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Biomedical Science without a placement year?
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SongBird2020
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#1
So I'm in my 2nd year of university and I've been looking for placements and i'm on the verge of giving up because I can't find anything. Probably because I have a lackluster CV with hardly any experience. I know the placement year is extremely important to register with the HCPC and become a Biomedical Scientist after graduation but I'm wondering if anyone has actually been successful without the placement year. I know its a lot harder to complete your registration portfolio with a hospital because they don't have the funding, but is it still possible? If i fail to get a placement would I be better off choosing a completely different career pathway?
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Hellfireunicorn
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#2
(Original post by Loreto2018)
So I'm in my 2nd year of university and I've been looking for placements and i'm on the verge of giving up because I can't find anything. Probably because I have a lackluster CV with hardly any experience. I know the placement year is extremely important to register with the HCPC and become a Biomedical Scientist after graduation but I'm wondering if anyone has actually been successful without the placement year. I know its a lot harder to complete your registration portfolio with a hospital because they don't have the funding, but is it still possible? If i fail to get a placement would I be better off choosing a completely different career pathway?
So I'm in my 2nd year of university and I've been looking for placements and i'm on the verge of giving up because I can't find anything. Probably because I have a lackluster CV with hardly any experience. I know the placement year is extremely important to register with the HCPC and become a Biomedical Scientist after graduation but I'm wondering if anyone has actually been successful without the placement year. I know its a lot harder to complete your registration portfolio with a hospital because they don't have the funding, but is it still possible? If i fail to get a placement would I be better off choosing a completely different career pathway?
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SongBird2020
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#3
(Original post by Hellfireunicorn)
Hey, I didn’t do a placement year and I did my registration after uni. I’d say get in contact with trusts you want to work in in the department you what and email/call and ask to do some volunteer work or how you’d go about joining the bank and go from there. I emailed around in my 2nd and I got offered work experience 2 days a week while at uni and then I got an MLA position in the same place and they let me do my portfolio while I was an MLA. Don’t give up, if you call the right places they’ll be happy to show you round but make sure you know what you want and tell them that, so there’s no misunderstanding, good luck! Feel free to message me if you’ve got anymore questions
Hey, I didn’t do a placement year and I did my registration after uni. I’d say get in contact with trusts you want to work in in the department you what and email/call and ask to do some volunteer work or how you’d go about joining the bank and go from there. I emailed around in my 2nd and I got offered work experience 2 days a week while at uni and then I got an MLA position in the same place and they let me do my portfolio while I was an MLA. Don’t give up, if you call the right places they’ll be happy to show you round but make sure you know what you want and tell them that, so there’s no misunderstanding, good luck! Feel free to message me if you’ve got anymore questions
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Hellfireunicorn
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#4
(Original post by Loreto2018)
Oh wow that sounds extremely promising thank you so much for sharing that. I don't wanna bombard you with loads of questions but if i think of anymore could I possibly drop you a pm? Thanks
Oh wow that sounds extremely promising thank you so much for sharing that. I don't wanna bombard you with loads of questions but if i think of anymore could I possibly drop you a pm? Thanks
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RegisteredBMS
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#5
There's a saturation of graduates in Band 2 MLA jobs waiting for Trainee BMS jobs, it's unlikely you'll get a Trainee role just by asking as they're not going to overlook existing staff. Additionally, the job spec for the role states NHS experience.
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#6
(Original post by RegisteredBMS)
There's a saturation of graduates in Band 2 MLA jobs waiting for Trainee BMS jobs, it's unlikely you'll get a Trainee role just by asking as they're not going to overlook existing staff. Additionally, the job spec for the role states NHS experience.
There's a saturation of graduates in Band 2 MLA jobs waiting for Trainee BMS jobs, it's unlikely you'll get a Trainee role just by asking as they're not going to overlook existing staff. Additionally, the job spec for the role states NHS experience.
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SongBird2020
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#7
(Original post by RegisteredBMS)
There's a saturation of graduates in Band 2 MLA jobs waiting for Trainee BMS jobs, it's unlikely you'll get a Trainee role just by asking as they're not going to overlook existing staff. Additionally, the job spec for the role states NHS experience.
There's a saturation of graduates in Band 2 MLA jobs waiting for Trainee BMS jobs, it's unlikely you'll get a Trainee role just by asking as they're not going to overlook existing staff. Additionally, the job spec for the role states NHS experience.
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#8
(Original post by Loreto2018)
That's the problem. These placements are also over saturated and it's just looking so unlikely i'm going to get any NHS experience. Without a placement year i'm basically screwed. So I just really don't know what to do. Maybe I've picked the wrong course? Oh and another thing, my uni is not a russell group uni so i feel like there's also gonna be a lot more competition for people like me since the degree is less valued. Combine a degee from a less respected uni with no experience and i feel like I'm gonna struggle a LOT.
