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Experienced Chemistry graduate no longer wanting a career in chemistry

Hello all

I just wanted the thoughts and opinions of both recent and experienced graduates who have studied chemistry at university and the roles they currently holding.

Cheers


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Original post by Singh89
Hello all

I just wanted the thoughts and opinions of both recent and experienced graduates who have studied chemistry at university and the roles they currently holding.

Cheers


Posted from TSR Mobile


I am a chemistry graduate and finished university 4 years ago now. I'm working in the chemicals industry in a sales based role. I don't need my degree for it as such (well not the chemistry part at least) but it has proven to be of use at points. with something such as chemistry it does allow you to be good with numbers and even to a degree having spacial awareness, you think of all those drawings of stereo-isomers you did!!

I came out wanting to be a development chemist and soon realised that I would be mroe comfortable in front of a customer and developing business rather than playing around in a lab - people from my course will tell you I was a liability... its why for 3rd year they stuck me in a computer room and made me do computation chemistry.
Reply 2
Original post by daniel_williams
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When/how did you make that decision? I'm a fourth year now, and i've done a placement, although returning back to university now i'm questioning whether I want to be in the lab doing research (I am really not enjoying being back here). My placement was a development role, rather than research based, with a customer facing aspects (technical service) - so the technical guy assigned to a sales rep to help with issues/lead new developments.

I really don't like the culture in the academic labs, compared to industry, and the "research" I am doing so far is not interesting or even teaching me much in terms of skills, as i've ended up with something I don't want to do (entirely analytical, and not even that advanced or specialist work). Couldn't think of anything worse than a PhD right now, as an option.

I'd like to use my technical skills/knowledge, probably for something a bit more hands on. I've been looking at possibly pilot plant type roles, but otherwise considering what else I can do outside of the lab (I don't want to be a sales rep; I really enjoyed the customer interaction and a bit of travelling, but it was a compliment to everything else rather than in itself). My sole worry is that if I go into another line (i.e. something like regulatory) that i'm going to end up in a few years wanting to be back in the lab/doing something more stimulating and not having any real experience to make me a viable candidate. I don't want to make this decision out of haste. Did that ever bother you, or were you quite happy to throw in the lab work?
Reply 3
There are no other chemistry/physical science graduates on here?


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Original post by Nymthae
QFA



In all honesty the decision came quite early on in 3rd year - I didn't really see myself going anywhere or standing out from the crowd in terms of my ability with chemistry. Yes I knew my stuff but didn't feel I wanted to be stuck in an academic role forever, I wanted to get out and see the world a bit more and feel like I was making a difference to the world. Industrial research you are pushed by more and more deadlines because there is generally a customer demand behind something, academia, whilst its always at the forefrnt of research and development the demands on you are not always as high and the time-lines can be a bit more lenient.

I'd completely agree there is a different atmosphere between the 2, but finding your area of interest is key, some people may be far more suited to an academical lab based role, whereas others may flourish more in industrial labs even if the research is almost identical.

The path I have taken is not for everyone, but what you always need to remember is when you get to the stage I am where I've been out of university for 4 years... If i really wanted I could try and go back and start studying again - yes it might be more challenging but anyone who believes and wants something enough can nearly always get there. I don't live on regrets and make the most of the cards that have bean dealt to me. it sounds very cliche but you ride it out... there are goods and bads, some weeks I do wonder why i didn't carry on and do a Master/PhD, but generally when its all going well - i never want to look back. I've made this, I've made my life and i'm enjoying every minute of it.

Any experience in industry will always give you a good insight into the world of work, once you get experience under your belt it cannot be taken away. you have the ability to train in jobs far more these days and many large companies in the scientific sector will invest heavily in their technical teams to allow them to develop themselves.... who knows you might be able to be funded for additional eduction / phd, sometimes its a case of just asking and seeing if your company will sponsor you to do something. it can be far easier than applying for a phd and funding as many companies are now affiliated with universities.
Original post by Singh89
Hello all

I just wanted the thoughts and opinions of both recent and experienced graduates who have studied chemistry at university and the roles they currently holding.

Cheers


Posted from TSR Mobile


Graduated this summer. First class masters in chemistry.

Working in the nuclear power sector atm.
With a company that does different things including making the cables that attach to the detectors inside nuclear reactors. They're the best cables in the world.

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Reply 6
Anymore recent graduates mind adding to this thread?

