The University of Kent Careers Advisory Service

1. The University of Kent Careers Advisory Service Forensic Science and Physics Careers You can download a copy of this presentation at www.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm

2. Location of the Careers Service Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays including vacations. The Careers Web Site www.kent.ac.uk/careers is available 24/7

3. The Careers Advisory Service The Careers Centre is in Keynes College Driveway

4. Careers Web Sitewww.kent.ac.uk/careers

5. QUIZ • What jobs can you do with a physics or forensic science degree? • What skills have you gained on your degree that you can “sell” to recruiters.

6. Skills gained on a Forensic Science or Physics Degree • Gather and analyse relevant information from a wide variety of sources • Identify and propose solutions to problems • Work with others in the preparation and presentation of group work (group projects) • Project management • Technical skills • Work independently (individual projects) • Communicate with others in a clear and articulate manner • Present ideas and arguments verbally in presentations and seminars, and informal discussions

8. BECAUSE: Learn new skills quickly Analyse & solve problems Numeracy Open to new ideas, adaptable and flexible “Managers of change” Marketing and Sales Retailing Social Work Personnel Civil Service Accountancy Banking Computing One third of graduate jobs accept any degree subject.

9. FORENSIC SCIENCE EMPLOYERS • Forensic Science Service. www.fss.org.uk6 labs - Chepstow, Chorley, Huntingdon, London and Wetherby (Send speculative applications to B’ham HQ. Vacancies advertised in national and regional newspapers, and New Scientist • Police Laboratories - 4 in Scotland • FS Agency of Northern Ireland - Belfast • Qinetiq - Fort Halstead, Kent - analysis of terrorist-related explosives. • Home Office (Police Scientific Dev’t Branch) research and development on equipment and systems used for the police and fire services.

10. FORENSIC SCIENCE EMPLOYERS • Customs and Excise www.hmce.gov.uk/ • Police forces employ civilians as scenes of crime officers. Independent forensic contractors- may need experience to work for these. • Laboratory of the Government Chemist - Middlesex - analytical science, consumer protection  pollution and health, DNA and drug analysis also document examination for Inland Revenue and DSS. • Forensic Alliance Limited • Document Evidence

11. Physics Employers • Industry BAe Systems, Thales, Rolls Royce, Roke Manor Research • Nuclear Power - AEA Technology, BNFL, British Energy, Powergen, National Radiological Protection Board • Hospitals – Medical physics • Defence - Qinetiq, DESG, GCHQ, AWE • Space - Astrium, European Space Agency • Computing - Logica, IBM, Tessella, Aligent • Geophysics - Western Geophysical, Gardline Surveys • Other - British Antarctic Survey, CERN, Met. Office • Many physicists jobs don’t have the job title “physicist”: you may be called a development engineer, systems engineer, materials scientist, support analyst, clinical scientist, meteorologist etc.

12. What can I do with my degree subject? • What graduates in your subject did after leaving Kent • Jobs related to your subject • Employers and vacancy sources www.kent.ac.uk/careers/degreein.htm Forensic Science www.kent.ac.uk/careers/forensicsci.htm Physics www.kent.ac.uk/careers/physics.htm

13. Research & Development Clinical Scientists Science Teaching Information Scientist Patent Examiner Patent Agent Scientific Administrator Technical Author, Science Journalist & Medical Writer www.kent.ac.uk/careers/ScienceJobs.htm Other Science Jobs

14. Speculative CVs use Forensic Sci. careers page Kent University Vacancies Listswww.kent.ac.uk/careers/vaclist.htmI will email summaries of these to you in final year. Prospects Webwww.prospects.ac.uk Science Recruitment Agencies - some offer temporary laboratory work in vacations. www.kent.ac.uk/careers/sitephar.htm#agencies Directories GET, Prospects New Scientistwww.newscientistgraduate.com Royal Society of Chemistry - includes vacancies from Chemistry in Britain magazine www.chemsoc.org/careers/careers.htm Science Vacancy Sources

