Summer Student - Global Support Functions (GSF) Review

A thoroughly enjoyable placement! I was really made to feel welcome within the team and was given work that I could follow through over the whole 11 weeks. Furthermore we were given multiple opportunities to visit various GSK facilities around the country (with travel expenses paid) to appreciate the operation of the company on a larger scale. Being based at the global headquarters in Brentford was a fantastic experience - not only are the facilities very impressive but it enabled me to visit various departments in the building and talk to people working all across the company.

After a week or so of training and learning-focused activities, we were quickly given real work. I found myself working with teams all around the world (having regular calls with Australia, Turkey, Germany, India, Sri Lanka etc...), managing my own timetable and being left to solve problems on my own. My line manager (and other members of my team) were always on hand to answer questions but I was encouraged to approach my work how I wanted, and to learn by doing! On leaving the company at the end of my stay I was helped with various handover activities. With help from my team I was able to pass on my knowledge and experience from my project to an incoming graduate - showing that I really had been able to contribute in my time there.

I had a regular weekly catch-up with my line manager in which I could ask any pressing questions. No matter how busy she was, our catch up was always scheduled in! The uni recruitment and future leaders teams were always on hand to provide support whenever we needed it. However, more important than this was the constant help on offer from my colleagues. I found that everyone around me was willing to offer help and guidance - from the people sat next to me to those in other departments. I made the most of this, arranging multiple sessions to talk to various senior members of my team. It was easy - at worst I'd have to buy a couple of coffees and in return I'd get a snapshot into the experience and advice of a senior team member!

Besides a slightly slow first week - when we had to complete a certain amount of mandatory training (since I was dealing with protected data) - I was kept busy throughout. I found myself with a nice balance between regular meetings (in which I wasn't just 'shadowing') and completing work for my main deliverables. Furthermore, throughout all of my placement I was constantly preparing for my end-of-internship presentation (which I gave to the University Recruitment Team - with the chance of an offer for a place on the grad scheme - and the senior members of my project). This gave me a focus in all of my work - and provided a constant goal throughout my time at GSK.

I was given various pieces of work; from problem solving, to solution management, to planning. In all of these tasks I was given complete responsibility for my work (which was chosen according to my knowledge/experience in the area). One of the highlights of my internship was the handover period in the last week, It was only when I found myself writing up knowledge transfer sessions, writing guides for software users and explaining my work to an oncoming graduate that I truly understood that the work I had carried out had been my complete responsibility. My line manager had trusted me to carry out my work alone. By the end I had become the key contact in my (small) field!

The insight I have gained into the workplace (both the environment and the skills needed to succeed in it) will really help me direct the final few years of my degree. My experience at GSK has really opened my eyes to the skill-set valued by employers and the opportunities available to graduates such as myself. I think that what I have learnt has really shed light onto the opportunities available to me - especially useful as I near the end of my degree!

The atmosphere in the office was extremely relaxed, although quite busy. My colleagues were very friendly and welcoming. Whilst we were on some quite tight deadlines the general environment allowed friendly conversations, and lighter moments for people to have fun. Throughout my time there I really got a sense that, more than most employers, GSK does understand that its employees must be looked after to work at their full potential.

I was hugely impressed with the organisation of the placement - 10/10!!! I was placed in a department with 3 other interns my own age, who worked the same weeks as I did. I was able to learn along with them and we really made our way at GSK together. The internship was constantly structured with enriching activities (events to meet graduates, to meet executives, to visit GSK sites around the country etc...) and with a constant focus on the end goal - the end-of-internship presentation and the chance of applying for a grad scheme place!

The amount of time set aside for myself and my fellow interns by our (very busy) colleagues was very impressive, I cannot thank them enough - it made it so much easier to settle in! We were allowed to learn and develop at a comfortable pace - stretched, but not stressed. It was apparent to us that we were on a summer internship scheme - we were definitely not just seen as "cheap pairs of hands"!

The internship automatically comes with the chance to apply for the three year graduate scheme (and a much reduced application process) which I am currently involved with! If successful the graduate scheme is a three year scheme with a promised landing role afterwards - the prospects at GSK for summer interns are very, very good!

Myself and my fellow interns (4 in all in our department) became great friends. On top of this we arranged several social gatherings with other interns from other departments in the building and also many of the graduates there too - everyone was extremely friendly!

Bear in mind that Brentford is still in London! As such it suffers from the standard raised costs that come with being in the capital. But in comparison with the rest of London Brentford is very good value. Not being in fare zone 1 means that my commuting costs were a fraction of what would've been expected (and the trains were empty too). Furthermore the local pubs are cheaper than the centre of London (and offer discounts to GSK employees on food!!!!).

Around Brentford there isn't a huge amount of nightlife - but after a couple of minutes on the train (overground to Waterloo, or on the Piccadilly line from Boston Manor) and you can be in central London in no time!

Definitely - we were shown opportunities to get involved in a mixture of charity work, sports clubs and employee initiatives in our short time. The work-life balance at GSK is something I'll try and instill in my uni work life!