Induction Day for my Industrial Placement Year

I had my induction day last week for my industrial placement at GlaxoSmith Kline which starts at the end of August this year. It was very exciting to meet all the people that I would be working with as well as getting to know other industrial placement students from different universities. I was a bit nervous to start off with as the last time I had been at the GSK site was for my interview, and that all seems like a blur now that I look back at it!

The day started with all of the students mingling and getting to know each other. I found myself repeatedly introducing myself and having a couple of jokes as to how there is no possibility at all of me remembering all of the names of the individuals that had introduced themselves to me! It was great meeting other students in a work environment and finding out about what degree they are studying for and which project they will be working on in their placement year (I will be working in the Respiratory Diseases department- my specific project will be assigned to me at a later date).

I met my project supervisor as well as my department coordinator and they were very friendly and supportive. I did feel however as if I did not know anywhere near enough information and laboratory techniques to be working at GSK but after talking to other students, I soon found that I was not alone! My supervisor assured me that the first couple of weeks of the placement will just be theory work rather than any hands on practical work. I guess that is sort of a relief as I don’t readily recall any lab calculations and techniques so the refresher will be very useful indeed!

Next week me and a couple of students I met on the induction day are planning on meeting up at Stevenage to have a look about the town and get a feel for what it might be like working there. It’s all very exciting!