Regulatory Affairs Associate Review

I really enjoyed the work I was given. I was given responsibilities of real importance and allow the independence to really feel like I was contributing. My manager focused on making sure I got involved with a wide range of projects and I was well supported in every new thing I was given to try.

My team were amazing and really made sure I felt like I was one of them - I was never just the 'IP Student'. I was included in all team meetings and activates, given the opportunity to take on responsibilities, help or shadow any team members doing any work that they thought might have been of interest to them.

My manager was amazing - we had formal catch-ups once a week where I could ask her any questions I had about anything but she was also more than happy for me to put aside extra time when I felt it was needed or to have informal chats about what ever I needed help with. She also always ensured my workload never become excessive. I couldn't have asked for a better manager

The nature of the role I was in is very deadline driven so the workload naturally fluctuated throughout the year. I never felt too overwhelmed or too bored and my manager and team were more than happy to help out if I was looking for some help or needed some more work to do.

I was given responsibilities similar to the permanent members of my team but with a much smaller range and a much lighted workload. Getting started was a pretty big learning curve so it took a while for me to be acting independently and my manager was always copied in emails or with me in meetings to back me up if needed

The role was very strongly based in communication and teamwork in a very different way to anything I have previously experiences at university. Being 'thrown in at the deep end' with these skills has massively increased my confidence and ability to clearly communicate (and make friends with) people around the world whom I have never met in person

Office atmosphere was super friendly and inviting. There was always donated food to eat, there was a lovely culture of helping each other (you just had to shout your question into the room to get your answer and have an impromptu team discussion about the situation) and there was a good mix of quiet work time and general team chatter

My team had never had an IP before so it was a bit of a slow start as they worked out how long my training would take, how much I would need to know before I could be let loose and what they wanted me to do but once everything got going it was fine Outside of my team - the agency (not-GSK) I contacted with wasn't the most helpful or organised which added unneeded stess

I was given the same opportunities as the rest of my team but I was given a different non-formal development plan based on my uni's requirements for my placement year (which was probably more suited to the fixed term nature of a placement year). My team supported me in all the opportunities that I wished to take part in

The organisation is undergoing some large changes so its hard to judge how similar the company that will exist when I graduate will be to the one that exists now. However GSK are a good employer with permanent members of staff getting a much wider range of benefits than I did as an IP. Ultimately, the appeal would be role based but I would be more than happy to return

It seemed to vary a lot by site but where I was based there was a great social scene among IPs. We ate lunch together everyday, came together to do a vast amount of charity fundraising on and off site (bake sales, selling candy canes, helping create hampers to sell at the site Christmas party) and spent lots of time together outside of work too (meals out, pub meet ups after work, nights out)

The immediate area was pretty expensive in terms of rent, petrol, cost of a meal out or drinks (and living further away also expensive due to train costs and unreliability) but liveable on the wage we were paid (since we were paid the London living wage without actually living in London

The site I was based at is in a well off residential town just under an hour from London... so the nightlife wasn't the best I have experiences. There are pubs and restaurants nearby but that's about it. There were larger, more vibrant towns nearby but these weren't always easy/cheap to get to by train. But ultimately, I was happy with were I lived and worked

I'm not really sure what this question means... Opportunities through work that took place outside of work - there were some, sports teams, LGBT meet ups, team days. Opportunities totally outside of work - there are loads of opportunities to do anything you would want to but transport isn't always the easiest or cheapest thing to organise