Looking for a bit of career advice, and thought here might be the best place. .....with a good masters in chemistry
Looking for a bit of career advice, and thought here might be the best place. I like writing too, but I'm realistic with how impossible it is to get anything reasonable in the whole climbing-journalism business.Cheers!
I'll be the muscle.I've often wondered about jobs myself... I have yet to come up with a good plan! Doing a PhD will sort you a good lifestyle for 3-4 years but then you'll be back wondering what the hell to do (my current position)
Quote from: Dave Mayes on November 01, 2015, 04:17:20 pmLooking for a bit of career advice, and thought here might be the best place. I like writing too, but I'm realistic with how impossible it is to get anything reasonable in the whole climbing-journalism business.Cheers!Loads of people (me included) do something totally different to their initial degree.
Quote from: abarro81 on November 01, 2015, 09:45:56 pmI'll be the muscle.I've often wondered about jobs myself... I have yet to come up with a good plan! Doing a PhD will sort you a good lifestyle for 3-4 years but then you'll be back wondering what the hell to do (my current position)Have considered a PhD, but then it's a big commitment to something a) that would effectively be a full time job in chemistry anyway, working in a lab b) I'm not sure I'm passionate enough to spend 3 years on c) just leads to an even more specific career in a lab... Rather than paint myself into a corner, I'd rather take a look at all the options instead of following the neverending trail of crumbsQuote from: TobyD on November 01, 2015, 09:58:17 pmQuote from: Dave Mayes on November 01, 2015, 04:17:20 pmLooking for a bit of career advice, and thought here might be the best place. I like writing too, but I'm realistic with how impossible it is to get anything reasonable in the whole climbing-journalism business.Cheers!Loads of people (me included) do something totally different to their initial degree. But then the big question comes with 'what exactly' - big scary world outside uni!
ask yourself a few questions; e.g. do you want to interact with people all day, or are you happier tapping on a keyboard? Do you like teamwork or work better on your own? ...and don't be too idealistic - be realistic about prospects, and medium to long term job security etc. My tuppence would be that the perfect job probably doesn't exist, they all have great bits, dull bits and the occasional grim bits, mine certainly does, but its also different every day, challenging and rewarding. However, if its rained all weekend, and it's a sunny, cold monday, i still hate it, obviously PS happy birthday dave!
ask yourself a few questions
PS happy birthday dave!
Quote from: TobyD on November 01, 2015, 11:35:56 pmask yourself a few questions; e.g. do you want to interact with people all day, or are you happier tapping on a keyboard? Do you like teamwork or work better on your own? ...and don't be too idealistic - be realistic about prospects, and medium to long term job security etc. My tuppence would be that the perfect job probably doesn't exist, they all have great bits, dull bits and the occasional grim bits, mine certainly does, but its also different every day, challenging and rewarding. However, if its rained all weekend, and it's a sunny, cold monday, i still hate it, obviously PS happy birthday dave!Totally agree with advice from Toby. Having made bad career decisions early on based on an immature decision-making process, I think the important thing to do is really try to understand yourself and your motivations. And try to think about what will make you happy in the long run. What environment do you like working in - working with people, working alone? Think about things you've done at Uni and otherwise and where you felt a sense of achievement and why? Do you like a lot of change or would you prefer to master one thing? Have you looked at anything like this? http://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test Take with a pinch of salt but might help.Also science + writing = science writer might be a job that suits?!
you get used to it and forget how good life can be.
Quote from: TobyD on November 01, 2015, 11:35:56 pmask yourself a few questionsI guess working with people, and like you say - doing something different every day, challenging and rewarding.
Quote from: Dave Mayes on November 02, 2015, 10:35:56 amQuote from: TobyD on November 01, 2015, 11:35:56 pmask yourself a few questionsI guess working with people, and like you say - doing something different every day, challenging and rewarding. That's easy, if that's a fair reflection of your inclinations. Teaching.
My partner just started working for the civil service in Sheffield. The government seems a relatively easy going employer. Also, they let her stack up flexi-time. This appears useful - something to look for maybe. Her boss works 9 days a fortnight. Other friends have this and use it similarly. Regarding scientific writing, not Sheffield, but big medical writing company in Macclesfield. Adelphi. Most of the peak would be on the way home.
Funnily enough we've got a new graduate starting at our place from the RISE scheme who has a degree in Chemistry/Chem Engineering. And we don't do anything to do with chemistry, (PLC & SCADA software, some electrical engineering), which is interesting. Other option would be oil & gas stuff if you can handle being away for chunks at a time
I had a year or so out/worked in a climbing shop and I enjoyed it, got better at climbing but at the end of the day I was bored and saw no future prospects.So I got a full-time job with a career path. I'm climbing as much as when I was on my year out, I'm stronger and fitter than ever and I find my work quite satisfying. Sometimes there are conflicts between work and climbing but I made my choice, I know the alternative, and I'm happy with it.It's perhaps old man's advice but I'd say get a job in what you are qualified to do (not necessarily chemistry), you'll use your brain it'll be great. I'm an engineer but it's not all engineering, similarly I imagine there's plenty of chemists that don't do much lab work (maybe not I'm not sure about that).Saying all that I don't think having a year out was a mistake. You're still young you can always do one of them later. You can change career or jobs too, more than once if you want. That RISE thing sounds good, I think small-medium companies are good places to work. I did a KTP. Might be worth looking into. I'm a bit jealous of my friend doing Medical Physics, scroll down to training and development bit. oh yeah, having met you, you're exactly the kind of graduate that companies want to employ.
Try speaking to Tom Tom his job at Hull University seems to include being a Rock consultant for Lancashire, Cheshire and the Peak District although he's supposed to be some sort of scientist.
Regarding scientific writing, not Sheffield, but big medical writing company in Macclesfield. Adelphi. Most of the peak would be on the way home.
Working full time sucks, but after a year you get used to it and forget how good life can be.
Thanks - will take it all into account. I know that if I took a year out to climb I'd get injured on minute 1 of day 1.
. There are a cluster of companies like Adelphi in leafy Cheshire maybe from Astra Zeneca being nearby.