Marketing Operations Placement Student Review

I have thoroughly enjoyed my year with MSD - they have given me a lot of support through out the year as well as opportunities on projects to stretch myself.

Although I am a placement student everyone treats you like a full-time employee. You get given a lot of responsibility whilst in your role.

It is an open plan office so managers are only one seat away making them very approachable. I have weekly catch-up with my manager about what work I have done that week as a check - in. Something that I like about MSD is that you aren't micro-managed, you are allowed to get out with your job but check in with your manager to make sure that you are on the right track. You also set objectives for the year which quarterly your manager will review with you.

In my role I am very busy but in a manageable way. People would always check that they aren't pushing you too hard. Saying that my role was one that involved a lot of work. But it is also what you get yourself involved, I have gotten involved in a lot of projects that have given me extra work but this gives you the flexibility to dive into a project if you have more time on your hands or pull back a bit if you are too busy.

I was given a lot of responsibility. No one else in the business knows how to do my specific role and so I was taught from the previous student. This is a lot of responsibility as if I don't do the job well it doesn't get done.

Although MSD have taught me a lot of skills over the year it doesn't necessarily relate to my degree as I am from a scientific background but decided to do a placement in a business setting. They have supported us with organising presentations to the business to help us develop our presentation skills. They have also offered to look over our CV's before we leave.

The people in the office are so friendly and make an inviting environment. The office isn't the busy especially on Friday's as it is a big office with a lot of people out of office at meetings.

On the whole it is well organised - we have been given the opportunity to visit the other sites in the business. The placement year is organised by the HR placement student which makes them more approachable to talk to if you have something that doesn't fit your schedule.

I had the opportunity to go on a Marketing Bootcamp which was a 3 day away day learning all about Marketing in the Pharmaceutical industry. I learnt a lot at this event as this is something that I did not study at university. My manager is very open to the ideas of me shadowing people as well to further my understanding of the industry.

They are definitely appealing and something that I will be looking into. The organisation is moving into central London in the future which is also an appealing motive. A lot of colleagues have asked if I am looking to come back and are supportive of me and have encouraged me to stay in touch whilst I am back at University.

There are roughly 30 students on placement at MSD, with quite a few of them living the local area. I lived with one of the other students and we had 2 other houses just down the road from us. Colleagues are also social, you have the chance to go the Christmas Party with your business unit. All colleagues are friendly and are interested in getting to know you.

The rent in Hoddesdon is quite high - but I have chosen to live with one other person which makes it more expensive. Something that I did notice was there wasn't many big houses in the area so you end up living in 2's or 3's. The pubs in the area are reasonable though and the train into London is cheap.

In Hoddesdon there are a few pubs and if you travel 10 minutes down the road there is Hertford where there are a few bars and one club. But the best nightlife is best in London which is only a 30 min train into Liverpool Street.

I know that other students are part of Football and Squash teams that are organised by the organisation. Outside of sports teams there isn't a huge deal of things organised by the company itself but my colleagues and I have previously gone on trips to the theatre with a large group.