Summer Student Review

by Lifescan Scotland

This review was submitted over 4 years ago, so some of the information it contains may no longer be relevant.

Rating

4/5
  • The Role
    4.2
  • The Company
    4.1
  • The Culture
    3.8

    The Role

  • 1. To what extent did you enjoy your work placement or internship?
  • Thoroughly enjoyed this 12 week placement. I was given meaningful and useful tasks to complete, and was able to see a project through from beginning to end and know that I had a tangible impact on the business. Everyone in the company was very welcoming and I feel the experience I have had is invaluable and will help me throughout my next few years studying Chemistry at uni and then beyond once I've graduated.

    4/5

  • 2. To what extent did you feel valued by your colleagues?
  • I felt very much a part of the team and everyone was very welcoming. I was treated like a permanent staff member and my opinions and work were valued and deemed useful to the business which was a nice feeling. I really did not feel like an annoyance or unhelpful or anything like that which is often the case with internships.

    5/5

  • 3. To what extent were you given support and guidance by management/your supervisor(s)?
  • My manager and team were very support and always gave me help and good answers when I had any problems or questions. My manager was very approachable and was very involved in what I was doing throughout my placement, and always helped me get what I needed to complete my tasks.

    4/5

  • 4. How busy were you on a daily basis?
  • This varied. At the beginning and in the middle of my project I was very busy and always had a list of things to be working on. However, this changed slightly as the placement progressed as I was waiting for certain things to happen before I could proceed to the latter parts of my project, and perhaps there was a slight lack of "background" tasks for me to keep busy with, but overall I would say I had a good balance of tasks to complete.

    4/5

  • 5. How much responsibility were you given during your placement?
  • I was given a lot more responsibility than I expected during my time here. I was essentially project managing a study which involved creating a protocol, overseeing testing and then collecting data and writing a report. I really enjoyed having this responsibility and being able to see a project through from beginning to end.

    4/5

  • 6. To what extent did/will the skills you developed, and training you received, assist you in your degree studies and beyond?
  • I have developed many new skills such as lab techniques, new statistical programs where I displayed detailed analysis, and I gained an insight into other functions within the business. All of this is relevant to my Chemistry degree and gives me an idea of how a real business works and gave me a taster for one of the areas into which I could go once I graduate.

    5/5

    The Company

  • 7. What was the general atmosphere in your office?
  • The atmosphere was quite fun and there was always someone making a joke or someone bringing in cakes for everyone to share. It was a hardworking office full of lots of very intelligent and hardworking people which helped to motivate me during my tasks, and meant that there was a good balance of fun times and proper work being accomplished.

    4/5

  • 8. How well organised was the overall work placement or internship set up?
  • I thought that overall the placement was well set up and there was a decent plan in place for what I was going to be doing. There were quite a few admin hurdles, however, such as IT problems or problems with access which did slow things down at times. Other than that there were plenty of resources and facilities, and so overall I was impressed with the organisation.

    4/5

  • 9. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?
  • The company gave me lots of opportunities to get the most out of my time here, such as allowing me to spend time in the labs (which involved lots of training and pre-checks) and then also my project itself was quite technical so I got some training for that too. This training is very applicable to my degree and will help me if I return next year as I can hit the ground running.

    5/5

  • 10. What were the perks on your work placement?
  • Subsidised Canteen

    Staff Sales/Staff Shop

    4/5

  • 11. How appealing are future employment prospects within the organisation?
  • Very appealing, the company is very highly regarded and there are lots of opportunities for graduates which I have been made aware of and will be bearing in mind throughout my studies. I have made lots of connections and hope to come back for a similar placement in future years to build up more connections and experience before I come to apply for any jobs post-graduation.

    5/5

    The Culture

  • 12. Was there a good social scene amongst any fellow placement students/colleagues?
  • Yes, our group of students got on very well and always met up for lunch each day and had catch-ups throughout the placement to see how everyone was getting on. It was great to have this friend group within the company so it was easy to relax on breaks. I liked that the staff in the company encouraged this dynamic.

    5/5

  • 13. What was the cost of living and socialising in the area you worked in?
  • I already lived in the area I was working in, but I think for an outsider it would be okay price-wise. There is a wide variety of amenities both locally and in the town centre, and plenty of sports facilities dotted around to keep you busy. Much cheaper than down in the centre of Scotland in my opinion.

    4/5

  • 14. What was the Nightlife like in the area you worked?
  • The nightlife in Inverness is okay but nothing like what you would find in the centre of Scotland or in other busy towns. Not many places to go but it is okay for once in a while. I would not recommend the area for party animals as there is not a lot of choice of places to go.

    2/5

  • 15. Were there many opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work?
  • Yes there were lots of opportunities to get involved with various fundraising events and activities. we also had various social nights such as dinners and casual drinks which was good to socialise and bond with people outside of the workplace. We had a cycling event one day which raised money for charity and was great fun.

    4/5

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Details

Internship (1 Month+)

Chemistry, Computer Science

Scotland

September 2016


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