Bioscience Careers continued Bruce Woodcock University of Kent Careers and Employability Service You can download a copy of this presentation at

Doctor Very competitive Kent graduates have obtained places at St George's, Birmingham, Warwick, Peninsula Medical School & Exeter, Manchester and Imperial. Talk to doctors and other medical staff, and get work experience in a hospital, hospice or home for the elderly. Normally need at least 2:1 Apply via by mid October of final year as an “individual applicant” May need to take GAMSAT or UKCAT test

Doctor NHS means tested bursaries available in years 2, 3, and 4. Students have access to a reduced rate loan from the Student Loan Company. Tuition fees, student fee, and expenses for clinical placements etc. will also be paid. In 1st year will have access to the full student loan but no other financial support. Fast track (4 year) courses for grads Also see Now also 4 year fast track courses in DENTISTRY for science graduates at Peninsular Medical School, Queen Mary and Liverpool/LancasterPeninsular Medical SchooQueen Mary Liverpool/Lancaster

Nursing, Physiotherapy, Dietetics Some shortened courses for graduates (2 years) Also radiography occupational therapy and audiology. Occupational therapy involves work with people with disabilities to enable them to live as independently as possible. NHS Bursaries available – fees paid and up to £6,000 means tested bursary,

Research & Development Can work in … Industrial Companies e.g. Pfizer GSK AstraZeneca Covance Abbot Early closing dates: apply early in final year! University Laboratories Research Associations e.g. Biology and Biotechnology Research Council Laboratories Scientific Civil Service – DSTL

Research & Development Can get a job as a trainee research scientist in industry with a good first degree or MSc - minimum Upper Second Class Advisable to get a PhD for a long term career in research. Promotion may be hindered without one - encounter "glass ceilings". Can be stepping stone to other functions: Production, Quality Assurance, Patents, Regulatory Affairs, Sales and Marketing, IT

Clinical Research Associate (CRA) Co-ordinates clinical trials on new drugs. Employed by pharmaceutical companies, Cancer Research UK, research hospitals and the Medical Research Council. Writes trial protocol Finds doctors to conduct trial. Prepares documentation and supplies. Initiates study centres. Monitors progress of trials/writing report. Experience in a related field (e.g. lab. work) helps. Grads enter as a Data Monitor or Assistant: lower level Need good organisational/admin. skills and outgoing personality. Visiting lots of different hospitals and GPs Innovex main agency for recruiting CRAs Few jobs!

Regulatory Affairs Co-ordinates application procedures for the approval of drugs - safety, transport & storage Involves compiling dossiers of info. on a new drug and submitting it to a national regulatory authority to gain permission to sell drug. Recruitment is erratic so make speculative applications to pharmaceutical companies. Few jobs but well paid See for info. on both CRA and regulatory affairswww.kent.ac.uk/careers/workin/cra.htm

Medical Communications Medical Writers - currently in demand. Write protocols, clinical trials reports, patient information and marketing literature. Jobs with pharmaceutical companies, contract research organisations and medical communications agencies. Easier with MSc or PhD Technical Authors produce technical manuals e.g. computer manuals. Science Writing. Increasingly done on-line. Science Events Management – organising conferences

Science Teacher PGCE is one-year, full-time route into teaching taken by most graduates – 60% classroom based. Many Kent students go to Christ Church Need to have spent about two weeks in a school with the age range and subject you wish to teach before you apply. Best time to get this is June before your final year. PGCE full-time routes apply online via UCAS Teacher Training Need to apply in first term of final year There is now a bursary of £20k (with a First) or £15k with a 2:1 or 2:2 Also Schools Direct and Teach First routes

Science Teaching Can also do primary and primary science training. Teaching careers page PGCE applications Teacher training interviews

Other careers pages Toxicology, Pharmacology and Immunology Epidemiology Biotechnology Neuroscience Science Administration Environment

CHOOSING A CAREER CHOOSING A CAREER I Want to work in … Careers Employability Award: Choosing a Career assignment

Choosing a Career Prospects Planner OR Target Jobs Career Planner Both tell you which jobs will best suit you

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

Application Process The smaller company process is much simpler and you can apply much later (often after final exams) but salaries are usually lower and they offer less training and less chance to specialise.

Skills gained on a science degree Gather and analyse relevant information from a wide variety of sources Identify and propose solutions to problems 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 Sell these on your CV, applications and interviews! “Sell” your degree List relevant modules (plus marks if good!) Projects – especially if relevant Laboratory skills/IT skills Soft skills – evidence of teamwork, project management, problem solving etc. For non-science jobs (e.g. banking) you would need a different CV focusing on your soft skills more than technical skills.

CVs and Applications Resources Science CV Science covering letter Application forms The best way to learn how to excel at application forms is to do the “Analyse your skills and learn to make top quality applications” assignment in the Moodle Careers Employability Award. (More about this later!)

Interview Help Teaching, postgraduate study, scientific research practice interviews online Answers to 150 interview questions Telephone interviews Streamed Videos online On-line Applications Interviews Assessment Centres

Aptitude tests and assessment centres Many employers give you online numerical and verbal aptitude tests when you apply The final stage of the recruitment process may be a one day assessment centre involving group exercises and a presentation

Bruce Woodcock An adviser is on duty for 15 minute consultations in the Careers and Employability Service any weekday morning or afternoon from 2 pm to 4 pm. You don't need an appointment - just ask at Careers Reception to see them. These are the final careers talks I shall be giving you during your degree Check you campus s regularly as I send you s most Mondays. These can also be found at Apply early in your final year if you want a graduate training scheme with a “big” company, advertising, marketing, HR or primary teaching. If you don’t know what you want to do, can book an interview with me at Careers reception (Keynes Driveway )

Moodle Careers Employability Award 14 Quizzes: need 75% to pass but allowed unlimited attempts Complete 3 of the following seven assignments Employability skills quiz Employability skills quiz: drag & drop How to develop the skills employers want? Test your spelling and grammar! What makes you happy at work? How commercially aware are you? Special interests topic lesson Interview preparation Practice interview What are the most common interview questions? Aptitude tests and assessment centres CV quiz CVs and covering letters: drag & drop quiz Career planning drag and drop quiz Analyse your skills and learn how to make top quality applications Do you want to live to work or work to live? Researching careers Choosing a career Submit a CV Social media Action planning DP2650 Careers Employability Award

Bioscience Careers continued Bruce Woodcock University of Kent Careers and Employability Service You can download a copy of this presentation at