Five tips for applying for a Professional Training placement
Hi there, I鈥檓 Chloe Charlwood and I鈥檝e recently completed my Professional Training placement at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), working in clinical operations. If you鈥檙e considering a placement, I鈥檇 encourage you to give it a go! Your first step will be applying for roles and I鈥檓 here to share my top five tips for doing this.
鈥淪tart with researching the types of roles you think you鈥檇 be interested in and, if you鈥檙e doing a biosciences course, ask yourself if you鈥檇 prefer to be laboratory or office-based.鈥
My tips
1. Tailor your application
I applied with a CV, but some organisations will require you to complete an online application. Once you鈥檝e got an idea of the types of roles you鈥檙e interested in, tailor your applications to each one. For example, when I applied for clinical operations role, I talked about my previous work experience in this area. Most importantly, be yourself!
Here are some helpful resources on and .
2. Apply early
Start looking at roles early. Some applications open as soon as September and close by mid-October.
3. Research the company and role
Some companies will ask you to provide a cover letter or write a few short paragraphs on your reasons for applying to them. I鈥檇 recommend including some details about:
- Company values
- Key business areas
- The department you鈥檙e applying to.
One of the most common questions you鈥檒l be asked is 鈥樷.
4. Practise aptitude tests
Once you鈥檝e submitted an initial application, you might be asked to complete an aptitude test to determine if you align with the organisation鈥檚 values. You can , but the most important thing to remember is to answer honestly. Don鈥檛 rush yourself and take your time, especially if there鈥檚 not a time limit.
5. Prepare for an assessment centre
After this stage, the application process can differ, depending on the role. You may be asked to complete a video or telephone interview and, then if you鈥檙e successful, you could be invited to an .
However, with Covid-19 still impacting our ways of working, the assessment process may differ and could be moved to an online-only alternative.
Final advice
Start applying early, understand why you鈥檙e interested in each role you鈥檙e applying for, research the company and, most importantly, be yourself!
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