Medical Writer Review

My placement was very enjoyable. From day 1 I was plunged into the deep end but with the necessary guidance and support - it is really the best way to learn. There are some draw backs but it is expected when working for any large company. These include mandatory training modules for example which took a good 2 weeks to complete but asides from that it was very good. To be immersed in a work place environment is something university cannot provide.

I feel valued by most colleagues. Of course, everybody is not perfect and there were a few dismissive members of staff, but as long as you let your manager know then these things are easily sorted. Most staff were supportive and were very insightful. They provided good advice and were sure to let you know when you did work of value.

Management was very supportive. From the beginning a plan was put in place to ensure we learnt as much as possible about a big company. I had regular 1 to 1 meetings to learn and improve myself. I was encouraged to go on training courses and develop myself personally. I was provided guidance beyond my university placement and applying for graduate jobs.

Due to the nature of my placement, my work load fluctuated. If to average it out, I was busy throughout. There would be times where it would seem like not a lot to do but I used this productively to research my future and learn more about the company. There was also other times were I was under stress and time constraints but it was very valuable in project management skills.

I had a great amount of responsibility - more than I thought I would get. From chairing meetings and being wholly responsible for projects to managing the outsourcing of work to vendors, I was surprised. It was a step up but I feel prepared to take on more challenges than I thought I could. You are treated like an adult.

The technical skills are more than valuable, I feel fully prepared to return for my last year and complete my dissertation with a degree of confidence not possible if I did not do the placement year. There are also general transferable skills like organisation and team management which the placement has provided. I had basic skills from general work but overall GSK has enhanced these massively and nurtured these through mentoring and training courses.

The office was a lot more relaxed than I thought it would be. Of course, it is still an office but everyone is approachable, there seems to be cake quite regularly and everyone still seems to work hard. The office is full of really qualified people so it can be daunting but you are quick to learn that everyone is friendly and can remember being a student!

I found the placement to be well organised. It has been established for many years now so the company is very comfortable with placement students. We have been given the opportunity to go on site visits, attend relevant external meetings and have had a structured placement plan. Resources are well planned and the support is there from acceptance up until the end of the placement.

The firm invested greatly in me. I was allowed to go on various courses from self improvement (such as dealing with stress and change) to learning how to give good presentations and strategic reviewing - a key part of my job. There were opportunities to attend departmental talks and learn more about industry,

They are very appealing. Due to the size of the company and the vulnerability of the industry, there is no guaranteed job. A good graduate scheme is offered but this is highly competitive, we have an edge in that their is a placement specific application process which provides you with an advantage

The placement has an organisation for placement students across the country. They organised events such as Christmas meal and an end of placement boat party on the Thames. We also had some socials and an end of year hoody and yearbook was organised. It was good and really depends on the efforts of all the students to make it work.

Living in London was expensive - rent was 420 a month (not bad, but the house really was poor quality). I lived with other placement students. Socialising was ok as we lived near another university so the area still catered for students. However, the best places were in London and were expensive but mostly worth it.

The surrounding area wasn't great, there was 1 or 2 clubs but loads of pubs (which is good for pub quizzes etc!). We found it was suitable, and there was stuff to do in the area, it can be a bit of a let down if you come from an area really built for students.

There was if you knew where to look. Be proactive!