IT Business Analyst Placement Review

My whole placement experience has been better than I initially imagined. The idea of going from being a student to having a placement and working can leave you with mixed feelings however I came into MSD with an open mind, eager to learn and develop myself and have thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience I have obtained from my placement year. I have had the opportunity to not only develop myself professionally, but also personally and expand my skills portfolio substantially.

Being treated equally and with the same level of respect as my other colleagues did amaze me as I anticipated I would be seen as the student. However my team in addition to other colleagues throughout the business have made me feel welcome, been there to support me and have valued my opinion. I have truly felt valued and have felt comfortable liaising with all colleagues, regardless of title/professional level.

Throughout my placement I have had substantial support and guidance from both my team, my supervisor and departmental leads and they have all made me feel comfortable in asking for assistance in my work both within MSD along with my university assignments. Having a bi-weekly meeting with my manager to assess my progress, identify any area's I needed support and acknowledging the work I have completed helped to boost my morale and allowed me to feel at ease, especially in the beginning few months as I settled into the team.

The workload will vary dependant on a number of factors: The time of year (Holiday season), the projects you are working on and further your own interest and ability to be proactive, At the beginning, the workload is naturally less as it takes time to learn and understand current processes', systems and complete the necessary training however, thereafter it's on an individual ownership to manage and prioritise your workload. Having regular meetings with your supervisor/manager to discuss your workload is a good idea as they can gain a better understanding and can plan further projects, Being proactive and being eager to learn more can also give you an opportunity to get involved in additional work or take on further responsibility which will then increase how busy you are. The key is organisation and communication, and being realistic when making decisions and following deadlines.

I was positively surprised at the level of responsibility I was given as a student as I anticipated coming into this role and being given the basic tasks. I would say the level of responsibility also stems upon how proactive and willing you are as an individual, and how your colleagues value your work and work ethic. Initially, I began working on the basic elements of each project and have progressed throughout the year to manage my own projects and become involved in all aspects from the planning stages to the completion, I have been fortunate enough to help manage a global initiative which has given me a wider exposure of the company and further tested my management skills which has been a highlight for me.

I have leant a great deal from my placement- more than I imagined. I have not only developed a stronger professional set of skills and expertise, but have developed myself on a personal level, The knowledge and experience I have gained throughout this year will be transferable to any future employment, across any industry. Further, the core skills such as time management, working towards deadlines and communication will be vital for when I return to university to complete my degree, Overall I have developed my skillset through every process of this placement from my initial application to the interview process to completing training, and training the new student. These skills will be useful when applying for graduate positions and have given me an insight to the level of information required to work in industry.

Working in head office has been a great environment as you are able to interact with colleagues cross divisionally and across other departments. The general atmosphere is great as the office is open plan, and each department has their own area which not only makes it easier to navigate colleagues but further gives a more relaxed atmosphere where interacting and communicating with others is more efficient.

Communication pre-joining could have been better however the organisation of the actual placement and structure throughout the year was good; Despite my department having a plan of projects to assign to me, there was flexibility and the opportunity to get involved with other area's and adapt this plan as the year went on. Further, skills sessions were organised in the last few months to allow us students to develop skills and gain interview/presentation practice before leaving placement which was organised well.

MSD take on a large number of students every year and I feel they invest well in the whole recruitment process, online and on the job training and development, the opportunity to shadow and work with other colleagues across the company, and visit the other UK Sites. This has enabled me to have a experience and develop myself throughout this year,

With graduate opportunities and jobs prospects across all divisions, I am keen to explore future employment prospects within MSD post graduating. I truly felt my placement experience has given me an interest in both the pharmaceutical industry and MSD, and I have seen the vital part the company plays in healthcare services, and would love to work for a company that makes a positive difference to people's lives.

Overall there was a good social scene amongst all the students and graduates as there was a wide mix of different personalities and people from different backgrounds, however we all sat together during lunch, some attended the gym together and we organised a few meals/evenings out both in the local area and within London which most students participated with.

The cost of living in both Hertfordshire, London and the surrounding area's can be relatively expensive, especially in comparison to university prices however it will depend on your budget and flexibility. Socialising will vary in price dependant on the activity but locally is cheaper to go out compared to central London. Most students group together and decide to rent a flat/house closer to the office however living at home and driving to the office was a more suitable option for me,

There are a few pubs and bars in and around Hertford depending on your music preferences, with a pub also down the road from the office giving you MSD discount! However for more social nightlife, London has more proximity and a wider range of clubs, bars, pubs and restaurants and only being a 30 minute train journey makes it accessible.

Some departments organised social events or volunteering opportunities outside of work, in addition to there being sports clubs and the gym on site which is open to anyone to get involved with, The ownership is down to you to seek the opportunities you are interested in and finding out more information.