The Careers Service.

18/04/23

www.sheffield.ac.uk/careers

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Your degree in BMS…..

…. What next?

Alison Clay, Careers Adviser

March 2011

The Careers Service.

Where are you?• I have definite career plans and know how to achieve them

• I have some ideas but am not sure what to do next

• I have a few vague ideas

• I haven’t got a clue

What are your concerns?• Are there obstacles you feel you face when making career

decisions?

The Careers Service.

Factors affecting career choice

• Qualifications & whether further study is feasible

• Technical skills• Transferable skills• Personal qualities /

personality• Prior experience• Abilities / degree result• Interests / motivations• Values & beliefs

• Awareness of options• Occupational knowledge• Friends & family• Salary / debt• Geographical mobility• Other responsibilities• Self image / self

confidence• Networks / contacts• Economic climate…….

The Careers Service.

Current economic climateNext 2 years: cautious rise in jobs but more competition - you WILL be affected! ACT NOW:

•Get a good degree

•Get work experience / work shadowing

•Develop skills (SGA, SfWC, courses, etc)

•Be flexible in career choices, employers & locations

•Make contacts (tutors, careers events, networking)

•Apply early

•Don’t give up hope – there ARE jobs out there!

•Don’t assume further study is the only option

•Get help if you need it: www.shef.ac.uk/careers/students/advice

•Start by considering what you want to do after your degree…..

The Careers Service.

What do BMS graduates do?www.shef.ac.uk/careers/students/worktypes/degree.html

UK / EU – BMS first degree grads, Sheffield 2009 Response rate = 82.5%. Of those known:

•35.1% Employed (FT ~ 79%; PT – 21%; voluntary ~ 0%)

•44.7% Further study

•5.3% Work and further study

•3.2% Not available for work or further study (eg, travel)

•10.6% Still seeking work

•1.1% refused to tale part in survey

The Careers Service.

Sample of scientific employment areas entered by BMS GraduatesIn the lab:

• Research / lab assistant

• Research / lab technician

• Animal technician

• Lab analyst

• Trainee clinical scientist

• Phlebotomist

• Chemical analyst

• Microbiologist

• Cell biologist

Lab-associated:

• Clinical data manager

• Clinical trials assessor

• Test results administrator

• Project co-ordinator (lab testing)

• Regulatory affairs manager

• Accreditation assistant

• Safety consultant

The Careers Service.

Typical employers - science

• Healthcare (inc. NHS)• Higher education• Pharmaceutical –

development, testing, manufacturing, etc

• Contract research labs• Testing and analysis

services• Lab equipment

developers

• Local & Central Government

• HSE, FSS• Regulatory bodies• Charities• Secondary education• Scientific society• Biotech companies

inc. SMEs

The Careers Service.

Sample employment data for BMS graduates – wider pictureUsing science away from lab:• Healthcare / dental / nursing /

assistants & support workers (second degree applicants?)

• Healthcare centre manager• Medical sales representative• Medical / technical writer• Medical information officer• Teaching assistant• Journalist

• IT & telecommunication• Business & finance• Recruitment consultants• Sales / marketing • Youth and community work• Police & probation services• Housing & welfare officers• Human Resources• Project management• Chef• Admin / clerical / manual

The Careers Service.

Sample of research / further study entered by BMS graduatesPhD / MPhil: Biomedical science; Neuroscience; Neurology; Clinical sciences; Development biology; Molecular biology; Stem cell development ; Molecular and genetic medicine; Psychiatric diseases; Endocrinology; Engineering materials; Neuroethics; Genetics science

MSc: Neuroscience; Biomedical science; Molecular medicine; Reproductive biology; Stem cell technology; Drug discovery; Biological & bioprocess engineering; Cancer biology; Biochemical engineering; Immunology

Medicine / Dentistry / Nursing

BSc Clinical physiology

BSC Clinical psychology

MSc Physiotherapy

MSc Audiology

MPharm Pharmacy

MMedSci Human Nutrition

MSc Sports & exercise science

MSc Forensic science

MA Biotech law & ethics

MSc Science communication

PGCE primary/secondary

The Careers Service.

Stage 1. Understanding yourselfCareers with my Degreewww.shef.ac.uk/careers/students/worktypes/degree.html

• personality and preferences - Profiling for Success• interests and skills - Prospects Planner

See the Bigger Picture (Section 1) www.careers.dept.shef.ac.uk/bigger_picture/see_the_bigger_picture.pdf

Improve your prospects – and your self-awareness:www.sheffield.ac.uk/careers/students/advice :

• Work experience & skills development• Skills for Work Certificate• Sheffield Graduate Award

The Careers Service.

