The University of Kent Careers and Employability Service Bioscience Postgraduate Careers

1. Bruce Woodcock The University of KentCareers and Employability ServiceBioscience Postgraduate Careers You can download these slides atwww.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm

3. 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

4. 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

6. CHOOSING A CAREER Prospects Planner: powerful career choice program www.prospects.ac.uk/links/PPlanner Choosing a career web pages www.kent.ac.uk/careers/Choosing/ChoosingCareer.htm Information on many different careers www.kent.ac.uk/careers/workin.htm

7. 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

8. Links Science 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 Researcherswww.kent.ac.uk/careers/PDWPgrad.htm

9. 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 leadershipqualities? 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)

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

11. 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

12. The University of KentCareers and Employability ServiceBioscience Postgraduate Careers You can download these slides atwww.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm