Respiratory Marketing Industrial Trainee Review

My current placement is in Respiratory Marketing. As marketing goes, it is very hands on and creative. However being in the pharmaceutical industry is very unique and different compared to marketing in any other industry, and therefore in a sense it has been enjoyable due to the challenge of regulations. It is alsonot just a 'desk job' which is what I expected but you are always in different team meetings or out of the office ion off-site meetings and events. It has a great variability of work too.

I feel very valued by my colleagues as they have given me my own projects to lead. They have also asked me to help support them in their own projects as they value my opinion and fresh look at things. It is also good to see that my opinions are taken into account as in some materials we developed my ideas have been implemented. I am also included in all of our activities and don't feel left out of anything, being treated as a memeber of the team rather than an intern.

Support is available at all times. My team understand that I am only a student and not as experienced as they are and so are helpful where they can. But they also balance not 'hand-holding' that allows you to work independently on your own projects so that they are actually yours. I have a 1 on 1 with my manager every 6 weeks to ctach up on all of my work and how I am coping or if i require further support. But in between these meetings she is always there if needed. The other memebers of the team are also available for help.

This very much depended on where my projects were in their timelines. Some days I would not have enough hours in the day to do everything, whilst other days I had very little to get on with. But this was a good balance as it gave me time to gather my thoughts or work on anything I needed to do. It was a good balance of stress levels too for a placement year,

I was given four projects to manage throughout my year. I was given guidance at the start as to where to begin and which steps to follow, but as my projects went on through their timeline I had more autonomy about decisions regarding them. Of course support was available at all times when I got stuck or unsure about how to proceed, but I was mostly left manage the project independently.

I think working for a year in a company develops many life skills which I haven't been able to develop anywhere else. Working 9-5 for a year has also given me appreciation of the student life as they are completely different. Time management has been a big skill to develop as there are only so many working hours in a day. Therefore you have to priortise which projects need to be given attention first. I am also hoping that the habit of working 9-5 will carry on throughout my final year at university. I also have a very specific knowledge of a disease market and environment which will help if i want to stay in the industry and market.

The general atmosphere was good! There was a good level of noise- being always somebody chatting so it was never silent, but then it was also not too loud where you can't concentrate. You are given good amounts of work space to yourself. Everybody in my office we relaxed and always friendly. We have a table football table in the corridor and football goals outside for lunch times. Everybody smiles around the building always making you feel welcome.

The whole internship programme was very well set up. It could have been improved with a handover period from previous interns as it is always best to gain perspective and advice from fellow students rather than supervisors or managers. The first couple of weeks was heavily training based as you had to be trainined on your brands and the industry as it is so heavily regulated. i was placed in a good team that was able to accomodate me with resources and time.

I was trained on the products I was working on and also the external market. The company also held a wide range of training programmes throughout the whole year which were available for us to sign up to. These included first aid, presenting with passion, digital, accouting and finance, marketing courses etc these were all run by external companies.

Hopefully the chances on getting onto the Grad Scheme are high as speaking to the other Grad's it is very similar to doing an internship. In terms of the company culture it is definitely one that I would come back to, and the people are also great. the pay and hours are also very appealing to me.

The social scene was generally very good having lunch with other interns every day if people were free and meeting up with them outside of work. I lived at home for my placement year but was still able to socialise. I know those that live together in the area near work are able to socialise more frequently and easily.

As the office is in Surrey and the nearest areas to go out are in Surrey, it is generally quite expensive.

As I did not live with other placement students near the office I can't answer this one

Yes. There are running clubs, sports clubs that all get advertised in the office with the local team. However the office is in quite an isolated area and so opportunites are limited.