Industrial Placement (Chemistry) Review

I really enjoyed my day-to-day work which involved me undertaking challenging, varied synthetic chemistry work.

I felt respected and valued by senior colleagues and their interest in my professional and personal development meant a lot to me.

My direct supervisor did a lot more than the minimum required and was always there to offer support on any matters, work-related or otherwise.

There was always something to do- or on the rare occasions where I was at a bit of a lull, there was someone else who had a lot to do that I was able to help out with.

The actual objectives and targets for my programme were set out by my line manager, but I was given significant responsibility and independence in coming up with suggestions to improve ways of making target compounds.

I feel this experience has set me up, in terms of transferrable skills, extremely well for the graduate programme with Babcock International which I start in September. Especially the interview coaching I was given by my supervisor and line manager, which was invaluable.

The atmosphere was fun - especially with there being 5 other placement students in the lab too.

Certainly no complaints about GlaxoSmithKline's organisation, from the quick turnaround from interview to being made an offer, and the organisation of initial training programmes. Some issues with SRG (who are an external company that GSK employs to look after our contracts and pay us) but hopefully for future years this will improve as this year was the first time SRG have been involved in paying industrial placement students...

A lot- chemistry placement students were sent on a residential training course for their first week which was massive in terms of getting to know colleagues as well as refreshing lab skills! My department has organised guest speakers to deliver talks on CV tips and presentation skills. I also have a personal development plan in which I set performance and behavioural objectives which are periodically discussed and reviewed with my manager.

My only issue with this placement is that the employment prospects with the company afterwards are not high at all- they actually advertised for a graduate chemist position, which I was interviewed for. I was then told that although my interview performance was exceptional, the position wasn't actually there anymore...

Yes- my French and Spanish colleagues were obsessed with pubs! There was a good social scene, some people were boring/would only associate with their boyfriend/girlfriend, but thats more to do with people in general than with GSK!

Stevenage and Hertfordshire in general are quite expensive to live in, but I managed to get by on my salary and not go without.

Stevenage itself is a bit limited for nightlife, but once me and my friends discovered Hitchin, there was no looking back!! It was more about the people I went out with rather than where to.

I've played regular 5-a-side football this year outside of work- and there is London a 20 minute train ride away if Stevenage ever gets dull... I've got involved in external activities with work too, for example meeting visiting South African students at Heathrow in January.