What can I do with a Science degree?

Your science degree opens up many career options. To choose a career, you need to consider the extent to which you would like to use your scientific knowledge in your future career. You may choose to work in pure science, applied science, an alternative career requiring an understanding of science or use the general skills you have acquired while studying.

Also, you have gained a high level of technical ability alongside general skills which will make you more employable.

Careers for science graduates fall into three main categories:

• Careers using your specialist science knowledge

• Careers where an understanding of science is an advantage

• Careers using your other skills

Those of you who have thoroughly enjoyed studying your major* at the university may like to continue to work in science. Science is a kind of an industry with new doors opening all the time. If you want to find work in a specialized area related to your major, you may find that you need more than a pass degree*. Professional scientists usually have at least an honours degree but more likely a PhD, particularly if working in research areas.

Occupations which would allow you to work with your expertise include:

Research - university academic, environmental researcher, agricultural researcher, marine scientist, biotechnologist, physicist, research scientist, laboratory research technician, etc.

Analysis and investigation - forensic investigator, IT systems analyst, statistician, clinical research associate in pharmaceutical industry, nutritionist and/or dietitian, analytical chemist, geophysical technician, etc.

Consultancy - environmental information consultant, agricultural consultant, IT

consultant, IT systems developer, information services officer, geoscientist, etc.

Quality control - environmental health officer, resource manager, toxicology consultant, water treatment consultant, quality assurance officer, etc.

Product and process development - pharmacologist, industrial chemist, product designer, etc.

Scientists are found in such industries as biotechnology, telecommunications, IT, electronic-design-automation as well as in academic institutions, hospitals, pharmaceutical and utility companies and research organizations.

The industry you choose will have an effect on the type of work you do. Many industries require the application of scientific knowledge to solve practical problems such as utilising resources, developing new products or ensuring safe use for humans.

(Abridged from:http://www.careers.usyd.edu.au/students/careeropt/degree_science.shtml)

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major – здесь специализация

pass degree – здесь степень, присуждаемая после сдачи выпускных экзаменов в университете по облегчённой программе

What do you think?

• When choosing a career what should a graduate with a science degree take into account?

• What are the career opportunities for science students in your country?

• Which field/area of science should you choose as your major in order to get the job you like?

• Which jobs mentioned in the text would you like to do most? Give reasons for your choice.

• What kind of skills do you think are necessary for the job you would like to do most?

	Get real

Managing your learning A Curriculum Vitae, commonly referred to as CV (AmE resume) is a written record of your education and the jobs you have done, that you send when you are applying for a job. It is a detailed summary not only of your academic backgrounds but also teaching and research experience, publications, presentations, awards, honors and other details.

Search the Internet to find some tips and/or rules on writing a CV. Discuss them as a class and create a Class File on CV writing rules.

Writing

1. Write your CV for a job of your choice (say what it is). Use your own details and qualifications and work experience which you hope to get in the future.

2. With the partner exchange your CVs and check out if your CVs follow the rules on CV writing.

Speaking

You have come across an advertisement on internship programs and made an appointment for an interview. Now you are at the Personnel Manager office. Talk to the manager.

You		Manager
		Offer to come in. Greet the applicant. Offer to take a sit.
Return greeting. Introduce yourself.
		Refer to the CV. (ask about the CV.) Check the formal requirements.
Give all necessary information.
		Say what internship options are available. Ask which the applicant is interested in.
Say what program you would like to join and why.
		Ask about the applicant’s previous experience, skills, qualities. Explain what you expect from the program participants.
Answer the questions (describe your qualities, skills, etc.).
		Offer to ask questions.
Ask about the length of the program, starting date, travel and other expenses, etc.
		Explain all the conditions. Ask if he/she still wants to enroll.
Make your decision.
		Say good bye.
Say good bye.

In the Realm of Jobs

We all have certain skills which will be useful to employers. Some of the words listed below are ideal "active words" for you to use when describing yourself in your resume and in the job application process. For each skill on these lists, state whether you:

• have that skill already (put a V)

• don't have it yet but have the potential to develop it (put a ?)

• will never have that skill (put a X)

People Skills guiding listening to negotiating with instructing supervising understanding persuading speaking to serving helping encouraging leading motivating disciplining organizing directing evaluating coaching/teaching

Word Skills coordinating processing organising classifying copying typing proof reading editing composing communicating writing reading imagining researching compiling comparing

Figure Skills counting calculating timing recording compiling comparing correcting analysing graphing problem solving planning

Skills with Things driving operating installing making repairing adjusting producing changing adapting creating classifying using improving collecting selling growing

Unit 2. Progress Monitoring In this Unit you have worked on the vocabulary related to the topic “Jobs and Career Options”: to gain high-level technical ability or general skills to use specialist science knowledge a research vacancy to work in research areas lab or research culture/experience to choose a science career to try out an alternative career to apply scientific knowledge to solve practical problems to achieve a dream job to have a passion for research the cutting-edge research to work in pure/applied science to hire someone as a full/part-time employee to share one’s research results with colleagues to make valuable contacts to get job satisfaction to acquire skills/knowledge team work and competition Tick (V) the points you are confident about and cross (X) the ones you need to revise.