The University of Kent Careers and Employability Service Forensic Science Careers You can download a copy of this presentation at

Skills gained on a Forensic Science 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

FORENSIC SCIENCE EMPLOYERS  Forensic Science Service. Disbanded! Independent forensic contractors  LGC - analytical science, consumer protection pollution and health, DNA and drug analysis also document examination for Inland Revenue and DSS.  Qinetiq - 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.  Police Laboratories - 4 in Scotland  Police forces employ civilians as scenes of crime officers.

Destinations of Kent Forensic Science Grads

Destinations of 2014 BSc Forensic Science graduates Wyevale Garden CentreTrainee Manager AldiDeputy Manager Enterprise Rent-a-CarGraduate Trainee Programme Precision Lift Services LtdSales & Marketing Manager Ashfield In2FocusMedical Sales Representative ABV Solicitors/University of LawParalegal/GDL Brentfield PrimaryScience Teaching The Metropolitan Police Police Officer (2) Kent PoliceCommunications Officer Kent PoliceInvestigation Management Unit Investigator Bedfordshire ConstabularyOffence Verifier Authenticate LtdForensic Scientist (2) LGC ForensicsTrainee drugs analyst (2 MSci) Inspectorate InternationalAnalytical Chemist (X-Ray Fluorescence) (3) Eurofins/Sauflon Pharmaceuticals Analytical Chemist St John Fisher Catholic School/ QTS Analytical Ltd Laboratory Technician Medical Engineering Technologies/NikwaxLaboratory Technician Scientific Analysis Laboratories/Cawood Scientific/ SAL Scientific Analyst Mylan Global Respiratory Group/Bristol LaboratoriesAnalytical Scientist Huntingdon Life SciencesAnalyst - product chemistry (2) Thorpe Laboratory LtdQuality Control Analyst Glaxo Smith KlineQuality Assurance Scientist Knight OpticalMetrology Laboratory Assistant NHS Kent & Medway TrustAssistant Technical Officer British American TobaccoSenior Technologist Kingfisher Environmental ServicesGraduate water treatment consultant Transport Research LaboratoryGraduate Consultant Home OfficeResearch Assistant Kings College, LondonMSc Analytical Toxicology/MSc Pharmacology University of KentMSc Forensic Science/PhD Chemistry Plus lots of shop assistants, waitresses and bar workers! See for full detailswww.kent.ac.uk/careers/fdrbases/destinations.htm

One third of graduate jobs accept any degree subject. 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

Teaching 1 year postgraduate course (PGCE) or Schools Direct Many students go to Christ Church £25,000 bursary with 1 st, £20,000 with 2:1 or 2:2 for Chemistry teaching Need at least 2 weeks experience in a state school – get this in June

CHOOSING A CAREER CHOOSING A CAREER Prospects Planner - powerful career choice program. Target Jobs Career Planner I Want to work in …

Forensics Vacancy Sources Speculative CVs - use Forensic Sci. careers page Kent University Vacancies Database Science Recruitment Agencies New Scientist Royal Society of Chemistry - includes vacancies from Chemistry in Britain magazine placements and summer work tabwww.kent.ac.uk/careers/ScienceJobs.htm

How to apply CV and Covering Letter – speculative applications and small companies. See science CV example On-line application form – big companies For help see Practice Science Interview

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.

On-line Careers Videos ON-LINE APPLICATIONS INTERVIEWS SELECTION CENTRES

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 £15,000 grant

New Postgraduate Loans New postgraduate loan scheme for English -domiciled students and EU students studying in English institutions from Offers students up to £10,000 to help with costs of a masters degree. Students are eligible for the loans if under the age of 30 and studying for a full-time masters, or part-time at 50% intensity or above. There are no subject restrictions. Like undergraduate loans, graduates will only pay them back if they earn over a certain amount - probably the same as undergraduate loans (£21,000), and repay at a rate of 9% of income above this sum.

Other points Check you campus s regularly as I will send you s 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.

Bruce Woodcock An adviser is on duty for short (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 to see the duty adviser at these times. Just ask at Careers Reception to see them. Monday careers events and vacancy s

Telephone: Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9 to 5 including vacations Drop-in times (no appointment needed: 15 minutes): to and 2 to 4 pm Help given for up to 3 years after graduation Weekly careers s every Monday

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. 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)

Careers Employability Award on Moodle Half the unemployment rate for students completing the award DP2650 if you have problems

The University of Kent Careers and Employability Service Forensic Science Careers You can download a copy of this presentation at

Moodle Careers Employability Award  Assessed by a range of quizzes and assignments  Only 2% unemployment rate for students completing the award compared to 5% for other Kent students.  Will greatly improve your career planning and jobhunting skills, giving you strategies to make career choices and will increase your chances of getting a graduate level job.  Takes about 12 hours to complete  On completion you will get a University of Kent Careers Employability Award to add to your CV  Get 60 Kent Employability points for successful completion of the module.Kent Employability points 

Comments from students who have completed the award You get a really nice certificate! It was so easy, quick and I learned a lot. Without realising, you have finished the course and have already put together a very good CV and covering letter. It really blew my mind with some ideas I’ve never known before, such as portfolio working and working from home. I never thought about obtaining happiness from my work before. It would be mad to apply for a job or attend an interview without doing it! Before the course I had only a vague idea of my career path and opportunities. Now I am applying for summer internships and know how to effectively sell my skills to a prospective employer and have a much more focused plan for my future. The module is very, very useful! I really love how it makes you to think about your personality and helps you to identify your strengths and weaknesses. I found the module to be highly thought- provoking as it really encouraged me to consider how my degree will benefit my future and what I can be doing now to improve my graduate employment prospects. I enjoyed the depth of the module. It went far beyond some general tips on how to write a good CV and prepare for an interview. Rather it went in to detail about the whole process of graduate job search from the beginning to the end. It was very instructive. The amount of time put into this is astounding! I actually spoke to friends from other universities who said they wished they had something like this. It has made me feel a lot more confident when it comes to applications and interviews and has also made me think about skills that I didn't think I had before. I recently had a very successful interview largely because I put the advice on the module into practice.

GET THREE YEARS HELP AFTER YOU GRADUATE FINAL YEAR STUDENTS AND POSTGRADUATES Through filling in our contact form at you’ll be entitled to three years of careers advice after graduation from the Careers and Employability Service at the University of Kent free of charge. We send regular Vacancy s which will give you job hunting tips and the latest vacancies. THE CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY SERVICE IS OPEN DURING THE EASTER VACATION