasn't really a nightlife, you would have to go into London if you wanted anything decent and that is a challenge when it comes to getting home late at night.

I joined the local hockey club, there was also a park run nearby and many other clubs you could join if that's what you wanted to do.