Research Chemist Review

My placement year at Lubrizol was thoroughly enjoyable. The project work was challenging whilst still remaining interesting.

All colleagues made me feel welcome and immediately an integral part of their team. I felt as though everyone was approachable and willing to give help and guidance whenever it was needed.

My supervisor was excellent at giving support and praise and allowed me to voice my own ideas and suggestions when I had them. This allowed us to work well as a team to drive the project forward. One area in which my supervisor went above and beyond his call of duty was when he set up team meetings in order for me to practice my presenting skills as this was one area in which I felt the least confident. Thanks to this, presentations no longer seem as daunting and I have picked up a lot of skills which help me to keep my nerves at bay.

As I was essentially managing my own project, I was able to decide for myself how busy or not busy I was on a daily basis. My project gave enough work to evenly distribute throughout the year without feeling bored or bogged down with my workload. Again this was due to my supervisor allowing me to manage my own time.

I was essentially managing my own project. I was allowed to come up with new ideas/ways to do things as well as then being able to try these out.

I managed to secure a permanent role within the company after my placement year, therefore the practical/organisational and people skills I have gained will massively help in developing my career with Lubrizol further,

The atmosphere in my office was always upbeat. Everyone knew when the had to be professional whilst there was still always time for some down time. Everyday there was something to have a good laugh about, I have many fond memories of my office/lab experience during my placement year at Lubrizol.

The interview process was seamless and a not such a daunting experience, there was a familiarization day where we got to visit the company and meet colleagues a couple of months before we started, this allowed us to 1) find our way around, 2) remember some of the colleagues who interviewed us and 3) allow the other staff to meet us and get to know us a little bit. This meant that on my start day everything was in order and the first day went seamlessly. Overall the placement year was very well organized and allowed for lots of interesting research to be done.

We had general safety training as well as training in writing COSHH forms (a great skill to be able to have), however in my eyes there were lots of potential training events to which as students we were not eligible but which I think would have been very useful. There were also a number of conferences/symposiums which we were not invited to but which would have been extremely interesting to attend.

I have been offered a permanent role within the organization which I have already begun. There are lots of prospects to move around within the company/to different sites also which seem very appealing to me as a fresh graduate finding a career path.

There were a large number of works nights out which were always enjoyable and allowed me to get to know colleagues outside of work also.

I was living a home with my parents, therefore I had very little living expenses. As far as socializing goes, there is a large number of bars/restaurants in Manchester of different costs, therefore socializing could be made as expensive or as cheap as needs be.

Manchester host a whole array of different bars and clubs and therefore has a great nightlife.

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