Cheers


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Reply 7
Hmm i think it is never to late to change to something that fits better for you, if you feel better in another working field, then do it - just find something that makes you happy and satisfied.
Reply 8
Original post by Nymthae
When/how did you make that decision? I'm a fourth year now, and i've done a placement, although returning back to university now i'm questioning whether I want to be in the lab doing research (I am really not enjoying being back here). My placement was a development role, rather than research based, with a customer facing aspects (technical service) - so the technical guy assigned to a sales rep to help with issues/lead new developments.

I really don't like the culture in the academic labs, compared to industry, and the "research" I am doing so far is not interesting or even teaching me much in terms of skills, as i've ended up with something I don't want to do (entirely analytical, and not even that advanced or specialist work). Couldn't think of anything worse than a PhD right now, as an option.

I'd like to use my technical skills/knowledge, probably for something a bit more hands on. I've been looking at possibly pilot plant type roles, but otherwise considering what else I can do outside of the lab (I don't want to be a sales rep; I really enjoyed the customer interaction and a bit of travelling, but it was a compliment to everything else rather than in itself). My sole worry is that if I go into another line (i.e. something like regulatory) that i'm going to end up in a few years wanting to be back in the lab/doing something more stimulating and not having any real experience to make me a viable candidate. I don't want to make this decision out of haste. Did that ever bother you, or were you quite happy to throw in the lab work?


just curious but how would you compare your decision now to then?
Reply 9
Original post by a10
just curious but how would you compare your decision now to then?


Well, i've signed myself up to be an R&D Chemist in industry now so we'll see how it goes. As for why, or how, I guess I chilled out a bit. I'm a pretty relaxed person anyhow, but I think the whole terrible-supervisor-terrible-project thing threw me way out and left a lot of things beyond my control. Once I could get away from that then things settled a bit more in my mind. It was really easy for me to get an industry lab job though so I had a few options quite quickly. If it had been harder then I may have entertained other things more, but I was still worried about switching areas and not having lab experience later on to switch back.

I think i've made the right choice in the respect that going into a lab role is what I felt I would like to do originally. Whether I actually like the job or not will depend on the environment, but at the end of the day if I don't like it I can move on. Having some solid experience down definitely helps solidify your prospects going forward.

Changing environment and a bit of time helps you clear things sometimes... it's easier to tell if it's just a knee-jerk reaction to a bad experience, or if it's a genuine problem. It was probably a bit of both, but the latter was really down to a lack of confidence in my technical skills and capabilities because of the environment, which is not something I suffer so that was new to deal with.
Sorry to bump an old thread but since there seems to be a couple of chemistry graduates on here I thought I'd post :tongue:

How difficult is it to get a job as an industrial chemist? I failed to get a placement for my third year which has really knocked my confidence. If I can't even get a placement what hope do I have of getting a job after I graduate (as I presume its easier to get a placement than it is to get a proper job...)

I think I'd really like to do something chemistry based after I graduate, but because I won't have any placement experience under my belt I feel like I'm at a serious disadvantage.

Any insight would be appreciated!
Original post by InadequateJusticex
Sorry to bump an old thread but since there seems to be a couple of chemistry graduates on here I thought I'd post :tongue:

How difficult is it to get a job as an industrial chemist? I failed to get a placement for my third year which has really knocked my confidence. If I can't even get a placement what hope do I have of getting a job after I graduate (as I presume its easier to get a placement than it is to get a proper job...)

I think I'd really like to do something chemistry based after I graduate, but because I won't have any placement experience under my belt I feel like I'm at a serious disadvantage.

Any insight would be appreciated!


More people I know got jobs as chemists than got placements.

Placement experience or other experience is very useful though. Can you volunteer to help in a research lab?

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Original post by Motorbiker
More people I know got jobs as chemists than got placements.

Placement experience or other experience is very useful though. Can you volunteer to help in a research lab?

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Oh OK, that's good for me I suppose. You mean a research lab at uni or somewhere else?
Original post by InadequateJusticex
Oh OK, that's good for me I suppose. You mean a research lab at uni or somewhere else?


At uni. They'll be looking for research assistants over summer and easter breaks etc.

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Original post by InadequateJusticex
Sorry to bump an old thread but since there seems to be a couple of chemistry graduates on here I thought I'd post :tongue:

How difficult is it to get a job as an industrial chemist? I failed to get a placement for my third year which has really knocked my confidence. If I can't even get a placement what hope do I have of getting a job after I graduate (as I presume its easier to get a placement than it is to get a proper job...)

I think I'd really like to do something chemistry based after I graduate, but because I won't have any placement experience under my belt I feel like I'm at a serious disadvantage.

Any insight would be appreciated!


