Ashleigh: Neuroscience with Professional Experience.

Placement:Consulting at McCann Health

Why did you choose to do a placement?

I know that you are typically favoured by employers if you have experience, and it seemed like an ideal opportunity to gain experience. Even if I’d decided not to remain in the industry in which I did my placement, it meant that my CV could boast real-world work experience in an industry relevant to my degree, and gave me contacts and references that I could use to gain a graduate job. The transferable skills that I gained are something that I would still talk about in job interviews today, and are definitely something that I use in my day to day work.

How did you choose your placement?

I knew that I wanted a business placement. When I was applying, there were very few business placements, which meant that my choice was significantly limited. Looking back, my advice now would be to make sure that you apply for something that interests you – even if it’s not the industry that you want to stay in, it’s an ideal opportunity to try something out. You might find that you love it, but even if you don’t, you’ve gained experience and the knowledge that it’s not an industry that you want to work in. It puts you in a better place to make the decision about what you do want to work in!

How much responsibility did you have on your placement?

I was treated in exactly the same way as a graduate Research Associate – a graduate actually started with me on the same day that I started my placement, and we were given exactly the same opportunities and level of responsibility. It was brilliant to feel supported and as though the people around me were investing in me and developing me. I learned so much, and gained so much confidence in my own ability.

How did the placement year develop you as a person and your skills?

  • Confidence – I ended the year happy and confident in my ability to work successfully in a professional environment, and with the confidence to ask questions, constructively challenge my colleagues and present information to clients.
  • project. This skill helped me not only in the final year of my degree, but also in my graduate career.
  • Commercial acumen –I also gained a really valuable understanding of the pharmaceutical industry, including commercial acumen and enhanced financial awareness.
  • Research skills – Most projects start with a research phase, so I learned to be very efficient in locating the key information that I needed.
  • Written and verbal communication skills – My role required me to communicate in a variety of different ways with a number of different audiences, so it taught me a great deal about how to tailor my communication style and the information that I was discussing. My writing skills were developed through writing reports (I often wrote the first draft, and then more senior members of staff reviewed it, amended it, and gave me pointers as to how to improve).

Would you like to tell us anything else about either your placement experience?

It’s a brilliant experience; my placement year was definitely the highlight of my degree, and was the most valuable thing I could have done in helping me to secure a job and a career. I’d recommend a placement to everyone – it’s an invaluable opportunity to get the experience that employers are looking for, to build up your skills and get an idea of what a graduate job will be like.