Why did you decide to undertake a placement year?
I chose the University of Surrey primarily because of the placement year. I thought a placement would give me an idea of the food industry and the job opportunities available whilst giving me the necessary experience putting me ahead of my peers upon graduation.
How easy or difficult did you find it to secure a placement?
It was not easy, but if you were persistent and were well prepared, finding a placement was rewarding. I applied for about ten places but this was my second out of three interviews.
My first interview was with Nestle who were offering one placement with six being interviewed. My third interview was for Allied Bakeries in Maidenhead for which I was shortlisted.
What were the biggest hurdles for you in securing the right position and how did you overcome them?
The biggest hurdle for me initially was how to do interviews. The first one with Nestle I found a bit scary. They had a recruitment day including an aptitude test, interview and group work, whereas at GSK it was just an application and an interview.
My manager at GSK was also a Surrey graduate so perhaps that helped.
What support did you receive from your department in searching and selecting an appropriate placement role?
At the end of the first year we went through our CV’s with our PTY Tutor. We received a briefing regarding the placement opportunities and when we should start looking; placements started to be advertised for Food and Nutrition in October. Adverts were made available to us on the notice-boards and mailing lists.
At interview stage my PTY tutor was always available to help me. The careers centre conducted a session on ‘preparing and facing an interview’ which was very useful.
How easy or difficult did you find the application and interview process?
Some jobs had electronic applications and others required a CV and covering letter. Both were straightforward. Prior to getting my placement I worked in the university library where I had to do an interview with four people on the panel so this was a good experience for me in preparation for the interview process.
Tell me about your role and responsibilities on placement
I assisted the new product research liquids team within nutrition at GSK on a variety of projects. I also took on the lead for a research project and other areas of the business.
What was the most enjoyable and rewarding aspect about your placement year?
I learnt about the food industry, how the theory we learn at university is applied in the real world, and to take on responsibility. They treated me as a full-time employee and gave real projects to work on. Networking and attending conferences were other bonuses.
Did your placement turn out as you had anticipated?
I was looking to get an insight into the food industry and the opportunities available. At GSK, although I was in a research role, the company was flexible in allowing us to try different roles within our department. I was able to learn a little about new product development, sensory and regulatory.
What has been the most difficult aspect of your placement year?
Adjusting from being a student to taking up responsibility and working in a multi-national company.
How many other placement students were there at the company?
I worked with three other students at GSK within my department. However, at the site there are about 100 placement students working in different departments such as marketing and IT.
What value do you think the placement year has given you?
The transition back to studying has been quite nice, seeing familiar faces on campus. About half of our batch did a placement and I was with three other classmates at GSK. The researching skills and experience gained at report writing and literature reviews will help me in my final year project and other coursework. The placement also helped me understand different aspects of the course.
How valuable do you think the placement year will be to you beyond university?
In my second year I thought, ‘Why am I studying this subject?’ My placement made it clear to me. It will also help me in my final year with my report writing and to perform better overall. Because GSK was a big company I now have experience of how this size organisation works.
I learnt about what other roles within the food industry are available. GSK is recognised in Sri Lanka so having that name on my CV should help me secure a job in the future. At present, I am undecided whether to pursue a PhD but I definitely want to secure a 1st class in my degree.
What advice would you offer to International students considering a placement year?
I’d strongly recommend international students to consider the placement year option. Before I arrived in the UK I had no formal work experience. This year gave me the opportunity to work in the industry and apply my theoretical knowledge in the real world situation, and develop my personal skills and build confidence to take up a full time job when I graduate.
Taking Part in The Olympics and beyond
I danced for the opening ceremony of the Olympics! At GSK, we received an email asking for volunteers to dance, so I went on the London 2012 website and applied. I attended two auditions in November /December and was notified that I had been selected in Jan/Feb.
I had always hoped to be a part of the Olympics as a volunteer so I had already applied for the London Ambassador Project and was offered a place. There were 8000 places out of 34000 applications so I was thrilled to be selected.
While I was on placement the Sri Lankan Society was set up at Surrey and I was approached to be the VP. I continue to sing with the university’s Gospel Choir and contribute to the features team of ‘The Stag’ newspaper. I work as a court-life mentor and volunteer as a ‘buddy’ for the international office. I am living back on campus for my final year in Cathedral Court.
