Technologist Review

I enjoyed learning about a new area which I wouldn't have ever encountered at university. During my placement year I was exposed to a manufacturing background I knew nothing about, so it was useful to gain insight of this. I also enjoyed being able to make new friends and I really like the location of my placement. I found at times it was difficult as you're not always fully valued being an IP, so wasn't given tasks to do all the time. There were many times when I didn't have enough to do, and despite asking for more I didn't have the expertise to offer much useful input.

I often felt my colleagues would give me the tasks to do theat they were too lazy or unbothered to do, such as scanning documents for them. I was ok about this most of the time, as I was happy to help, however it didn't give me much opportunity to develop. I felt that there were times when I didn't really feel like a proper member of the team, while permanent employees were, and because I didn't have a high level of knowledge from previous experience I couldn't offer much useful insight in projects,

My Manager has been really good at listening to my problems and helping find solutions. While on placement I have a dissertation to write on a project done at work, and while this project hasn't been smooth sailing, he has tried to assist where possible. he has been good at finding me things to do when I ask, and he does make me feel fairly valued.

Most days, I've felt fairly bored with not enough to do. There have been a number of times when I've had a busy few days when there have been deadlines coming up or someone has required a piece of work data checking. There were a few times when I was given a task to do and have completed it in a much faster time scale than expected, leaving me at a loose end, and my manager unable to provide more work as it wasn't expected I would need more. My project has slowed down work a lot, as It was anticipated this would require a lot more time than it has, however as I don't have the skill or support all the time to self lead some elements, and getting the license to do it was very late into my placement, this has massively lessened my workload.

I was given responsibility to do the daily breakages of drugs, which we are required to do in order to maintain compliance. The product must be within specification, and if not it may require investigations, so I would be required to converse with the labs. If ever there was something major, then it would be cleared through another team member, and so I was never really the one directly speaking to other teams. It would be me providing the information, but others in my team presenting it. I was required to lead my own project, however I didn't always have the skills base to do this.

The work I've been doing on placement feels very far from my degree, however I feel I have learnt valuable skills of time management, people skills and working in a team. I think my placement year will offer a large value to myself when applying to future roles, and I have furthered my employability by learning about a new area having known nothing previously.

People in my office were really nice, and made me feel very welcomed. There was a baking competition during the great British bake off which everyone was invited to take part in and were assigned a week - I got the first week which was fairly daunting! People would often bring in food which really increased my moral. There were a few particular colleagues in my office who made my days go much faster and improved my mood. There were a few people who would sometimes a bit rude, but the majority of the time, there was a good atmosphere.

Placement starting and SRG's part as a whole was well set up; I knew where to be when, I felt provided with good information, and having an orientation day helped put my mind at ease a bit. I had told my manager before I started that I required a project for university, and I felt that was poorly orgainsed on their part, as I did not have the software to complete the project I was assigned until February, which was very stressful.

We were able to go to training days orgainsed by the company, such as a Woman's Leadership day, which was really good. There was a lot of online training we were required to do for compliance. There were development sessions organised and ran by IPs and SRG which also allowed for good opportunity to devlop. In my team, I feel I could have been invested in more in training for my day to day role, as this felt fairly rushed due to people being busy.

I would really like to work back at GSK, as although my placement year I haven't always had loads to do, I see graduates on site who have much more responsibility and seem to be really enjoying their job, which excites me. I like the company's values and could really see myself here in the future.

When we first startd it was much better, with people regularly organising day trips and activities. I made good friends with a few of the other IPs, which really helped this, and we would still meet up fairly regularly. An IP and I went to Rome together for a weekend break which was really nice. Towards Christmas, there was much less socialising, due to people having other social plans e.g. going home at weekends. Everyone is still friendly, but we definitely don't do as much.

Living in Hertfordshire, so it was cheaper than London, but not cheap. A pint is about £5, which is pretty standard, but not northern prices. There are lots of things to do for free or cheap, but many involve going into london which can become pricey. Rent is around £550 a month, which is similar to my university house, however I was in an unfurnished property, so had to buy a bed!

There are lots of pubs, but not many clubs. There was one in a nearby town that would require a taxi / train. London was farly easily accessible for drinks, however the trains don't run late, so couldn't go there for a night out.

IPs often organised things, especially at the start of the year. There were a few work events which we were invited to and were really good. I joined a gym outside of work, and decided to do a sewing class at a local college one evening a week which gave me things to fill my time.