Stage 2. Investigating your options Which option is for you? Investigate:

Work? See next slide

Further study? Talk to your tutor asap. Also see: www.shef.ac.uk/careers/students/study

Time out? See: www.shef.ac.uk/careers/students/worktypes/timeout.html

Unsure? Talk to a Careers Adviser – call 0114 222 0910 to book a 15-minute appointment

The Careers Service.

Researching types of work:• Careers Service online:

www.sheffield.ac.uk/careers/students/worktypes/options.html

• Occupational Panels and A Day in the Life Of.....: www.sheffield.ac.uk/careers/students/events

• Network – friends / family / neighbours and people they know!

• Briefing Sheets – Researching Types of Work & Meeting Employers; also see Careers Service guide

• Professional bodies – look for careers section of websites (see next slide)

The Careers Service.

Professional bodies & learned societies: • Society of Biology: www.societyofbiology.org• Physiological Society: www.physoc.org• Genetics Society: www.genetics.org.uk• British Society for Cell Biology: www.bscb.org• Institute of Biomedical Science: www.ibms.org• British Neuroscience Association: www.bna.org.uk• Society for General Microbiology: www.sgm.ac.uk• Society for Experimental Biology: www.sebiology.org• Biochemical Society: www.biochemistry.org• Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry:

careers.abpi.org.uk• NHS Careers: www.nhscareers.nhs.uk• Research Councils UK: www.rcuk.ac.uk • Etc – see ‘Directory of British Associations’ in Careers Service

The Careers Service.

What you need to know about the work:• Entry requirements: qualifications, skills,

experience• Key duties of the job• Conditions of employment• Work environment• Career progression• Typical employers and vacancy sources• Other useful contacts – who do you know?

The Careers Service.

Stage 3. Decisions, decisions….• Do you fit the bill?

• Knowledge & specialist skills?• Relevant experience ?• Transferable skills?

• If not, are you prepared to put in extra effort to make it?• Best module options? Project theme?• Work experience? DEE? Ask in your dept; make speculative applications;

use Jobshop: www.shef.ac.uk/careers/students/advice/work.html• Develop your skills / improve your prospects:

www.shef.ac.uk/careers/students/advice

• Does the occupation / further study offer the right rewards for you? Interest? Satisfaction? Progression ? Benefits package?

• Is it compatible with your values / preferences? Undertake self-analysis and chat to a Careers Adviser / your tutor

• Be honest!

The Careers Service.

Stage 4. Finding jobs / further study• Online info on job search:

www.shef.ac.uk/careers/students/jobs

• Creative job search & networking – ask at Careers Service

• Online help with finding further study: www.shef.ac.uk/careers/students/study

• Seeking further study related to your course? Talk to your tutor

• Briefing sheets: Job hunting strategies; Meeting employers; Further study

The Careers Service.

Stage 5. Making applicationsI was horrified at the standard of many of the hundreds of applications we received. The writers are hugely keen to talk about themselves but forget to find out what the prospective employer is looking for; 95% ignored the (very simple) application instructions. My favourite is the writer who assured me their best quality was their "attention do detail".

Recruiter with over 20 years experience writing in The Guardian 08/01/11

• Unique

• Targeted

• Why you

• Why this job

• Why them

The Careers Service.

BMS 227 – Career Development Skills

Coming up in Semester 2:

• CVs and personal statements

• Presentation skills

• Interviews

The Careers Service.

Pick up your copy today

Spare copies available from MBB/BMS

Departmental Office

The Careers Service.

Career Service information sheets:

- Career ideas for students in BMS- Careers in the lab - information for Biomedical Scientists

The Careers Service.

Medicine & Dentistry talks

Getting into Medicine & Dentistry

Tuesday 3 May, 10.10am, BLT2

Admissions tests for Medicine & Dentistry

Thursday 5 May, 11.10am, BLT1

The Careers Service.

18/04/23

www.sheffield.ac.uk/careers

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Careers Service - 388 Glossop Road (behind SU building)Open 9am - 5pm Mon to Fri (11am – 5pm Tues)

Student Jobshop - Students’ Union BuildingOpen 10am – 3pm Mon to Fri (11am – 3pm Tues)

www.shef.ac.uk/careers

Where to find us…..