Automation Engineer Review

I had a wonderful time taking part in my placement year with GSK. I was very lucky to be given the opportunity to learn new skills (i.e. Programming, project management, etc) over a range of different projects which could be new builds to retrofitting of buildings. The various opportunities I was given have allowed for my own personal development as a team member and as an individual in a professional working environment.

Through the entirety of my placement from the first time I was at work to present (very near the end), my colleagues have been incredible. They have gone out of their way to help me with any problem I have had from work related problems to helping to collect money for a charity walk. They continually challenge me to do my best by giving me increasingly difficult and different jobs to do; however all the while ensuring that I understand and ma capable of achieving what they have set for me. I couldn't have wished for better colleagues.

The support and guidance I have been given has been excellent, on every level of management; from my line manager to my hiring manager and beyond. I have been allowed to try new jobs and learn about various systems across site. As well as helping my development in my particular field of work they have also arranged from me to take part in other opportunities across the company which my education could benefit from for which I am very grateful.

80% of the time I will have a big project on and have a good work load. However, the nature of the job relying on the work that needs to take place at that time and can be at the mercy of the schedulers. This means that there have been periods were work has been slower and I have gotten a little bored, however I think it is more the nature of the site and the job than a lack of interested or help by the people I work with.

Over the year I was given increasingly more responsibility as I proved my abilities and commitment to the job. I did at one point take over my manager’s work when he was drafted into another job temporality. Every week I am allowed to carry out work that can end up having an effect on manufacturing with is a big responsibility which I am very proud to be given.

I came into the placement a little bit blind, as the subject was not directly connected to my degree; thus the level of learning that I have achieved this year has been incredible. I have been allowed to learn life skills such as programming; all the while developing my time keeping and work management skills. While, I have learnt some very specific features of the job I am sure that a large amount of work that I have carried out will be applicable in the future. I was also allowed to take part in training session on such topics as document management which I is a wonderful way to learn on the job ready for going back to my degree.

The site that I joined, I chose because of my hiring manager being friendly. I am thankful that my gamble paid off. The working environment is wonderful everybody is very friendly and willing to help me with any problem that I have had. This is not only in my own department but across site. Everybody I have come across on site is working to ensure that I could get the most out of the experience which is brilliant.

While, I am the first IP student that the department has had in a few years the work given to me and the structure that I have been give has been great. Over the year I have been given increasingly difficult projects that have been able to stretch me continuously. While, some things have changed in the plan, this couldn’t be helped as the department works in a fluid way to adapt to changing priorities on site.

The firm as a large corporation possible has not done that much for my training and development. This has been more down to my department, rather than taking part in large events put on my the corporation.

The future employment opportunities within the company seem to be great. We are given a chance to fast track our applications onto the graduate program which is a wonderful opportunity as it seems like a great graduate scheme to join. However, we are given the chance to join the company in a direct role as well my joining their talent database.

The social scene was a bit lacking. There were a couple of meals out organised and day trips between both my colleagues and other placement students. However, it is very fluctuating and some weeks there will be tons happening and others there will be nothing.

The area of the country that I was in is Cumbria. The cost of living is very good, I was being paid more than enough money to live on and still save a little and spend a little. However, it would be very difficult to see much of the area without a car.

Nightlife isn’t great. It is definitely a more pubs than clubs sort of a place. There is a little bit of nightlife in the next town over which is about a 20 mins taxi drive away but pubs are much more in the style or the area.

The opportunities outside of work really depended on a person’s preference for the outdoors. I have been living on the edge of the Lake District, I think that is wonderful. I have been able to go out hiking and on little walks as well as going to visit the little villages and towns. I hope to get out onto one of the lakes when it warms up slightly. However, if the great outdoors is not for you then there is a lot less to do.