Peace's success story: Securing an Industrial Placement at Haleon

Peace is a Pharmacology and Innovative Therapeutics student from Queen Mary University of London. She secured a Medical and Scientific Affairs Industrial Placement at Haleon in Weybridge, through Bright Network.  

First, please tell us a little bit about yourself.

“I'm bubbly but shy, and I have a circle of friends and family who motivate me to be bolder.

When I was younger, I wanted to be a doctor, but now I want to work in the pharmaceutical industry or public sector.

I went to university to learn, as my parents said it was the best option in terms of my career choice, and I was motivated by family and friends to go into the healthcare and life sciences sector.”

What motivated you to apply for your role?

“I liked the company's values and way of working. I thought it would be the perfect place to get experience in the industry as a young adult and to experience what reality would be like after I graduate.

The position itself sounded like a good way to use my degree while being able to impact lots of people.”

How did you prepare for the application process?

“I made sure my CV was perfect by having lots of people review it and give their feedback. I was in a support group at university, which helped with the application process.

Additionally, I went to networking events and spoke to different teams there so I could become more confident speaking to strangers in different companies and receive advice too.

I also did lots of preparation to make sure my cover letter was good and practised answering interview questions.”

How did Bright Network help you secure your role?

“I attended the Women in Leadership and Black Heritage Future Leaders events, and through attending multiple Bright Network events I met companies such as Haleon, along with people who supported me in my journey as a university student.”

What have you learnt from going through the process?

“I’ve learnt that you need to be yourself.

You’ll also put in a lot of effort throughout the application process, so it’s important to have a good support system in place so you don’t burn out.”