That's the problem. These placements are also over saturated and it's just looking so unlikely i'm going to get any NHS experience. Without a placement year i'm basically screwed. So I just really don't know what to do. Maybe I've picked the wrong course? Oh and another thing, my uni is not a russell group uni so i feel like there's also gonna be a lot more competition for people like me since the degree is less valued. Combine a degee from a less respected uni with no experience and i feel like I'm gonna struggle a LOT.
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SongBird2020
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#9
(Original post by Hellfireunicorn)
From my experience, the only thing that’s important is whether your course is accredited by the IBMS. You can still be a bms without an accredited degree but it requires more training (although I know people who have done this). Russel group doesn’t matter. It’s the grade you get in your degree that’s important. I’ve helped two people get their foot in the door just by giving them a person to contact in the labs. Yes you might work as an mla for a while but the experience you get is worth it. If you’re based in and around Cheshire/Merseyside I can speak to some people and you could contact them
From my experience, the only thing that’s important is whether your course is accredited by the IBMS. You can still be a bms without an accredited degree but it requires more training (although I know people who have done this). Russel group doesn’t matter. It’s the grade you get in your degree that’s important. I’ve helped two people get their foot in the door just by giving them a person to contact in the labs. Yes you might work as an mla for a while but the experience you get is worth it. If you’re based in and around Cheshire/Merseyside I can speak to some people and you could contact them
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SongBird2020
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#10
(Original post by Hellfireunicorn)
From my experience, the only thing that’s important is whether your course is accredited by the IBMS. You can still be a bms without an accredited degree but it requires more training (although I know people who have done this). Russel group doesn’t matter. It’s the grade you get in your degree that’s important. I’ve helped two people get their foot in the door just by giving them a person to contact in the labs. Yes you might work as an mla for a while but the experience you get is worth it. If you’re based in and around Cheshire/Merseyside I can speak to some people and you could contact them
From my experience, the only thing that’s important is whether your course is accredited by the IBMS. You can still be a bms without an accredited degree but it requires more training (although I know people who have done this). Russel group doesn’t matter. It’s the grade you get in your degree that’s important. I’ve helped two people get their foot in the door just by giving them a person to contact in the labs. Yes you might work as an mla for a while but the experience you get is worth it. If you’re based in and around Cheshire/Merseyside I can speak to some people and you could contact them
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RegisteredBMS
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#11
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#11
(Original post by Hellfireunicorn)
I’m not saying that they’ll get a trainee position, just a that a good way to get experience is to go volunteer and gain that experience. Unfortunately there is over saturation but it’s by no means impossible to get your foot in the door and that’s the most important thing
I’m not saying that they’ll get a trainee position, just a that a good way to get experience is to go volunteer and gain that experience. Unfortunately there is over saturation but it’s by no means impossible to get your foot in the door and that’s the most important thing
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RegisteredBMS
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#12
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#12
(Original post by Loreto2018)
That's the problem. These placements are also over saturated and it's just looking so unlikely i'm going to get any NHS experience. Without a placement year i'm basically screwed. So I just really don't know what to do. Maybe I've picked the wrong course? Oh and another thing, my uni is not a russell group uni so i feel like there's also gonna be a lot more competition for people like me since the degree is less valued. Combine a degee from a less respected uni with no experience and i feel like I'm gonna struggle a LOT.
That's the problem. These placements are also over saturated and it's just looking so unlikely i'm going to get any NHS experience. Without a placement year i'm basically screwed. So I just really don't know what to do. Maybe I've picked the wrong course? Oh and another thing, my uni is not a russell group uni so i feel like there's also gonna be a lot more competition for people like me since the degree is less valued. Combine a degee from a less respected uni with no experience and i feel like I'm gonna struggle a LOT.
Yes placements are over saturated, partly because the Healthcare Science route takes them all up (it's a degree where you're guaranteed a placement).
If you can get a placement, wonderful. If you can't, the first step is gaining NHS experience. I was lucky and I did the Healthcare Science route so I graduated as a HCPC registered BMS, but I've come across many people with an IBMS accredited degree but had to work as an MLA first as they did not have registration. In my experience, if you're willing to be flexible about location and discipline, you will find a trainee job.
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SongBird2020
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#13
(Original post by RegisteredBMS)
So, I'm actually a Specialist Biomedical Scientist in the North West so my advice is actually quite specific for this region.
Yes placements are over saturated, partly because the Healthcare Science route takes them all up (it's a degree where you're guaranteed a placement).
If you can get a placement, wonderful. If you can't, the first step is gaining NHS experience. I was lucky and I did the Healthcare Science route so I graduated as a HCPC registered BMS, but I've come across many people with an IBMS accredited degree but had to work as an MLA first as they did not have registration. In my experience, if you're willing to be flexible about location and discipline, you will find a trainee job.
So, I'm actually a Specialist Biomedical Scientist in the North West so my advice is actually quite specific for this region.
Yes placements are over saturated, partly because the Healthcare Science route takes them all up (it's a degree where you're guaranteed a placement).
If you can get a placement, wonderful. If you can't, the first step is gaining NHS experience. I was lucky and I did the Healthcare Science route so I graduated as a HCPC registered BMS, but I've come across many people with an IBMS accredited degree but had to work as an MLA first as they did not have registration. In my experience, if you're willing to be flexible about location and discipline, you will find a trainee job.
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#14
(Original post by Loreto2018)
So since you are in the North West region, I'm thinking of applying to a company called APIS in the UK. Do you think it's worth me applying or is it not worth it because it's not an IBMS placement?
So since you are in the North West region, I'm thinking of applying to a company called APIS in the UK. Do you think it's worth me applying or is it not worth it because it's not an IBMS placement?
Fundamentally, if they don't provide experience within a healthcare setting (which I can't imagine they do) then you would still have to enter at an entry-level role within the NHS.
My advice would be to gain laboratory experience as a Band 2 Medical Laboratory Assistant and then as soon as you're in the role, begin applying for Trainee BMS roles in any discipline and as geographically wide as you can.
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SongBird2020
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#15
(Original post by RegisteredBMS)
I've never come across a scientist who has become qualified via these programs. That may be if they're new or not.
Fundamentally, if they don't provide experience within a healthcare setting (which I can't imagine they do) then you would still have to enter at an entry-level role within the NHS.
My advice would be to gain laboratory experience as a Band 2 Medical Laboratory Assistant and then as soon as you're in the role, begin applying for Trainee BMS roles in any discipline and as geographically wide as you can.
I've never come across a scientist who has become qualified via these programs. That may be if they're new or not.
Fundamentally, if they don't provide experience within a healthcare setting (which I can't imagine they do) then you would still have to enter at an entry-level role within the NHS.
My advice would be to gain laboratory experience as a Band 2 Medical Laboratory Assistant and then as soon as you're in the role, begin applying for Trainee BMS roles in any discipline and as geographically wide as you can.
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RegisteredBMS
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#16
(Original post by Loreto2018)
OK thank you very much for your help... So if I can't find any IBMS placements, I should try and apply as an MLA band 2 after graduation?
OK thank you very much for your help... So if I can't find any IBMS placements, I should try and apply as an MLA band 2 after graduation?
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SongBird2020
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#17
(Original post by RegisteredBMS)
Yes. If you end up going for an MLA job around the Manchester area, feel free to message me. There's a particular one that tends not to offer Trainee positions more than the others.
Yes. If you end up going for an MLA job around the Manchester area, feel free to message me. There's a particular one that tends not to offer Trainee positions more than the others.
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#18
(Original post by SongBird2020)
That's the problem. These placements are also over saturated and it's just looking so unlikely i'm going to get any NHS experience. Without a placement year i'm basically screwed. So I just really don't know what to do. Maybe I've picked the wrong course? Oh and another thing, my uni is not a russell group uni so i feel like there's also gonna be a lot more competition for people like me since the degree is less valued. Combine a degee from a less respected uni with no experience and i feel like I'm gonna struggle a LOT.
That's the problem. These placements are also over saturated and it's just looking so unlikely i'm going to get any NHS experience. Without a placement year i'm basically screwed. So I just really don't know what to do. Maybe I've picked the wrong course? Oh and another thing, my uni is not a russell group uni so i feel like there's also gonna be a lot more competition for people like me since the degree is less valued. Combine a degee from a less respected uni with no experience and i feel like I'm gonna struggle a LOT.
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#19
(Original post by Hellfireunicorn)
Hey, I didn’t do a placement year and I did my registration after uni. I’d say get in contact with trusts you want to work in in the department you what and email/call and ask to do some volunteer work or how you’d go about joining the bank and go from there. I emailed around in my 2nd and I got offered work experience 2 days a week while at uni and then I got an MLA position in the same place and they let me do my portfolio while I was an MLA. Don’t give up, if you call the right places they’ll be happy to show you round but make sure you know what you want and tell them that, so there’s no misunderstanding, good luck! Feel free to message me if you’ve got anymore questions
Hey, I didn’t do a placement year and I did my registration after uni. I’d say get in contact with trusts you want to work in in the department you what and email/call and ask to do some volunteer work or how you’d go about joining the bank and go from there. I emailed around in my 2nd and I got offered work experience 2 days a week while at uni and then I got an MLA position in the same place and they let me do my portfolio while I was an MLA. Don’t give up, if you call the right places they’ll be happy to show you round but make sure you know what you want and tell them that, so there’s no misunderstanding, good luck! Feel free to message me if you’ve got anymore questions
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