Marketing Associate Review

by MSD

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

Rating

4.5/5
  • The Role
    4.8
  • The Company
    4.6
  • The Culture
    3.9

    The Role

  • 1. To what extent did you enjoy your work placement or internship?
  • I thoroughly enjoyed the year in industry at MSD UK, it was an incredible way to experience both the pharmaceutical industry and business in general. The whole placement experience was planned very well, which supported your professional development as well as integrating you into the company successfully, making sure you have high levels of support when needed.

    5/5

  • 2. To what extent did you feel valued by your colleagues?
  • I felt extremely valued by my colleagues. I was treated with respect and given high levels of responsibility throughout my placement. I felt very comfortable sharing my thoughts and views on business matters, as well as feeling like I could ask anybody for help and support along the way. My team, and everybody else in the organisation, were very supported and committed to ensuring my placement was valuable.

    5/5

  • 3. To what extent were you given support and guidance by management/your supervisor(s)?
  • I was given a lot of support throughout my placement year from management, as well as other mentors within the organisation. My team recognised the value of learning through others and learning through social interaction, so support was always readily available. I felt comfortable asking for help, and had the opportunity to have regular catch ups with my managers and mentors in order to reflect on my experiences and make the most of the placement.

    5/5

  • 4. How busy were you on a daily basis?
  • When I began the placement, I had a very manageable workload which enabled me to learn the basics of my job role in a more comfortable situation, ensuring I learnt how to complete my work effectively. As I began to get more comfortable, my workload increased and I was able to be more productive on a daily basis. As with any job, I had some busy days and some less busy days. Overall, the balance was very well managed.

    5/5

  • 5. How much responsibility were you given during your placement?
  • I was given a lot of responsibility at work. I had the opportunity to work on a number of exciting projects and take a lead on them from a project management perspective. At the same time, I got a lot of support from my team around me who ensured I was comfortable with my work. At the same time, I worked on a number of other jobs which were supporting other members of my team.

    4/5

  • 6. To what extent did/will the skills you developed, and training you received, assist you in your degree studies and beyond?
  • The skills I developed will be extremely helpful for my future studies and life after university. I had the opportunity to work on a number of projects at MSD UK which have refined a number of transferable skills (e.g. presentation skills, communication skills, project management) and will help me perform to a better standard in both university and future jobs.

    5/5

    The Company

  • 7. What was the general atmosphere in your office?
  • The general atmosphere was very friendly and supportive. It was an open plan office, with a general organisational culture which encouraged interacting with others and seeking help when required. This meant that it was very easy to get help and learn from others, as well as being an enjoyable place to work in terms of working with colleagues.

    5/5

  • 8. How well organised was the overall work placement or internship set up?
  • The placement scheme was organised extremely well. From the beginning, we had an induction day which ensured we joined the company smoothly and were introduced to the companies and our roles. We had all the support we needed, as well as specific activities organised throughout the year to meet our needs as students. Some examples include presentation workshops, CV and interview practices and professional visits to other company sites.

    5/5

  • 9. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?
  • MSD UK invested heavily in the professional development of the placement students. Some examples include presentation workshops and reviews which allowed us to get feedback and therefore improve on our presentation skills. CV and interview workshops were also organised to help us prepare for our future search for jobs. We were also invited to industry specific presentations to help us learn about pharmaceuticals and the market for them.

    5/5

  • 10. What were the perks on your work placement?
  • Flexi Time

    Subsidised Canteen

    Subsidised/Company Gym

    National Travel

    Financial Bonus

    Company Parties/Events

    Above 25 days holiday

    Working from home

    5/5

  • 11. How appealing are future employment prospects within the organisation?
  • MSD UK offer a number of graduate schemes and full time roles that I would be interested in. The roles offered fit the needs of the career path I want to take, and I would love to have the opportunity to continue my career in the organisation, especially after having such a good experience on my placement year.

    5/5

    The Culture

  • 12. Was there a good social scene amongst any fellow placement students/colleagues?
  • There was a very good social scene between both the placement students and other full time employees at MSD UK. Most placement students had relocated to live in the local area, so we had the opportunity to socially interact with each other on a regular basis. We also socialised with colleagues outside of the placement student group.

    5/5

  • 13. What was the cost of living and socialising in the area you worked in?
  • The cost of living in Hoddesdon was reasonable. Rent was moderately priced considering the area is so close to London. The cost of socialising was also reasonable in the area. There are a number of cheap pubs/bars/restaurants in the local area, as well as the opportunity to get a quick train into London which is cheap.

    4/5

  • 14. What was the Nightlife like in the area you worked?
  • 3/5

  • 15. Were there many opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work?
  • MSD UK had many opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work. A lot of opportunities involved sport, for example you could play football on at least three nights a week, play badminton in the week, participate in gym classes with other colleagues after work and compete in sports against other companies.

    5/5

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Details

Placement (10 Months+)

London

October 2017


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