IP HR Capability & Global HR Review

I really, really loved my placement role at GSK. It helped to me realise what I am good at and not so good at, as well as what I like and dislike doing. It is definitely something I would consider focusing on in the future and has helped me to decide on a topic and title for my final year dissertation.

I felt valued by both my immediate Team, extended teams and all the members of the project teams I worked with. Once you relax into your role and forget that you are a 'placement student' you will fit right in.

I was 100% supported throughout my placement. No question was too stupid and my manager always took the time to talk to me to see how I was doing and if there was anything I was struggling with. Also she always asked me if there was anything she could do differently to be a better manager.

As with any job there are times when there aren't enough hours in the day and other times when it is less frantic. I think this happens for most people in peaks and troughs throughout the year but as a rule, if at the beginning of your placement you find you are twiddling your thumbs, I think this is quite normal while you are in the 'learning'/introductory period. It is definitely advisable for you to inform your manager and ask if there is anything else you could be doing.

As much responsibility as can be expected for someone in their first year in industry. As the year went on I was given more responsibility, the key is to prove that you are responsible and they you are capable of handling more responsibility - but don't expect to walk in on your first day and be running the company.

I have developed team working, leadership, organisational, time management, communication skills which will undoubtedly help me in my final year of uni and in the future when looking for jobs. My confidence has grown so much more than I could have ever expected. My placement has been such a fantastic year in terms of my learning and development.

My extended team were close and there was always a lot of light hearted conversations and laughter in the office.

GSK have a lot of placement students every year so overall they are very well organised. In HR, ther could have been more done to ensure all placement students have the same level of basic understanding about the organisation as a whole - This has been fed back to GSK from the HR Placement Students this year and they are looking to improve for next year.

If there was a training course I particlarly wanted to go on and made a good case to my manager about how I felt it would help to develop and to do my job better then there would be no reason I couldn't attend. My managers were VERY supportive about my development, after all you are there to learn.

There are only 2 places on the HR Graduate scheme in the UK. However I have made a lot of contacts during my year who have said they will be advocates for me in any way they can in the future. So while there is no guarantee of a job there are a lot of people and potential opportunities I can follow up with.

Some groups of IP's (industrial Placement Students) tend to be more social than others and this year there are definitely friendship groups which people are reluctant to leave and are difficult to penetrate. The key is to find a group of like minded friends and make your social life as lively as you like with them and get involved with as many event as you can.

It's London, so being expensive pretty self explanatory. There are ways around it however, such as happy hours in bars and tesco value!

GSK house is on the outskirts of London and so in the immediate ares is pretty poor. Central London is only a short tube away though where the opportunities are endless...

I joined a dance school while I was in London, but I researched it myself and just went along. I would say if you look for them, they are there.