Career Planning for Biologists

1
Career Planningfor Biologists

• Janice Simpson
• Careers Adviser

2
By the end of this session you should

• Be aware of the options open to you after
  graduation
• Know when and how to make applications for
  employment and further study
• Know how to find out about opportunities
• Know how to research and develop your career
  ideas
• Know how the Careers Service can help you to plan
  your career

3
Biology graduate 2009

• This is just to let you know that the lecture
  you gave to
• the Biology 3rd years in the Autumn term was the
  wake up
• I needed. That one lecture highlighted the need
  for me to
• apply to graduate schemes. After over 30
  applications I
• have been offered a position at NPower when I
  leave
• university, I can safely say that without the
  push that I
• received I wouldn't be in such a good position

4
Options after a degree

• Employment
• Related to degree
• Indirectly related
• Not related to degree
• Graduate level
• Non-graduate level

• Postgraduate Study
• Related directly to degree studies
• Not related
• Conversion course
• Time Out
• Travel
• Work
• Volunteering

5
Careers Using Biology

• Research Scientist (pharma,
• food drink, agriculture,
• ecology, environment,
• medical)
• Clinical Scientist (NHS
• Clinical Scientists Training
• Programme)
• Forensic Scientist
• Clinical Research Associate
• Medical/Pharmaceutical Sales

• Bioinformatics
• Health Professions
• Policy related (eg Public Sector, Civil Service)
• Environmental (consultancy, education,
  management, conservation)
• Education (teaching, lecturing)
• Communication (journalism, publishing,
  museums/science centres

6
Finding out more

• Society of Biology http//societyofbiology.org/edu
  cation/careers
• www.biology4all.com
• www.environmentalcareers.org.uk
• Forensic Science Service www.forensic.gov.uk
• NHS Careers www.nhscareers.nhs.uk
• Pharmaceutical industry www.abpi-careers.org.uk
• www.biochemistry.org
• Association of British Science Writers
  www.absw.org.uk
• Institute of Food Science Technology
  www.ifst.org

7
Other Graduate Opportunitieswww.york.ac.uk/univ/m
is/cfm/dests/index.cfm

• Management (general and specific)
• IT
• Finance
• Social care/welfare
• Law
• Management consultancy
• Library/information management

• Retail
• Media
• Sales/Marketing
• Advertising/Public Relations
• Administration (public, private and voluntary
  sectors)

8
Looking for a job ?Graduate Training Schemes

• Typically blue chip and large
• public sector organisations
• Structured programme lasting 1-3 years, featuring
  a range of placements and often study for
  professional qualifications
• Greatest number of opportunities in accountancy
  and finance, general management, legal work, IT
  and retail
• Any degree discipline for many schemes

9
Looking for a Job ?Graduate Training Schemes

• Majority require completion of online application
  form
• Assessment likely to involve individual and group
  based activities eg
• Psychometric tests, interviews
• (face to face and telephone),
• group exercises, presentations,
• role play, work management
• tasks, case studies

10
Seeking employment ? Direct entry

• Opportunities with large, medium and small
  companies
• Jobs advertised when vacancies are available
• Usually immediate start (within a couple of
  months of advertisement)
• Application may be CV/covering letter or
  application form
• Smaller companies may have less structured
  recruitment and assessment procedures

11
When to apply for jobs

• Autumn term
• Deadlines for many large graduate recruitment
  programmes in private and public sectors
• Recruitment fairs
• Spring/Summer terms
• Deadlines for smaller recruitment schemes and
  some ongoing programmes
• Make applications for advertised vacancies
• Speculative applications
• Recruitment Fairs

12
Finding out about Jobs

• Careers Service www.york.ac.uk/careers/jobs.c
  fm
• Prospects graduate website
• www.prospects.ac.uk
• Regional graduate websites www.graduatesyorkshire.
  co.uk
• Graduate directories and career guides

• Careers Fairs and events
• Newspapers
• Specialist publications
• Speculative applications
• Recruitment agencies and websites
  www.agencycentral.co.uk

13
Thinking about further study ?
14
Postgraduate StudyWhat are the options ?

• Research degrees (Masters, MPhil, PhD)
• Taught Masters courses
• Postgraduate diplomas/certificates
• Conversion courses
• Undergraduate degrees

15
How To Apply

• Apply directly to universities
• Some exceptions
• Clearing houses for Teaching and Law
• Apply through UCAS for Social Work and Medicine
• No overall closing date, but you may need to
  apply early (eg Oxford, popular
  courses/institutions)
• PhD Apply to advertised opportunities but can
  make direct approach talk to academic staff and
  postgrads

