Sandwich Student - Oncology Bioscience Review

by AstraZeneca

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

Rating

3.4/5
  • The Role
    3.9
  • The Company
    3.2
  • The Culture
    2.8

    The Role

  • 1. To what extent did you enjoy your work placement or internship?
  • The company was really good to work for - got a really good insight into what a career in pharmaceutical industry would be like, and felt as if my projects were well organised to help me get the best out of them.

    4/5

  • 2. To what extent did you feel valued by your colleagues?
  • My colleagues treated me as if I was another permanent member of staff - felt very involved and part of the team.

    5/5

  • 3. To what extent were you given support and guidance by management/your supervisor(s)?
  • Generally good - my supervisor was usually available to answer questions and give help. However, I found that sometimes he could be very busy and could not always give me the time with practical lab work.

    3/5

  • 4. How busy were you on a daily basis?
  • Most days I was the right amount of busy - occasionally there were quieter days, but these were balanced out by days that were a lot busier.

    4/5

  • 5. How much responsibility were you given during your placement?
  • After the first couple of months, I was very independent in my work, and was expected to carry out my day-to-day practical lab work by myself. However, I never felt out of my depth of that I had too much responsibility.

    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 learned a very wide range of skills, both specifically in practical lab work and more general work place skills. I think this placement year has been extremely helpful for preparing to start my final-year project, and has made it clearer to think about what I would like to do following my degree.

    5/5

    The Company

  • 7. What was the general atmosphere in your office?
  • Overall, it was a fun and relaxed atmosphere, and everyone was very social. The only issue was that some people were slightly disrupted due to being at a temporary location due to the company being in a transition period, so there was some detectable feeling of irritation at times.

    4/5

  • 8. How well organised was the overall work placement or internship set up?
  • While on placement, the project itself felt very organised. However, prior to starting the placement I felt like I could have done with more information and contact with the company, as I was very uncertain about what I would be doing up until I actually started.

    3/5

  • 9. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?
  • A great deal - plenty of opportunities to get involved in networking, training, and an early-talent network that had a lot of enjoyable and development events. We were also well-encouraged to get involved with personal development.

    5/5

  • 10. What were the perks on your work placement?
  • Subsidised/Company Gym

    National Travel

    International Travel

    Company Parties/Events

    Above 25 days holiday

    Working from home

    5/5

  • 11. How appealing are future employment prospects within the organisation?
  • From doing the Undergraduate Placement Year alone, there is no prospect of getting a job directly with the company. However, it may help put you in a better position to successfully apply for the graduate scheme.

    1/5

    The Culture

  • 12. Was there a good social scene amongst any fellow placement students/colleagues?
  • There was a large group of other students, and generally very social. However, due to being spread across different sites, we didn't meet up quite as often as we may have if we were all working in the same place. Also, I was not living with fellow students, so did not have quite the same opportunities to get involved with social events outside of work. However, there was generally a good social scene with my colleagues, particularly during the second half of the year.

    4/5

  • 13. What was the cost of living and socialising in the area you worked in?
  • Quite high - the rent in Cambridge is much higher than I was used to, as was transport and eating out. Could be a bit challenging especially if you want to save some money during the placement year.

    2/5

  • 14. What was the Nightlife like in the area you worked?
  • Clubs were not very good (although close to London so able to go there). There was a good bar and pub scene though.

    2/5

  • 15. Were there many opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work?
  • I was able to join a choir as well as volunteer weekly at the hospital. There were also plenty of talks and weekend events, especially during the summer months.

    4/5

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Details

Placement (10 Months+)

East of England

June 2017


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