HR Industrial Placement Student Review

I have really enjoyed working at GSK for my placement year. I was based in the HR function even though my degree is in Biology. It was a huge learning curve but my team were really supportive and patient. I now feel like I add valuable contributions to the projects I am part of. During my year I have seen the impact of the work I do and know I have made a difference rather than being a passive observer. There are also opportunities to visit other sites and explore different parts of the business.

I do feel valued by my colleagues especially those I work with on projects. My strength is data and analytics and people often come to me for guidance which makes me feel valued.

My handover with the previous student was most valuable to support my introduction to HR. After this, I don't think I was supported enough during my year as the student manages a large amount for the team. There were occasions where my manager would not know the tools or processes to deliver certain objectives for the team and it would cause some problems. Furthermore, my development was often not taken very seriously and I felt that I was more a 'HR resource' than a student on placement for development. Outside of my team view is a bit different and I see other manages who get really involved in the student's development.

There were occasions where I did not have much to do but most of the time I was juggling quite a few actions. The role is best when you are busy rather than doing basic admin to take up the time. During the quiet periods I was able to do work for University which was useful.

I was given quite a lot of responsibilities. I supported quite senior stakeholders and often was the only person with the skills to deliver. If I made a mistake it did have quite a bit impact which shows I played an integral part of the team but this was also a negative because I was new to the company and was very junior.

My year in HR won't help my degree in Biology in terms of the subject. However I have become much more organised and better at time management which will be really helpful in my final year. Furthermore, I was able to get some experience in another area of the business and this is where I want to work after my degree so that was invaluable. I didn't receive any formal training but I regular used different programmes and software which will be transferable to any company I work for. I also improved my capability in web design and editing, which I can use anywhere.

The atmosphere was really supportive and friendly. Occasionally it is very quiet and people don't socialise however this is generally because we all have a high work load and can't really chat. During these times it was really good when we had floor engagement activities to allow people to network and take a break from their desk. Furthermore, I truly believe people working at GSK live by the values of integrity, patient focus, transparency and respect for people. This makes it a positive environment.

The placement system was really organised during the recruitment process. It ran really smoothly and I got a good impression of the company. I think some managers don't realise the objective for the student and there should be more guidance surrounding this to set the student up for a successful and valuable year. Furthermore, the agency you are assigned to- SRG, are not always organised and do not always give out correct information, this can be confusing.

I didn't get any training for my role.

These are really appealing. The grad scheme looks more focussed on development as you are looked at as future leaders within the organisation. The grads are also considered Talent and do get a lot of opportunities to grow and learn more about GSK. You are also given responsibility to manager projects and work with clients which looks really exciting. Furthermore, there are also ways to get back into the company through other routes other than the grad scheme and it's really encouraging to see this could be an option for me.

There is a really good student community and ,any socials that are planned out through the year by a committee. These are always good fun and everyone seems to get a long really well and support each other. For example there is a Christmas Party and also a Summer Boat Party which are really popular for all the students no matter where in the UK you are based, there is a real effort to include everyone. I know I have made some really good friends I will keep in touch with when I return to uni and finish this placement.

London is very expensive to live in. My rent was £715 a month which is almost double what is was in at University.

Nightlife in Brentford where my site was wasn't that good however I lived in Zone 1 so there was always something going on.

There were opportunities to volunteer at events for example Impact Awards and Orange Day