HR Systems Analyst Review

Placement was a great first step into a career within IT, giving me a greater understanding of the possibilities after University.

I worked with a great team, who gave me great insight into the possibilities that are available once I graduate and made sure I was always developing and pushing myself

The amount of opportunities are depending on how well you're performing and making opportunities yourself. If you are confident and put yourself out there, then you will not be forgotten, if you sit back and do what is only expected of you, you are not showing enough ambition to make the most of the resources at your disposal and this should be enough to encourage you to push yourself

Some days were just business as usual and could be long days whereas on other days you could have a vast amount of work, it all depends on the time of year, what you're involved with and how much you understand your work.

It started off fairly okay but I did feel I was progressing at a faster rate then what they were expecting, by the end of the placement I had complete responsibility and confidence in me from my colleagues to be able to go about my day

I am far more aware of the possibilities, what I want to do after University and where I want to be. I am more prepared for working in a professional environment with regards to mannerism and communication, how to get ahead and stand out.

The team I worked with was a perfect mix and showed they consider the existing employee's when hiring new to make for a great functioning team, many of whom became great friends. Everybody helped each other, nobody was left struggling alone and we had great fun working together.

GSK could not have been better for organising and creating a great environment for students to 'get their foot in the door' within their chosen industry, making sure every step of the process was as painless as possible, especially for myself, moving 500 miles to London with no familiar faces in sight.

There was not a lot of official training to what I was expecting, but my team were more than helpful with one-to-one help with my work and advice for when my placement is complete, creating great networks to help get my face and name known outside of GSK and in the industry.

I would prefer a more techical based role at a Software focused company, based more in central London. If GSK were to offer me a direct entry role, with a slightly more technical role, I would find it extremely hard to turn that offer down due to the great benefits GSK Employee's get matched by the great standard of their working environment and values as a company instilled within every employee

With a huge intake of students each year, there was a feel of a student union with societies, I was not expecting to have such a social year and one of the best years I've had. I have made some great friends for life amongst the students on placement, the graduates fresh out of University and regular employee's.

It was very expensive to move from the North East to London for this placement year, but the opportunities in London as oppose to the North East are too great, that the opportunity could not be passed up. GSK could have paid better, though the next year intake will be receiving £3.5k more per annum, With this and the bonus + student loan, I imagine future years to have an even greater year and social life. I am going to rate this low though as if it weren't for the friends I made, it would have been extremely hard to have had a social life if money was more involved for the socialising! (expect a lot of cheap nights in and walking around tourist places with a view as oppose to going out spending to have fun)

My team were very open to popping to the pub after work, some nights we would end up there till it closed! Occasionally after saving up, we would go see a show in Central London and weekends there is always something going on despite how much money you have at your disposal

With work, not so much that I seen other than maybe sport on the GSK Sports ground (for the HQ site in Brentford) but being based in London with loads of other placement students and graduates, there was always things being organised, I was never bored!