Facilities Management Placement Student Review

Day-to-day activities will vary according to project requirements. The placement student will support the UK facilities lead in any facilities or engineering related projects. Data analysis, project management and presentation are some of the tasks I took responsibility for a given project. I also supported Global Workplace and Enterprise Services (GWES) operations with record keeping and data collection. There are also many opportunities for networking, personal development and collaborating with other teams.

I was a direct report to the Associate Director of facilities, there was always support available and I felt part of the team. I participated in meetings and was able to voice my opinion and give suggestions. There is definitely scope to have as much or as little involvement in a project/task depending on personal interests.

Regarding soft-skills - I have developed my communication skills as the role requires a lot of collaboration with other teams and contractors, so its important to feel confident and communicate effectively. I have also learned to be more self-aware through workshops and personal development activities.
Regarding hard-skills - I have improved my presentations and data analysis skills and learned to use new MS office apps such as SharePoint. I had many internal resources available to use for further learning, if I needed them.

Plenty! I had one-to-one meetings with my manger, and everyone else in the team was always available if I needed support. There is also a quarterly catch up with HR and employee groups you can join to make further connections. I also had a graduate as a mentor for a while. During my induction I had many training modules available to learn more about MSD and their policies.
I worked closely with my manager and the project management officer so if I ever needed help I always had someone to ask.

MSD as a company has a very inclusive culture, I was treated like another employee and not just a 'student'. Everyone I have meet has been very welcoming. MSD has a well stablished student program so you will always have a network of other students around you.
There are many initiatives and events to raise awareness about unrepresented groups, wellbeing and other topics. I was always encouraged to look after myself and there was support available too.

While this placement is not related to my degree, I definitely gained a lot out of it and learned more about myself. My team was great, although many work abroad so most team meetings will be virtual. I enjoyed the company culture and have had a good experience overall. I wasn't sure how the placement was going to be like, initially it was a bit difficult to get up to speed (probably due to starting my placement from home). I feel like I have been able to tailor my experience to my own personal needs and goals.

Yes