This review was submitted over 4 years ago, so some of the information it contains may no longer be relevant.
Rating
-
The Role
-
The Company
-
The Culture
- 1. To what extent did you enjoy your work placement or internship?
- 2. To what extent did you feel valued by your colleagues?
- 3. To what extent were you given support and guidance by management/your supervisor(s)?
- 4. How busy were you on a daily basis?
- 5. How much responsibility were you given during your placement?
- 6. To what extent did/will the skills you developed, and training you received, assist you in your degree studies and beyond?
- 7. What was the general atmosphere in your office?
- 8. How well organised was the overall work placement or internship set up?
- 9. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?
- 10. What were the perks on your work placement?
- 11. How appealing are future employment prospects within the organisation?
- 12. Was there a good social scene amongst any fellow placement students/colleagues?
- 13. What was the cost of living and socialising in the area you worked in?
- 14. What was the Nightlife like in the area you worked?
- 15. Were there many opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work?
The Role
My year long placement with MSD was an invaluable experience and one that I feel has developed myself massively. The exposure, responsibility, environment and general atmosphere at MSD fosters growth and improvement - Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my time at MSD due to the people and experiences it provided me with.
The way myself and the other students were treated around the business was fantastic. We were seen as full time employees with a genuine role within the business. Other colleagues depended on us and this made us valued throughout the departments. At the same time, experienced colleagues were always keen to teach and support us in learning new skills, whether it be technical to the Pharma industry or more general business practice, we were always seen to be the future employees and leaders of the business.
The management and supervision of the students was excellent over my placement. Weekly 1-1's with line manager as well as team meetings to discuss any concerns or issues were heavily encouraged. MSD is a fantastic platform for students to grow and develop into young professionals through training, feedback and appraisals.
As the year progressed, my work load steadily progressed. Some periods of the year are respectably busier than others and this can be seen throughout the business, however the work that I was involved in always felt of some importance and this was really important to me. I enjoyed being challenged and pushed so MSD was ideal for someone to be proactive and gain work from other areas of business when the workload may be consistently busy.
One of the most impressive and memorable parts of my placement was the amount of responsibility that I was given over numerous projects. My team trusted me and I always had their support if ever needs be. From leading team calls and meetings to visiting other sites and suppliers, I was never treated like a student or an intern but seen more as a full time employee which was really motivating.
I believe the skills and experiences I learnt from MSD have provided me with a solid foundation to begin my professional career. Improving my business acumen and commercial perspective was a key objective for myself, from this I believe I have developed my analytical capabilities which can be transferred directly into my degree and future career. The training I received from my managers and other colleagues around the business were invaluable. MSD hosts a variety of experienced professionals from industries such as Consulting, Finance and Medicine - Through shadowing and networking, I was able to gain a wealth of knowledge and insight into these industries.
The Company
Flexi Time
Subsidised Canteen
Sports and Social Club
Subsidised/Company Gym
National Travel
Financial Bonus
Company Parties/Events
Above 25 days holiday
Working from home
The Culture
Many of the students lived within or around the local area meaning we could meet outside of work easily. Although Hoddesdon is relatively quiet, Hertford has a good nightlife with a few decent restaurants and bars. Many of the students also took the chance to go into London as it was only 30mins into Liverpool Street.
The social scene outside of work was also very impressive. From football and rugby to badminton and cycling, there were always activities to get involved with other colleagues after work or one the weekend. I felt this help introduce the students in an informal way to the rest of the business. Would definitely recommend getting involved.
Details
Placement (10 Months+)
London
August 2018