Vacation Student Review

I really enjoyed my time working for Lloydspharmacy, their team was friendly and supportive so If I had any questions, I could always go to them for advice.

It was easy to fit in with everybody there, and I was welcomed as part of the team.

The pharmacist tutors I worked with were very supportive and helpful

There were a few moments where there was nothing to do in the dispensary, but there was always something that needed doing in the shop or in the workbook.

I feel the amount of responsibility given to me was right. As a third year pharmacy student I didn't want to be in charge but I was allowed to help with anything I asked to help with in order to learn more about how the business runs, and what needs to be done on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. There were a few times when I was on the medicines counter on my own, but everyone was available to help if I was stuck for the right product to recomment- this wasn't until I had had a couple of weeks experience with someone else on there too.

Working in a pharmacy has helped with my studies enormously. I would recommend to anyone studying to become a pharmacist, to do a summer placement as you pick up skills that are not taught at university. For example helping customers and customer complaints, time management, seeing how the business is managed. Working in a dispensary also helps with getting used to all the drugs.

This placement was very well organised.

To start the placement, I was invited to a development day where I got to meet everyone else in the region doing the summer vacation placement, here about what prospects Lloydspharamcy can offer, and what help is available to continue learning. We were given the workbook to work through and told what was expected of us by the end of the six week placement. There was also an informal interview in week 4 of the placment to see if we would like to do our pre-registration year with them.

I was offered a pre-registration place with them. After pre-registration there are prospects of joinging the company as a pharamacist, pharmacist manager, relief pharamacist etc.

I was the only summer student in the pharmacy where I worked, but we were given the opportunity to meet everyone in our area on the development day at the start of the placement.

There were a group of shops near the pharmacy for lunch. I go to university in norwich so I pretty much lived as I did during term time. Food and travel came to about £25 a week. There is a sportspark at the university and regular buses around town.

Norwich has a good nightlife- the majority of the clubs are on Prince of Wales road.

I finished work at 6 on three nights and 5.30 on two nights a week so there is plenty of time during the evenings. I very rarely took work home with me to do so the evenings were free.