[Dave Mayes]

Looking for a bit of career advice, and thought here might be the best place.
Next summer I'll (hopefully) graduate from uni age 22, with a good masters in chemistry, and move back to Sheffield. The thing is, I'm fine with the science but I hate working in and around labs.

I'm not that worried about making shedloads of cash, but would rather do something not completely soul destroying and pretty compatible with lots of climbing. I like writing too, but I'm realistic with how impossible it is to get anything reasonable in the whole climbing-journalism business.

Just wondering if anyone had any job suggestions, wildcards welcome too! I'm happy to train more, or specialise in something if it looks like a good answer - it definitely doesn't have to be chemistry. Maybe engineering? Any success stories?

Cheers!

[Wood FT]

Looking for a bit of career advice, and thought here might be the best place.
.....with a good masters in chemistry

  are you thinking what I'm thinking? You do the cooking and i'll do front of house

[Dave Mayes]

If I had a motorhome I wouldn't waste it making meth!

[abarro81]

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)

[TobyD]

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!

Don't consider it (ie full time climbing writing) if you actually need to earn money. Don't be necessarily too blinkered to your degree topic, go for what really appeals to you (given that you'll be doing it 40 hours a week). Loads of people (me included) do something totally different to their initial degree. Whatever you are considering, do work experience / apprenticeship / internship or something and make sure you know exactly what it involves, and don't get any surprises. People seems to start physio degrees thinking its all sports management and then get a shock when they are working in respiratory or a neurological hospital ward; for example.

[Dave Mayes]

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)

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 crumbs

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!

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!

[TobyD]

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)

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 crumbs

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!

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!

[Rocksteady]

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!

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?!

[Dave Mayes]

ask yourself a few questions

I guess working with people, and like you say - doing something different every day, challenging and rewarding.

PS happy birthday dave!

Cheers! 
Time is marching on. 9a by 25...

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!

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?!

The science + writing thing might not be a bad shout, I'll ask around at my department about it. There's some aspects of chemistry, genetic engineering etc. that I love, but the thought of working in a lab forever is whats putting me off. Maybe a scientific communicator sort of job would be good?

I think working in a place with likeminded people would be great. Have had previous experience with labourer jobs that, in themselves weren't too bad, but I dreaded every monday because it meant more time spent listening to nothing but betting on golf and horses.

[hstmoore]

I was in a very similar position to you, now I'm 1 year down the line and living in Sheffield. Working full time sucks, but after a year you get used to it and forget how good life can be. You'll also be spending a lot more time on UKB, but I'm not sure if that's a good or a bad thing.

My job isn't exactly what I'm interested in, but it's interesting enough and enables me to climb in the evenings and every weekend..

I went through the RISE graduate scheme, which is Sheffield-specific and places graduates in small-medium businesses, initially in Internships, but ~70% go on to be employees, as I have done.

http://www.welcometosheffield.co.uk/rise/graduates

I really recommend RISE - tailored to graduates and the jobs all seem interesting and with good prospects (plus you get paid for your internship). They have new bunch of positions every few months so keep your eye on their website.

Also worth looking at is http://www.yorkshiregraduates.co.uk/

[Dave Mayes]

you get used to it and forget how good life can be.

Just the positive outlook I was looking for!

Will have a look at RISE when they post some vacancies

[highrepute]

You're young and motivated Dave and full-time work really isn't that bad.

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.

[mark20]

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

[LiamB]

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.

[mrjonathanr]

ask yourself a few questions

I 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.

Pay's average, hours are l-o-o-o-n-g and pressure is intense. But the rewards are there if it's right for you.

[Dave Mayes]

ask yourself a few questions

I 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.

You can't trick me that easily, I'm not that long out of school. I know what those bastards can do.

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.

Cheers, will look into these.

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

That's promising! Not sure how I'd find living away on a rig or whatever, probably not that psyched.

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.

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.

Agree about doing a job I'm qualified in. There are some aspects I really enjoy, and I'd hate to waste all the hard work getting here.

[webbo]

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.

[tomtom]

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.

You're talking pants again Webbo

[T_B]

Environmental consultancy? Seems to be a mix of fieldwork and report writing. A mate of mine did a Chemistry MA and has worked in this sector for the past 15 years, now 4 days a week as a middle manager at RPS having had various sabbaticals along the way.

[shark]

Regarding scientific writing, not Sheffield, but big medical writing company in Macclesfield. Adelphi. Most of the peak would be on the way home.

In fact they have a vacancy currently http://www.adelphicommunications.com/join-us/job-detail-template.aspx?id=16

I recruited for them in the 90's. Company had a nice vibe though I expect long hours are the norm in that type of industry. Opportunity to progress from the technical side into Project Management I would guess. There are a cluster of companies like Adelphi in leafy Cheshire maybe from Astra Zeneca being nearby.

[abarro81]

Working full time sucks, but after a year you get used to it and forget how good life can be.

I really hope I continue to have enough gap years/sabbaticals/career breaks to never forget how good life can be. Fuck that.

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.

I suspect that if you're the kind of person who doesn't mind not having years out to go climbing then you're the kind of person who won't mind full-time work too badly.

[galpinos]

. There are a cluster of companies like Adelphi in leafy Cheshire maybe from Astra Zeneca being nearby.

Used to be nearby, now moved pretty much wholesale to Cambridge. The AZ campus is filling up nicely with small spin off businesses though.

[mrjonathanr]

Can you name any? Thanks.

[fatneck]

I was 30 before I realised what I wanted to do job wise...

[a dense loner]

So why didn't you do it?