Service Specialist IP Review

I loved working for GSK for the year, they are an amazing company to work for and really make the effort to make you feel like more than an Industrial Placement student.

I honestly do not want to leave GSK, I have met people from all levels of the organisation and all areas and everyone has been interested in learning about what I am doing this year and how I am enjoying my placement. Everyone within the office I work have been so welcoming and have relly made the effort to make sure that my year has been interesting and challenging.

My manager was great. He gave me projects in which he was involved as well as projects which he knew little about so that I was able to gain confidence in my work. He was always there to help me out if I needed guidance but did not constantly look over my shoulder and so stopping me being able to work things out for myself.

I had days when I wasn't particularly busy as well as days when I was very busy, I think the fact I was able to manage my work meant that I was able to develop my time management skills and organisational skills, two things that will be very useful when looking for a job as well as when I return to University. My manager always made sure I was comfortable with my work load and never tried to load more work than I was able to handle on to me.

Whilst on my placement I felt very responsible, I was aware that I was in a real world environment and how important the work I was doing was. I was always made to feel like an important member of any team I was in which meant that I was more comfortable to take on work with a higher level of responsibility.

I have learnt any skills which I will take with me when I leave GSK. I gained a professional ITIL certificate which is something that can go on my CV. I also learnt lots about what working in the professional world was all about.

My office was always fun a friendly, people were always willing to stop and help you or have a chat with you. The energize team also made sure that there were plenty of fun activities you could get yourself involved in.

It was great I was given a lot of flexibility with the projects I took on and was able to ask my manager for help with anything. If I had questions I knew who the correct people to ask were.

I was able to complete the ITIL Foundation course which was great as it is an expensive industry recognised qualification and so can go on my CV to aid me getting a job after I have completed my degree.

I have't actually got a job with GSK but I have applied for the graduate program for when I finish university.

There are a number of placement students in Ware, both on the GMS and the R&D sites this meant that even though were were based slightly outside of London there were still plenty of people around to make sure the year was good fun.

It was more expensive than I expected it to be coming from Newcastle University, however, it was cheaper than London. Once I got use to the price they seemed reasonable.

It was good, not too far from London to have a good night out there, however the trains were a bit of a nightmare at times. There were plenty of pubs and bars as well as a couple of clubs locally. I think the people who I was on placement with made whole socalizing scene even better.

If you looked for them there were plenty, sometimes you had to ask the right questions to the right person but as a general rule you were encouraged to get involved as much as possible in out of work activities.