Biology Industrial Placement Student Review

by GSK

Best Student Employer

This review was submitted over 4 years ago, so some of the information it contains may no longer be relevant.

Rating

3.6/5
  • The Role
    4.0
  • The Company
    3.3
  • The Culture
    3.3

    The Role

  • 1. To what extent did you enjoy your work placement or internship?

    • I really enjoyed this placement and am very glad to have done it. I think it will be extremely valuable for my future and was a great experience to have had.

    4/5
  • 2. To what extent did you feel valued by your colleagues?

    • Colleagues were always friendly and you really get a sense of team spirit. Your opinion counts and you are encouraged to contribute to meetings and discussions

    4/5
  • 3. To what extent were you given support and guidance by management/your supervisor(s)?

    • My supervisor trained me thoroughly for the first couple of months and supported me throughout the year. I never felt like I was alone or didn't know what I was doing.

    5/5
  • 4. How busy were you on a daily basis?

    • The work balance is quite good, but mostly up to you. You are expected to plan your time and experiments well and keep a record of what you do.

    3/5
  • 5. How much responsibility were you given during your placement?

    • IP Students are given a fair amount of responsibility and are expected to obtain results that will affect programmes in the company.

    4/5
  • 6. To what extent did/will the skills you developed, and training you received, assist you in your degree studies and beyond?

    • All the skills I learned in this placement are valuable and transferrable skills that I will need at some point during my career. I feel I developed my practical skills particularly well this year.

    5/5

    The Company

  • 7. What was the general atmosphere in your office?

    • I worked in an open-space style office where everyone was very friendly and fun. This encouraged bonding and discussions in the office, which was very nice. Sometimes it was quite loud in the office and got difficult to concentrate, but there were other places where you could go to work as well.

    4/5
  • 8. How well organised was the overall work placement or internship set up?

    • The placement was quite well organised, especially at the start, where a group of IP students had training together before starting their project. Throughout the year I had some checkpoint meetings with my supervisor to dicuss where my project was going, which was helpful in terms of organising my reports.

    4/5
  • 9. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?

    • I feel the company trained me very well to work in science and also encouraged employees to take part in personal development programmes and events.

    4/5
  • 10. What were the perks on your work placement?

    • Flexi Time

    Sports and Social Club

    Subsidised/Company Gym

    Financial Bonus

    Company Parties/Events

    Staff Sales/Staff Shop

    Working from home
    3/5
  • 11. How appealing are future employment prospects within the organisation?

    • I have not yet decided what I am going to do after I finish my degree, but working at this company is a possibility I am contemplating

    3/5

    The Culture

  • 12. Was there a good social scene amongst any fellow placement students/colleagues?

    • The group of students in my department became very close and spent a lot of time together outside of work.

    4/5
  • 13. What was the cost of living and socialising in the area you worked in?

    • The cost of living in Stevenage is not very high, but the best option for entertainment was in London, which was quite expensive to get into.

    3/5
  • 14. What was the Nightlife like in the area you worked?

    • There isn't very much to do in Stevenage apart from going to the cinema or bowling, but London is only 25 minutes away on the train, which is really very good.

    3/5
  • 15. Were there many opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work?

    • There were opportunities to get involved in different kinds of activities outside of work and I think there is something for everyone.

    4/5
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Details

Placement (10 Months+)

Medicine

South East

June 2013

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