Financial Analyst - External Supply Review

My placement year at GSK has been an excellent opportunity to network with and meet new people. I have been able to meet so many different types of people and having the opportunity to engage with them has been invaluable.

My immediate team has been supportive and I feel that my work has been valued. I believe that it is really important to have a team that values you as an individual.

I was given a good level of support from my manager, and this gave me the confidence to continue to develop in my work/skills. This was important as it ensured that I was given the correct advice and guidance, and this highlights the importance of having supportive managers.

My role was quite demanding on a monthly basis, due to having the responsibility of completing 'month-end' activities. During periods of less activity, I believe that it is important to take initiative and find projects for myself and this is something I aimed to do in order to ensure I was utilising my time as effectively as possible.

I was given a fair amount of responsibility which built my confidence and highlighted that I was a valued member of my team. I would have liked to have been involved in more high-level responsibilities, but I believe that I would be able to engage in this more with a greater amount of experience.

Being given the opportunity to engage in a professional environment has been a very important aspect of my placement year. As well as gaining technical financial knowledge, I have been able to develop softer skills such as teamwork and communication. I will definitely be able to take these skills with me to university and throughout the rest of my career. My placement year at GSK has most definitely been a strong building block for developing my career.

One of the most commendable aspects of GSK is the highly inclusive culture amongst the employees. The culture is very relaxed and the people are most definitely friendly and welcoming, which created a comfortable atmosphere. I have learnt the importance of having a strong team which can provide you with the necessary support and development that is required.

I believe that the set-up for industrial placement students was fairly organised, and there was the necessary support provided.

In terms of development of industrial placement students, I feel that more attention should be given to fully developing IP students. I believe that this is very dependent on your manager and immediate team members, as well as those you are able to network and connect with. Although there is support from the IP committee and managers, there should be a greater focus on truly aiming to get the most out of the students.

I would like to come back to GSK at some point in the future, however I am interested in getting exposure to different companies and industries. I believe that GSK is a very stable company which provides good opportunities, however I would be interested in coming back much later in my career.

I feel that I have made some very good friends amongst the placement student community as well as being able to connect very well with colleagues. There were some good social opportunities provided by the IP committee which was a good way to engage with other people.

Being based in London, the cost of living and socialising can be a challenge. This showed me the importance of managing my money properly and spending wisely.

London nightlife is great, however Brentford, where GSK House is based doesn't have many opportunities in terms of nightlife. Central London is easily accessible from Brentford which was very convenient!

Myself and a couple of other industrial placement students organised Orange Day for the department, which was an opportunity to volunteer in the local community. This was a great event to be a part of and having the opportunity to organise it was very rewarding!