Kick start your career
10 Mar 2011
On Thursday, 3 February 2011, over 150
students from universities in Liverpool,
Bangor, Manchester and other North
West educational establishments
came to the Chemistry Department at
the University of Manchester, to attend
'Kick-start your career'. This was an
event organised by the Liverpool
& North West SCI Regional Group
for students of chemistry, chemical
engineering and other science-related
subjects, to enable them to meet
with successful business and industry
personnel from the North West, and to
talk about careers in science.
They met over 25 industrialists,
teachers and careers advisors, from
over 17 establishments in the North
West, to talk about careers in industry,
teaching and further education. Topics
of concern to students included world
travel and its effect on job applications;
how industry advertises jobs; how
to get a CV noticed; and what sort of
jobs graduates are able to obtain in
industry.
The evening started with a drink - why
else did so many students come! This
was followed by six nine-minute talks
by enthusiastic scientists and engineers
who have spent a number of years
in full-time jobs. They explained why
they chose the path they did; why they
changed jobs; who they have worked
for; and, most importantly, what they
have learnt through their experiences
of work; and what advice they would
give a graduate looking for a job.
The types of jobs described covered
working in SMEs (small to medium-sized
enterprises), teaching chemistry,
public sector work (such as chemistry
innovation), lab jobs, process chemistry
work, marketing, chemical engineering
and analytical chemistry. News in brief
Many students then retired to the
foyer for a buffet, free samples of
Unilever products, and the chance
to chat to the industrialists, careers
advisors and teachers. About 50 stayed
behind to listen to talks on how to write
a stunning CV and what to expect at an
interview. Two recruitment companies
were also present to help in answering
their questions.
Each year the event gets better
and better, and the students found it
really helpful. Our thanks to Chemicals
Northwest, which co-sponsored and
helped to organise the event, and Floyd
Hamlet Productions, which took a video
(soon to be on YouTube) and pictures of
the event. Our thanks also go to the
speakers and industrialists who gave
up their evening to encourage what
we hope will be the students who
will help maintain the North West as
a leading chemistry centre. I would
particularly like to thank Dr Mike Pitts
for coordinating this event.
Dr Trevor Rhodes, Chair, Liverpool and
North West Group
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