Career Planningand

Work Experience

Diana Omololu

Careers Adviser

Learning outcomes

BTEOTWYWBAT:• review current career plan/options• understand processes for action plan• consider relevant work experience options• identify potential sources of vacancies• How the Careers Service Can Help

Starting point – Veterinary S or M

• Work - UK / Abroad

• Postgraduate study

• Self employment

• Time out / Travel

• Voluntary Work

Working with Veterinary (S or M) Degree

• Employment prospects FAIR! – Competitive• Changes - technology, role, world economics and

politics.• Medical or pharmaceutical laboratories

– scientific analysis / technical support roles• Public Sector (Hospitals/Health Protection

Agency/National Blood Services etc..)• Government Departments (Forensic Sci. Ser)• Universities and specialist research institutes funded

by charities

Destination Stats Veterinary Science / Medicine?

2003 2002 2001

Full-Time Paid Work - 86% 78% 81%

Work & Study - 5% 13%

Further Study - 3% 2% 8%

Assumed unemployed - 2% 2% 6%

Not available - 2% 3% 5%

Other - 3% 2%

Where……• zoos • animal hospitals • animal welfare societies • Health Protection Agency (Conservation) • National Blood Service • Medical Research Council • NHS Trust• Government Departments (DEFRA)• Labs • