Talent Programmes Co-ordinator Review

I thoroughly enjoyed my work placement at GSK. I worked on many interesting projects, meant some great people and really developed and enhanced my skills as a result of being pushed that bit further. It did not feel as though I was a placement student, it was as though I was a fully flagged member of GSK.

It's surprising how much responsibility is given to IP students at GSK and they really value your opinion. The sky really is the limit at GSK if you can show your manager and team how much you can do!

There's a real emphasis on offering support and guidance so that IPs can thrive. My manager was great and would always work to put me on tasks and projects which would offer stretch as well as acting as my coach. Outside of that, I was also offered the opportunity of having a mentor outside of my team.

Working across 3 programmes as well as other projects means that I have a lot to do on a daily basis but I really enjoy it!

After settling it, I was given lots of responsibility from devising a recruitment strategy for GSK's post-graduate programme to devising workforce planning for 100 employees to having the responsibility of budgets in excess of £1,000,000.

I am definitely learning a lot of valuable skills which will help me throughout my entire worklife. I am learning the importance of stakeholder management and how to deal with people across the business.

People work hard and at some times the offices can seem quiet but if you ever want to stop and chat or ask for advice, there is always someone ready and willing. Before I started at GSK, I was scared that I'd feel quite isolated but on placement I realised that it is quite a close-knit environment and everyone is always ready and willing to have a talk!

I was the first IP in that specific role so I got to shape what the role looked like and got given lots of opportunities. My team was great and had a good idea of what my responsibilities would be but as my placement year progressed I was given the opportunity to venture out into other areas of the business.

GSK uses the 70:20:10 model which means 70% of development is on the job, 20% from development relationships (e.g. buddies and mentors) and 10% is from formal training. I developed and enhanced by skills a lot at GSK and I really do think that the 70:20:10 models work. A lot of what you need to know, you can learn on the job but having formal training alongside does always help. GSK also has a hugely comprehensive CBT system.

GSK really try to feed their IP students into Graduate jobs - whether those roles are on a Graduate programme or a direct-entry role. If you work hard on placement and show what you can do, you will most likely be approached by GSK when opportunities arise.

There's a lot of IPs at GSK so there's always something going on! As soon as you receive an offer with GSK, you are added to a Facebook page which includes all other IPs who will be joining the same time as you so that you can organise accomodation etc.

GSK House, where I was located, is vey close to London - some even say that it is London - so it can be very expeensive when it comes to renting and socialising but I'd say that you get paid an acceptable wage at GSK so you'll always have that income to make the most of your placement year and enjoy the time that you are with GSK.

Brentford is a pretty dull area but you may not chose to live in Brentford as there are many more vibrant places close-by with GSK House having access via the Overground, Underground and Train lines. Brentford has direct acess into Central London so you'll always be able to pop into London if you can't find anything fun to do in Brentford.

There were a number of social events/activities which were arranged by my team as well as my wider department so I always had some sort of activity to take part in with them as well as activities arranged by the IP network.