• Question: How much work experience would you recomend?

    Asked by Matthew to vediacan, Richard, Laura, Alex on 15 Jun 2015.
    • Photo: Richard Prince

      Richard Prince answered on 15 Jun 2015:

      Hi Matthew,
      As much as you can get and for it to be as varied as possible. If you do a placement degree, it’s not just beneficial for a future career in that field, it’s also going to help you in your university studies (students in our degrees who do a placement get better marks when they come back to the university as they have learned so much). It’ll also help you as general work experience if you decide to leave science. If you apply for a job in a bank, and you have a reference from the pharmaceutical company you worked for on placement, you have a much better chance than someone who’s worked in a bar or has no work experience. You will have proved that you can handle a proper job!
      The Nuffield Foundation have schemes that allow people at school to do research work placements:
      http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/nuffield-research-placements
      Best wishes
      Richard

    • Photo: Laura Newton

      Laura Newton answered on 15 Jun 2015:

      Hey!

      I don’t think you could ever do too much! But if you can get at least one placement before university that should really help show that you are interested, even if it’s just for a week or two. During university, try and do something over the summer holiday instead of just relaxing. Lots of universities will take summer students in their research labs.

      Of course there are other things you can do to show your interest as well as just doing work experience, like reading (my teachers always told us to read New Scientist!), going to science fairs or public talks, writing a blog.

      Good luck finding something!
      Laura

    • Photo: Vedia Can

      Vedia Can answered on 15 Jun 2015:

      Hi Matthew,

      Work experience looks fantastic on the CV but make sure your work experience is focused in the discipline you want to work in the future. For example, theres no point in gaining work experience in the House of Parliament, if you want to work in a diagnostics laboratory. If you want to become a Scientist it is important that you look for work experience in laboratories (can be university laboratories, hospital or industrial companies). I agree with the rest of the guys “work experience can never be too much” but just make sure the place you are working in can provide you with a positive reference when you need one.

      Best Wishes,

      Vedia

    • Photo: Alex Agyemang

      Alex Agyemang answered on 16 Jun 2015:

      Hi Matthew,

      As experience is gained over time, I think it is how you apply yourself with the relevant transferable skills you acquire which is important. As you study, you gain the theoretical knowledge and you can gain work experience through summer or industrial placements. I would advise to embrace every opportunity as the networks and contacts you make may put you in good stead for other opportunities.

      Best wishes,
      Alex

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