[misanthropic]

I've heard a lot of people apply with PhDs and masters - that worries me as of yet i haven't graduated from my BSc! Are you hopefully of place? Have you visited the labs yet?

[martin09]

I havent visited any labs yet. My friend who graduated last year along with me, and who has the same degree classification, got a job with them, so its not mandatory to have an MSc or PhD.

[jessthecat]

I am applying right now for clinical Biochemistry positions. The website is crap. I managed to ruin my application by pasting from word. I now have to start a new account with them. I don't know whether to persevere with the online application or just use a paper form. I don't want to seem crap with computers!

To answer the question about qualifications - I have a 1st class degree from Manchester University in Biochemistry and I also have a PhD. I've been working as a postdoc for the past 4 and a half years. I'm a bit worried that I may be too old!!

I did a 6 month placement in a Clinical Biochemistry lab during my degree (back in 1999) and I have visited a lab in Liverpool more recently. I was told that the North West region gets 400-500 applicants for 6 places and that they interview 12. They told me that you have to get your application really good to get an interview. So I'm working on the additional information section right now.

[jessthecat]

I was also told that about half of applicants have a PhD and half are straight from degree. A friend of mine got a Clinical Biochemistry place back in 2000 straight from her degree, so I don't think it matters too much whether you have any postgraduate qualifications. They did say it was essential to have (or be predicted) at least a 2.1 as they throw out applications with 2.2s straight away.

[misanthropic]

yea the odds are slightly stacked against us!! So what happened that your willing to take a pay cut and undertake further education - if you don't mind me asking?

[jessthecat]

Fed up with pure research. Want something a bit more applied. It won't be much of a pay cut!!

[misanthropic]

really? 4years post doc? I thought you'd be on 30K+

[NoAngel]

Just read through the posts. You're all right, the website is rubbish- took me 3 accounts before I got my applications in! Finally submitted yesterday though. Really hope we hear back soonish. Anybody else applied for audiology?

[jessthecat]

Aargh! I cannot even get onto the website now.

I suppose it will be a bit of a pay cut (probably about 6K), but it will be worth it to escape from academia and have a meaningful job with a proper career structure.

If only I could get my application form submitted.......

[misanthropic]

How do all you guys fancy your chances?? I so so so so want to be a haematologist!!! I just hope i have a good chance! Its pretty shocking that they cut down 400-500applications to just 12 for interview!! What's their system for it i wander especially when you consider its really only the additional information section that's different.

[NoAngel]

Originally Posted by misanthropic

How do all you guys fancy your chances?? I so so so so want to be a haematologist!!! I just hope i have a good chance! Its pretty shocking that they cut down 400-500applications to just 12 for interview!! What's their system for it i wander especially when you consider its really only the additional information section that's different.

Wow!! 400-500! For audiology they said around 60 applications and I thought that was loads! It's sooo competitive. There should have beena bit more guidance into what to write in the additinal info part really. I've got my fingers crossed, but at the same time trying to be realistic about my chances. The worst bit is that we only hear back if invited for interview- it's really horrible not to get a definite answer if you're unsuccessful!

In general though I've notfound many people that have heard about the scheme though so has been hard to get any advice.

[misanthropic]

well that 400-500 applicants was taken from jessthecat but for haematology its more like 50:1 pre-interview and 10:1 post-interview.

i'll be graduating this summer and no one in my biomed course has even heard of clinical science - let alone applied - i'm the only one! (it probably should be noted i'm from NI and so are most of my classmates - so Eng/Wales might be a bit too far)

[Eidolon]

Interesting thread I hadn't heard of this before

[jessthecat]

I was told that the North West region has 400-500 applicants for biochemistry. I don't know about the other regions/specialities. Didn't mean to scare anyone

[Flicker]

I had the same issue with the website crashing...It's stupid to have a site that can't accept copy and paste from word anyway! I sent off an email version today. Applied for haemotology, toxicology and molecular genetics. Seems so unfair you can only apply for 4 including different hospitals, i'd've been happy to just say "london" but had to choose! time to wait now though, fingers crossed everyone...

[misanthropic]

ah flicker, competition!! Do you mind me asking your qauls/exp? I know i'm offensively curious but sure!

[jessthecat]

Well, that's my applications finally submitted. Good luck everyone.

[jessthecat]

Northlondon - I've applied for Clinical Biochemistry in London, Eastern, West Midlands and North West. The website was a real battle - I hope they received my application.

[misanthropic]

I too haven't recieved any confirmation of my application - perhaps because I posted my application? But i did ring them on the deadline date and they had recieved it - again another reason why they might not have confirmed but I would still like it in writing!

[nevereatyellowsnow]

Hello! I've applied for Cytogenetics and Molecular genetics in the Midlands, I sent a paper application form and had to bump them for a reply. I haven't visited a lab yet because they took the contact details down once the deadline was passed for the application forms. Damn them!