How hard is it to get a "good" job with chemistry degree?

OP

I've just realised that although industrial experience is better (grad) job-wise, doing the Masters will depend on your job aspirations. For example if you definitely want to stay in chemistry, you may want to get Chartered Chemist status, which depends on you having an accredited Masters level degree (there are other requirements of course.) In which case if you did the BSc you'd then need to do another MSc on top!

Sorry for the conflicting advice :redface:

And as for the internships and placements, @Princepieman is right and I don't have anything to add! It may be useful for you to get acquainted with your universities Career service, they can help as well :smile:

Do you think I should apply to Oxford then because they are too academic and dont offer Year in Industry?Or do you think having Oxford on my CV will overcome this?

Reply 21

username738914

21

Original post by ShadowStorm689

Do you think I should apply to Oxford then because they are too academic and dont offer Year in Industry?Or do you think having Oxford on my CV will overcome this?

It's not actually necessary to do a year in industry, a summer internship with the opportunity to gain a full time offer at the end will suffice.

Oxbridge have very short terms, so if you ever want to gain a bit of work experience, you'll have plenty of time during the holidays to do so.

That all said, I'd only apply to Oxford if you thoroughly love your subject on an academic level and are comfortable with the high level of maths - case in point the MAT is no joke (sat it last yr and got the average - which was 43%).

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Reply 22

username2455183

18

Original post by ShadowStorm689

Do you think I should apply to Oxford then because they are too academic and dont offer Year in Industry?Or do you think having Oxford on my CV will overcome this?

It's really your decision :smile:

Experience is very valuable but you don't need to have an entire year of it. At Oxford (or indeed anywhere) you can do placements during the summer which can give you industrial experience, you can also work in the research labs at the university. In theory that should be more than enough to get you into sciencey grad schemes. At Oxford, your 4th year will entirely be a research project so you'll get lab experience through this as well, though I don't know how employers view it since it's in an academic setting :tongue:

Having Oxford on your CV won't do much in the chemistry field, apart from individual bragging rights, since accreditation from the RSC means that most chem courses on offer in the UK will train you to a certain standard. That's why I said lots of chemists at Oxford move into other fields, the Oxford name helps more there :tongue:

Apply to the course/university you think you'll enjoy, as you'll always be able to do "extra" things to make you more employable no matter where you go- so it shouldn't be too big of a worry! :smile:

Reply 23

thenextchemist

21

How competitive are summer internships? And is there a limit to how many you apply to?
And how likely is it that you get a place?
Thank you!

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Reply 24

username738914

21

Original post by Bloom77

How competitive are summer internships? And is there a limit to how many you apply to?
And how likely is it that you get a place?
Thank you!

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Summer internships could mean anything.. In what?

Anything you apply for will be competitive, not much point stressing over how competitive it is.

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Reply 25

username2130115

16

do chemical engineering with a minor in chemistry. some universities offer that combination.
there aren't many research jobs for chemistry graduates and there's a massive abundance of unemployed science graduates looking for work.

chemical engineering = $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Reply 26

username738914

21

Have you been keeping up with the oil and gas news or.. just repeating hearsay?

Regardless, that advice is not right OP should do the degree they want.

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Reply 27

thenextchemist

21

Original post by Princepieman

Summer internships could mean anything.. In what?

Anything you apply for will be competitive, not much point stressing over how competitive it is.

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Haha that's true
Probably loads of industries which offer internships specifically for STEM students.

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Reply 28

username738914

21

Original post by Bloom77

Haha that's true
Probably loads of industries which offer internships specifically for STEM students.

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Not really... Most are open to whoever, but only a few will be specific to stem.

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Reply 29

honeysugar

3

I've got a question as I'm really confused about my chemistry course. Do I do all the modules in the photo attached, or do I have to pick one? Also, what's the difference between open and closed units?

Reply 30

username738914

21

Original post by honeysugar

I've got a question as I'm really confused about my chemistry course. Do I do all the modules in the photo attached, or do I have to pick one? Also, what's the difference between open and closed units?

I mean it does say 'options' so quite easy to get that there will be some extra modules which you choose that are not on that list.

Idk about open and closed, maybe read the website for more info.

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Reply 31

thenextchemist

21

Original post by Princepieman

Not really... Most are open to whoever, but only a few will be specific to stem.

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There are loads of stem ones on student ladder

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Reply 32

username738914

21

Original post by Bloom77

There are loads of stem ones on student ladder

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Yh, but they're mostly engineering or software.

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Reply 33

honeysugar

3

Original post by Princepieman

I mean it does say 'options' so quite easy to get that there will be some extra modules which you choose that are not on that list.

Idk about open and closed, maybe read the website for more info.

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But what about the ones that are blue. Are those mandatory? Sorry I'm so confused.

Reply 34

username738914

21

Original post by honeysugar

But what about the ones that are blue. Are those mandatory? Sorry I'm so confused.

Yh

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Reply 35

honeysugar

3

Original post by Princepieman

Yh

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Okay. Thank you very much!

Reply 36

S94a

1

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