A placement will make it easy to get a job after. Without it it becomes more difficult but i've seen a fair few entry level roles - i.e. lab tech. Most of them come with some progression into developmental or R&D type roles so it's really only a case of doing the 12 months as a lab tech to get that experience and then you can move on (or try develop your current role if you like the company). The pay isn't usually great (14k-18k probably) but y'know, foot in the door. Sign up with recruitment agencies when it gets towards the end of your degree and they'll hopefully be able to point you in the right direction. Drop your CV on Reed as well as lots of recruiters search through there. Remember that nobody really ever ticks all the boxes and with the level they're paying for those kinds of roles then you're unlikely to be up against people with much or any experience. Confidence!

I know some people have struggled a lot, and others less so. More of it will come down to how you present yourself and how well you come across during interviews as to how hard it will be. QC and analytical roles will probably be the easiest to come by as there are a lot of them so that's another option for a short term experience gain if you can't get something in exactly the area you want.

I know loads of third years at my university did a summer research placement at the university. They're usually happy to take on students from the department.
Original post by Nymthae
A placement will make it easy to get a job after. Without it it becomes more difficult but i've seen a fair few entry level roles - i.e. lab tech. Most of them come with some progression into developmental or R&D type roles so it's really only a case of doing the 12 months as a lab tech to get that experience and then you can move on (or try develop your current role if you like the company). The pay isn't usually great (14k-18k probably) but y'know, foot in the door. Sign up with recruitment agencies when it gets towards the end of your degree and they'll hopefully be able to point you in the right direction. Drop your CV on Reed as well as lots of recruiters search through there. Remember that nobody really ever ticks all the boxes and with the level they're paying for those kinds of roles then you're unlikely to be up against people with much or any experience. Confidence!

I know some people have struggled a lot, and others less so. More of it will come down to how you present yourself and how well you come across during interviews as to how hard it will be. QC and analytical roles will probably be the easiest to come by as there are a lot of them so that's another option for a short term experience gain if you can't get something in exactly the area you want.

I know loads of third years at my university did a summer research placement at the university. They're usually happy to take on students from the department.

Thanks, that was incredibly helpful! The department did email me a couple of short summer research placements (in and out of the university) towards the end of the summer term but because I was still applying for year long placements I couldn't really apply for them and missed my chance. Hopefully I get something next summer.

Would you say the placement interviews are similar to the entry jobs you described? So they'd ask you why you want to work for the company, etc etc and some technical chemistry questions?
Original post by InadequateJusticex
Thanks, that was incredibly helpful! The department did email me a couple of short summer research placements (in and out of the university) towards the end of the summer term but because I was still applying for year long placements I couldn't really apply for them and missed my chance. Hopefully I get something next summer.

Would you say the placement interviews are similar to the entry jobs you described? So they'd ask you why you want to work for the company, etc etc and some technical chemistry questions?


Yeah, it happens, the limbo is hard to judge. Plenty of people only really decide or think about doing them after the penultimate year though!

Interviews will vary depending on company but with entry level roles where they're not looking too much for experience then they focus more on you as a person and making sure you'll a) fit in and work with the team well and b) aren't going to leave in a very short space of time. Stuff like the hobbies and things outside of work you're involved in may be a focus on your CV there with a chat about university and perhaps what you enjoyed/why. Some other places might want to talk more about competency type questions or technical aspects so you just have to try cover all bases when preparing. I wouldn't expect many differences from the placement interviews typically. If you're dealing with an agency then usually they give you a bit of a heads up about what format the interview will be/if you need to prepare anything (seen competency questions, presentations..)
Original post by Motorbiker
Graduated this summer. First class masters in chemistry.

Working in the nuclear power sector atm.
With a company that does different things including making the cables that attach to the detectors inside nuclear reactors. They're the best cables in the world.

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How much work experience/internships did you get during your degree? I've been searching for them, but it's been really hard finding them. I'm doing the same course.

My parents are expats and I live abroad with them (as I don't have anywhere to stay in the UK) during vacation time, and I can't find Work Experience and Internships abroad where they live due to Visa restrictions and language barriers. I don't have enough money to get by living by myself here either.
Original post by Fango_Jett
How much work experience/internships did you get during your degree? I've been searching for them, but it's been really hard finding them. I'm doing the same course.

My parents are expats and I live abroad with them (as I don't have anywhere to stay in the UK) during vacation time, and I can't find Work Experience and Internships abroad where they live due to Visa restrictions and language barriers. I don't have enough money to get by living by myself here either.


Did a placement in my final year for three months.

Did research placements in summers.

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Original post by Motorbiker
Did a placement in my final year for three months.

Did research placements in summers.

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Oh nice. Where did you apply for those research placements? Was it through your uni?

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