QC Analytical Apprentice Review

I am a Quality Control analyst. My day-to-day job involves performing certain methods of analysis on a specific drug to ensure it meets worldwide specifications. The main methods I perform are dissolution - tracking the level of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient in a solution over a span of 28 days - and water content testing. As a part of my foundation degree, it is essential that I am trying to improve ways of working with projects.

I have developed many skills at my time at AstraZeneca, such as improving my ability to work under pressure and I have learned a lot about how laboratories work in the Pharmaceutical industry. At my time at AZ, I have also developed my communication skills. However, currently, my team are too busy to train me on additional methods which are useful for my qualification, so my learning has plateaued lightly, hence the lower rating.

I really enjoy working for AZ, the culture of the company is phenomenal. Most people are very friendly, especially the people in my team, who are always happy to help. The workload is always keeping me busy, and despite the challenges I face, it is very enjoyable and rewarding to know that I am working to help indirectly save lives.

I feel the programme could be a little more organised, my place of work and the university are rarely in contact, and when they are, I am the messenger. I feel that work are giving me a lot of support, despite my lack of training within the lab, but uni don't support as much as I would like, however they do try. I struggled to find a workplace mentor during my first year and uni did not understand how busy we are. Likewise, work do not understand that I need more training to prove my competence for my degree.

I receive a lot of support from within my team, however outside of my team, not so much. I have never felt the need to contact HR but I feel they would be happy to help if necessary. I have a great workplace mentor who is happy to help me with uni work when necessary. My workplace are my biggest support network in the apprenticeship.

I was never made aware of who my training provider is when I started my apprenticeship, so I rely on people from my team and apprenticeship co-ordinators within my place of work and the support of the university to help me when needed. So far, I have had no major problems which would warrant this.

Most of the content taught through the university tends to be focussed on Pharmaceutical Development roles, and thus, unnecessary to my QC role within the workplace. I have found that it becomes difficult to gain evidence to prove my competence when I have to fulfil certain levels of competence without breaching workplace confidentiality. Everything I have learned which is relevant to my job, I have learned through work.

There are many activities to get involved in, such as AZInspire events and ClubAZ which could involve becoming a member of their gym. There is also the annual Christmas party where most people from the site attend in a relaxed Black-Tie environment. There are many other events which I am not aware of, but there is plenty of information on-site and online.

Yes

AstraZeneca is a fantastic and rewarding place to work. I enjoy coming to work each day to do my job. There are many opportunities to progress and the people with whom I work are so supportive! I feel like I fit in here more than anywhere before such as school.

The interview process is not as scary as I thought it was. The company work hard to make you feel at ease. A part-time degree adjacent to a full-time job does not sound difficult, however it is easy to prioritise work over uni work, so ensure that you manage your time well!