HR Placement Student Review

I really enjoyed my Placement at MSD. I came in with very little work experience and knowledge of HR, but I now feel very confident in the work I am doing and have gained so many transferable skills that I can carry forward to my future career.

At MSD, placement students are given meaningful responsibilities and projects to manage ourselves which emphasises how much our colleagues value us. We're treated as a regular member of the team which has allowed me to experience a range of different HR activities to broaden my knowledge.

Whenever I needed support on certain projects during my placement year I knew I could always go to my manager for support. We had regular 1:1s to catch-up on what I've been doing and monitor my progress. I could also reach out to my student peers.

My days varied, but I always had tasks to do and projects that were ongoing throughout the whole year, so I was always occupied. If I ever felt too busy or was unsure what to prioritise, my colleagues were there to support and advise.

I was given great responsibilities throughout my placement year, in both HR admin and ongoing projects throughout the year. These were both important tasks with consistent deadlines, so I felt valued and trusted by my colleagues to do these, with their support throughout.

The skills I've developed at MSD will be transferable to my future career, including increased organisation, communications and team working skills. Looking back to before I started, I've noticed that my skills in these areas have increased significantly through both training and learning on the job.

MSD has a great open plan office which is a great environment to work in and means you can meet various different people easily. The offices are modern with a general happy and hardworking atmosphere.

MSD has a very established placement scheme so the placement was fairly organised with various different activities across the placement year, to get involved with the other placement students and colleagues from across the business.

I was given specific training on HR functions/applications, but most of my personal development was made through learning on the job and learning through my colleagues. If there was a particular area of HR I wanted to learn more about, I could reach out to my colleagues who specialise in that area.

I would definitely consider future employment within MSD, particularly with the growing Graduate scheme which is now offered.

There are over 23 Placement Students nearby in Hoddesdon/London so there were always opportunities to socialise with fellow students.

I lived and commuted from home.

The Hertford area has a fair few bars and restaurants if you fancy a night out.

There is an on-site gym with regular classes during and outside of work, as well as social events throughout the year with the other placement students.