Taking the pressure off

Armed with a year’s experience gained from a placement takes some of the pressure off looking for a job when you graduate. Employers are looking for experience these days, so your placement year gives you a head start. It also breaks up the time studying at University, allowing you to put what you’ve learnt into practice.

I worked in the labs for drug discovery company, Selcia, mainly running and developing assays. As well as expanding my lab skills, I developed my understanding of collaborations and funding involved in drug discovery programmes. I truly appreciated just how much I’d gained from my placement when I gave a presentation to the department at the end of the year. It helped me realise how much I’d grown in confidence during the year.

Be open-minded and brave

Going on placement can seem daunting when choosing where to go. Don’t be too fussy or you may miss a great placement opportunity in an area you hadn’t previously considered. Wherever you go, you’ll learn plenty of transferable skills and it might open your eyes to a career in something different.

I am keen to remain in drug discovery when I graduate. It is a valuable area of industry with loads of variety and the opportunity to keep on learning.