16
What do York graduates do ?www.york.ac.uk/univ/m
is/cfm/dests/index.cfm

• Bioscience related
• Genetics
• Ecology
• Environmental Management
• Forensic Science
• Bioinformatics
• Molecular cell biology
• Bioinformatics
• Infectious Diseases
• Pharmacology

• Other courses
• Teacher training
• Nursing
• Medicine
• Audiology
• Speech Therapy
• Dietetics
• Accounting and Finance
• Law

17
Finding Out More

• So you think you might do a PhD ? Tue 27th Oct,
  2.15 3.15
• So you think you might do a Masters ? Thur 29th
  Oct
• Websites
• www.prospects.ac.uk/links/PGstudy
• www.prospects.ac.uk/links/Abroad
• www.postgrad.hobsons.com
• PhD Studentships
• www.jobs.ac.uk
• www.newscientistjobs.com
• www.findaphd.com

18
Not sure what you want to do ?
19
Help in getting started

• Careers Service Lots of exercises and career
  guides to help you in the Getting Started
  section
• MBTI workshops to help you think about your
  personality preferences and career motivation
• Prospects Planner to generate job ideas
• www.prospects.ac.uk/links/pplanner
• Profiling for Success www.york.ac.uk/careers/psych
  ometrictests/access
• Windmills programme www.windmillsonline.co.uk
• Talk to a Careers adviser 20 minute quick
  query (QQ) appointments available daily at
  Careers Service
• Regular drop-ins at Cookies (no sign-up)

20
Think about yourself

• Personal skills/strengths
• Weaknesses
• Academic interests
• Technical/scientific skills
• Values

• Mobility
• Motivation
• What interests you ?
• What are you passionate about ?
• Practical issues eg mobility

21
Finding out more

• Careers Service information room
• Researching careers information sessions
• Take-away career guides and casebooks
• Society of Biology
• http//societyofbiology.org/education/careers
  
• Careers Service website
• www.york.ac.uk/careers
• Prospects graduate website
• www.prospects.ac.uk
• Work/voluntary experience

22
Finding out more

• Careers events www.york.ac.uk/careers/events.cfm
• Finance, journalism, voluntary sector, law,
  numerical analytical careers, environment,
  non-academic careers in HE .
• Employer open days
• Recruitment Fairs on campus and elsewhere
• General recruitment fair 27th Oct 11am 3pm
• Science, Engineering Technology 3rd Nov 11am
  3pm

23
Making applications

• Help available
• Information room handouts/take-away guides
  handouts available on website
• www.prospects.ac.uk/links/jobs
• Workshops for CVs, application forms, interviews
• Practice assessment centre and aptitude tests
• One to one appointments with Careers Service
  staff
• Employer led activities and York Award courses

24
Taking time out
Build up work experience
Travel and maybe work as well
Do some voluntary work
25
Ideas and more information

• Careers Service resources eg Work your Way around
  the World, Voluntary Projects Abroad
• Work and travel schemes eg Work Australia, Work
  New Zealand
• Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) eg
  British Council Language Assistants, Japan
  Exchange Teaching Programme (JET)
• Environmental projects eg BTCV, Wildlife Trusts,
  Studentforce, Groundwork Trust.

26
The York Award

• Gain recognition for activities youve been
  involved in during University
• Application process good experience for graduate
  job applications and interviews
• Application form available end Nov 09
• Deadline is 5pm on 22nd Jan 2010 

27
After graduation what next ?

• Continued support from York in person, by phone
  and e-mail register with the Careers Service
• Consider non-graduate jobs and volunteering as a
  foot in the door
• Training programmes and support from other
  Universities and local providers
• Financial support (Jobseekers Allowance, Housing
  Benefit)

28
Getting work experience

• Student Internship Bureau
• Project based work for students and new
• graduates www.yorkinternships.com
• Graduate Talent Pool
• Internships and voluntary placement from
• a range of organisations across the UK
• http//graduatetalentpool.direct.gov.uk
• Volunteering
• Database of volunteering opportunities
• across the UK www.do-it.org.uk

29
The University of York Careers
Servicewww.york.ac.uk/careers

• Open Mon Fri , 10am -5pm
• Quick Query appointments
• Job vacancies
• Information
• Events programme
• www.york.ac.uk/careers/events .cfm

30
Any questions