Emma from Information Services

• • Information services

  • Nicola
  • Ian
  • Jennie
  • Emma
  • Paul

I studied at the University of London, School of Pharmacy, where I gained a degree in Toxicology and Pharmacology.  This included an industrial placement year working for a pharmaceutical company.

"The assessment centre was very much a two way process. It was quite a relaxed atmosphere and I actually found it quite an enjoyable experience" Emma

I applied to AstraZeneca because I had really enjoyed my placement year and wanted to work for a pharmaceutical company again.

I attended a two-day graduate assessment centre that included: giving a presentation, a team exercise, site tours, aptitude tests, psychometric tests, and both technical and HR interviews.  

The assessment centre was a two way process, with a relaxed atmosphere and I found it quite an enjoyable experience.  

In my current role I am on secondment as a Business/ Systems Analyst in the Infrastructure Services department.  Our team are looking at the decommissioning of a system that is responsible for authorising access to numerous AstraZeneca Applications worldwide.  The system is being replaced with a more efficient and cost effective one.

My tasks within this role have been to:

• Analyse the existing authorisation system to understand how it works.
  
  
• Understand how the new proposed system will function.
  
  
• Determine how AZ applications currently interact with the existing system.
  
  
• Propose solutions for how the new replacement system will work with AZ applications.

I am really enjoying my current role. I like the diversity of the job, the responsibility I have been given and I enjoy the problem-solving aspect of the role.  

My first role in AZ was as a programmer/ analyst. I worked on both development and support teams on a variety of different projects.   The various systems I have worked on have given me an opportunity to work with customers from different business areas ranging from Finance, manufacturing to HR.  

I have attended numerous training courses since joining the company. In particular my management were very supportive whilst I was studying for a professional IT qualification.

The social side of AZ is very good as well.  I go to the gym on-site and there are numerous sports and social sections you can join.  Additionally there is AZnet that organises events specifically for graduates such as karaoke, fancy dress balls and pub quizzes etc. There is also a Freshers fortnight when you first start, that is a good way of meeting people too.

I really like the way the company is so flexible. I have been able to take lifestyle friendly leave where I left my job for a couple of months in order to travel, and then returned back to my same job. The working conditions are superb. I also found the company very helpful with relocating and moving house.