This document provides guidance to life science students on choosing a career path and taking next steps after completing their studies. It outlines various career options for life science graduates in fields such as healthcare, research, teaching, and more. Students are encouraged to gain experience through lab work, volunteering, internships, and building their network in order to help determine their career direction and take action towards their goals.

1. Finding First Steps in
Life Science

2. Session Aims
• What do Life Science students do
• How do I choose

3. •What will you be doing
when you complete your studies?
Work
Time out
Study
????

4. How will you get there?

5. Graduates in the Labour Market
What do Graduates Do 2013
http://www.hecsu.ac.uk/current_projects_what_do_graduates_do.htm
What Do Our (Sussex) Graduates Do
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/careers/whatourgraduatesdo
Research Past Student Destinations via Linkedin
http://www.linkedin.com/edu/?trk=blog

10. Graduate Distribution UK
2010/11

11. •Some career options with any degree
Accountancy
Publishing
Administration
Civil Service
Marketing
Computing
The City
Information
Broadcasting
Law
Conservation
Sales
Counselling
Charities
Human Resources Retail
Development
Banking
Social Work
Journalism
Insurance
Police
Film
Health service
Teaching

16. Using your Degree
www.sussex.ac.uk/careers/careerchoices/yourdegree
Example Professional Bodies
www.rsc.org/careers-jobs/ Royal Society of Chemistry
http://www.bps.ac.uk/careers British Pharmacological Society
http://www.icr-global.org/ Institute of Clinical Research
http://www.ibms.org/ Institute of Biomedical Science
http://www.hpc-uk.org/ Health Care Professional Council
http://www.sfn.org/careers-and-training/neurojobs-career-center
Society for Neuroscience
http://www.bna.org.uk/jobs/ British Neuroscience Association
Check others for your specialism there are too many to list here!!!

17. Current interesting opportunities
on our website
CEC website Science jobsearch
Use sector guides for specialist websites
E.g. NHS Scientist Training
Programme Link
Food Science example link
Science jobs Example link

18. Further Study - Research
Resources
Research further study
Further study past students
Things to do
•
•
•
•
Talk to Academics here
Talk to Post Graduate students
Talk to course providers
Talk to Careers Adviser

19. Career Development Course
Careers Choice Cycle
4
GAINING
EXPERIENCE
1
SELF
APPRAISAL
3
TAKING
ACTION
2
EXPLORING
OPTIONS

20. Careers Centre
How to choose options Resources
We have tools on our website & hand
outs in the centre to help with this
process!
• Self Analysis
• What skills do I have

21. Academic
Offer
--------------
Portfolio
Evidence
Personal
Destination
Work


22. Mind Mapping Tool
CEC Skills link

23. Providing Evidence University
Academic
Offer
--------------
Portfolio
Evidence
Personal
Expectation
Work


24. Creative Approaches- finding contacts
Contacts you already have
• Friends, family, friends of friends .
• Academics
• Contacts from past work experience, vacation work
Contacts to find
•Vacancies advertised in newspapers and on the web.
•Use the contact details from the vacancy advert.
•Names in journals, magazines, reports, the press.
•The phone book and Yellow Pages (www.yell.com )
•Specialist directories and lists of companies
•Alumni Careers Network
•Linked in – Search facility

25. Build your experience
-
Get involved while you are at Sussex Lab work
Volunteer (Project V) – wider voluntary
www.do-it.org
Information interviewing, work shadowing, work
experience, internships
- Paid work- entry level positions
- CEC Getting Experience Page
- Learning to Lead 13-14 Leadership Programme

26. Up and Coming Events
Check our Events Page
• Careers Fair Wed 6 Nov
• 100+ Employers Over half accept any degree
• Science related include:
Elekta
Roche
Novo Nordisk
Scientifica
NHS
SC Johnson
etc

27. What next?
•
•
•
•
•
•
Reflect on your skills
Research the sector & your options
Network
Build your experience
Search for vacancies
Write a CV

28. Taking action
How are you going to move
forward now?
Action plan……..

29. Need more help?
Come into the Careers & Employability Centre
Ground Floor Library
- Check the website
- Book a one-to-one with a Careers Adviser
- 01273 678429
cdec
Career Development &
Employment Centre