15. Postgraduate Study • TAUGHT Higher degrees by taught course & dissertation – MSc. Length: one calendar year (September - September) • RESEARCH PhD. Length: at least three years for PhD. Work independently to prepare a thesis • FUNDING Normally need 2:1 for research council bursary – fees paid, plus about £11,000 grant • www.kent.ac.uk/careers/postgradmenu.htm

16. Advantages of a Sandwich Placement. • Gain lots of new skills: and have lots of evidence of these skills for final year applications. • Usually get higher degree class. • Gives you a chance to try out a career. • Gain greatly in self confidence and maturity. • Learn application and interview skills. • Some employers only recruit placement students. • May get a job offer for when you graduate • Much lower unemployment rate after graduation and usually in much better quality jobs. • Much better chance of becoming a scientist. • Usually well paid!

17. CHOOSING A CAREER • Choosing a Career Booklet - available in Careers Service. • Prospects Planner - powerful career choice program www.prospects.ac.uk/links/PPlanner • Explorer www.kent.ac.uk/careers/explorer.htm

18. Science vacation work • Science Recruitment Agencies www.kent.ac.uk/careers/sitephar.htm#agencies • STEP Paid project work in smaller companies for second year students. 1400, 8 week projects each summer. Pay £190 per week www.step.org.uk • Careers Database www.kent.ac.uk/careers/jobs/index.htm • Speculative CVs to firms in your area

19. If you can’t get a science placement ……… • Do something outside science that develops your teamworking/organising/ problem-solving skills • BUNACwww.bunac.org.uk Summer work in the USA, Canada, Australia, Jamaica and Ghana • Camp Americawww.campamerica.co.uk • Camp Counsellors USA and Work Experience USAwww.ccusa.com • CIEEwww.ciee.org work experience in the USA, Canada, Australia and NZ

20. How to apply • CV and Covering Letter – speculative applications and small companies. See science CV example www.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv/sciencecv.htm • Application form • On-line application form – big companies • For help see www.kent.ac.uk/careers/applicn.htm

21. WEB PAGES • Kent Vacancy Database www.kent.ac.uk/careers/jobs/index.htm • Prospects Webwww.prospects.ac.uk • Applications and Interviews (includes assessment centres and psychometric tests etc.)www.kent.ac.uk/careers/applicn.htm • Example CVs & Covering Letters www.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv/cvexamples.htm • Practice Interviews www.kent.ac.uk/careers/interviews/mockivs.htm • Interview Reports – lots of actuarial interviews! www.kent.ac.uk/careers/ivreps/ivrepsmenu.htm

22. Videos • APPLICATIONS • INTERVIEWS – now on-line www.kent.ac.uk/careers-local/IntVid.htm • ON-LINE APPLICATIONS • SELECTION CENTRES • All last about 25 minutes and are excellent! • Just ask at Careers Reception to view • Now all on a DVD you can borrow.

23. Careers Talks and Employer Presentations www.kent.ac.uk/careers/casevents.htm VACANCY AND WORK EXPERIENCE DATABASE www.kent.ac.uk/careers/jobs/index.htm

24. Other points • Check you campus emails regularly as I will send you emails on vacation work, careers talks, vacancies etc. • Get actively involved in university life so you have evidence of teamwork, organising, leadership etc. skills for your CV. • Apply early in your final year – closing dates are often in the first term.

25. Bruce Woodcock • Normally on duty TUESDAY MORNINGS (10.30 am - 12.30 pm) and WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS (2.00 - 5.00 pm). You don’t need to book an appointment to see me at these times. • Email:bw@kent.ac.uk - for enquires that I can answer BRIEFLY • Can also make appointment for interview: book at Careers Reception.

26. The University of Kent Careers Advisory Service You can download a copy of this presentation at www.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm