The University of KentCareers and Employability Service

Bioscience Postgraduate Careers • Bruce Woodcock

You can download these slides atwww.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm

SCIENCE JOBS See www.kent.ac.uk/careers/ScienceJobs.htm

• Research & Development• Clinical Scientists• Biomedical Scientists• Pharmacologist & Toxicologist• Science Teaching• Production & Quality Assurance• Regulatory Affairs • Clinical Research

Associate/Monitor• Information Scientist• Bioinformatics

• Medical Sales Representative

• Patent Examiner• Patent Agent• Scientific Administrator• Medical Communications

and Science Writing• Doctor• Nursing & Physiotherapy

One third of graduate jobs accept any degree subject.

BECAUSE:• Learn new skills quickly• Analyse & solve

problems• Communicate well• Open to new ideas,

adaptable and flexible• “Managers of change”

• Accountancy and banking: need good A Level grades. Lots of jobs – PWC alone take 1,000 graduates a year

• Computing• Teaching• Marketing and Sales• Retailing• Social Work• Personnel• NHS Management

26% of Kent Bioscientists get jobs outside science

CHOOSING A CAREER

Prospects Planner: powerful career choice programwww.prospects.ac.uk/links/PPlannerChoosing a career web pages www.kent.ac.uk/careers/Choosing/ChoosingCareer.htmInformation on many different careers www.kent.ac.uk/careers/workin.htm

WHAT SKILLS DO BIOSCIENTISTS NEED? - GSK

• Presentation skills• Teamworking• Computing Skills• Time Management/organising skills• People skills• Report writing/documentation of

experiments• Laboratory experience• Problem solving skills

LinksScience Recruitment Agencieswww.kent.ac.uk/careers/sitephar.htm#ScientificRecAgencies Kent Vacancy database:www.kent.ac.uk/ces/vacancies.html Postgraduate destinationswww.kent.ac.uk/careers/fdrbases/destinations.htm Biology careers pagewww.kent.ac.uk/careers/bioscience.htm Postgraduate CVswww.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv/cvexamples.htm Career Help for Postgraduates and Contract Researchers www.kent.ac.uk/careers/PDWPgrad.htm

Tips from employers to PhD candidates • Convince the employer that you can translate your ideas into

commercial reality and that the commercial world is not your second option because you can’t achieve a career in academia. Prove that you have researched the position carefully. (KPMG)

• Prove that you’ve given thought to the differences between the academic and corporate environment. (Welcome Trust)

• Demonstrate knowledge of the goals and values of the organisation you are applying to and try to prove initiative and innovation. (SKB)

• I turn down candidates who show a lack of commercial awareness. (McKinsey)

• Emphasise the more rounded individual rather than the researcher. Are you a self-starter? Do you have leadership qualities? Take any opportunities to develop yourself outwith academia. (Accenture)

• Don’t over-rely on academic achievement. Stress transferable skills such as teamworking, report writing and leadership. (SEPA)

• Gain teaching and coaching skills and try to give presentations at conferences. (KPMG)

• Candidates must have transferable skills and must be able to demonstrate them. (BMSP)

Bruce Woodcock

• Deal with all Bioscience students• Email: bw@kent.ac.uk• I send you careers emails every Monday

afternoon on jobs, internships, careers talks.• We give you help for up to 3 years after

graduation• Apply early for graduate schemes: closing

dates for GSK/AstraZeneca typically October/November.

www.kent.ac.uk/careers Telephone: 01227 823299 Email: careerhelp@kent.ac.ukOpening hours: Monday to Friday 9 to 5 including vacations Drop-in times (no appointment needed): 10.30 to 12.30 & 2 to 4 pmHelp given for up to 3 years after graduationWeekly careers emails every Monday afternoon

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The University of KentCareers and Employability Service

Bioscience Postgraduate Careers

You can download these slides atwww.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm