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What jobs can i do with a science degree?!?!

Helloo! I did Biology, Chemistry and Maths for A-level with the intention of going into medicine however decided that in Yr 12 its not for me. I also got in to study Natural Sciences for Uni and got 3 A* at a-level.

The reason I am posting this is because I was wondering... what kind of 'out of the lab' jobs are available to someone with a science degree?

I was thinking about getting into the Pharmaceutical industry but taking up a role such as being a data scientist for a given company. Is this feasible or am I better taking a gap year and applying for Comp Sci to look for similar jobs that are not necessarily tied to scientific research/ fields?
Reply 1
What can't you do?

ten friends of mine, different stages of being a "science" graduate:

1. Physics - now works for a large multinational IT company as a software developer doing stuff that does orbital calculations for them.
2. Geology - now works as an environment agency field officer (they have a 4x4, some pipettes, and responsibility for water purity measurements and incident response for about 1/4 of Yorkshire). Government departments tend to take ANY science degree for this kind of thing.
3. Biology - Teaches
4. Biology - patent attorney -genetic therapies
5. Biology - customises motorcycles (career change - started out working in a lab, realised that they were tinkering with machines at the weekends and at the weekend and enjoyed the weekend machines more)
6. Chemistry - Financial sector data analyst (this is the best paid person on the list by a LONG way)
7. Physics - Explosive storage design/accreditation
8. Marine Biology - currently working as an English teacher in a college in Thailand as a gap between that and doing anti-plastics patrols in the pacific
9. Physics - Project Manager at Rolls Royce (second highest paid person on list)
10. Molecular Science (me) - about to start a PhD in cyber security - specialist in communicating science and risk.

*bonus entry - Geology - went on to do a PhD in the same... dude has literally abseiled into live volcanoes for the BBC!

Of course, you can do a degree, then a PhD in the same field if you're a committed academic who loves their discipline... but speaking as someone who's spent that last few years interviewing graduates:

Business graduates understand processes and teams
Arts graduates understand ideas
Science graduates understand how to get from an idea to something that works

The world would fall apart without them, and ~80% of my hires have some kind of science background that they rarely use the subject knowledge from, but use the mindset every day.
(edited 8 months ago)
Reply 2
Original post by DocCyber
What can't you do?

ten friends of mine, different stages of being a "science" graduate:

1. Physics - now works for a large multinational IT company as a software developer doing stuff that does orbital calculations for them.
2. Geology - now works as an environment agency field officer (they have a 4x4, some pipettes, and responsibility for water purity measurements and incident response for about 1/4 of Yorkshire). Government departments tend to take ANY science degree for this kind of thing.
3. Biology - Teaches
4. Biology - patent attorney -genetic therapies
5. Biology - customises motorcycles (career change - started out working in a lab, realised that they were tinkering with machines at the weekends and at the weekend and enjoyed the weekend machines more)
6. Chemistry - Financial sector data analyst (this is the best paid person on the list by a LONG way)
7. Physics - Explosive storage design/accreditation
8. Marine Biology - currently working as an English teacher in a college in Thailand as a gap between that and doing anti-plastics patrols in the pacific
9. Physics - Project Manager at Rolls Royce (second highest paid person on list)
10. Molecular Science (me) - about to start a PhD in cyber security - specialist in communicating science and risk.

*bonus entry - Geology - went on to do a PhD in the same... dude has literally abseiled into live volcanoes for the BBC!

Of course, you can do a degree, then a PhD in the same field if you're a committed academic who loves their discipline... but speaking as someone who's spent that last few years interviewing graduates:

Business graduates understand processes and teams
Arts graduates understand ideas
Science graduates understand how to get from an idea to something that works

The world would fall apart without them, and ~80% of my hires have some kind of science background that they rarely use the subject knowledge from, but use the mindset every day.

Thank you so much for your response! It's so motivating to see the variety of different jobs available and how a certain degree doesn't necessarily dictate your job.
Original post by omgwha
Helloo! I did Biology, Chemistry and Maths for A-level with the intention of going into medicine however decided that in Yr 12 its not for me. I also got in to study Natural Sciences for Uni and got 3 A* at a-level.

The reason I am posting this is because I was wondering... what kind of 'out of the lab' jobs are available to someone with a science degree?

I was thinking about getting into the Pharmaceutical industry but taking up a role such as being a data scientist for a given company. Is this feasible or am I better taking a gap year and applying for Comp Sci to look for similar jobs that are not necessarily tied to scientific research/ fields?

Well, all the roles that anyone with any degree can go into. Which is basically every generalist grad scheme offered by any corporate entity, and similar schemes in the media, civil service, investment banking, legal training contracts, etc.
(edited 8 months ago)

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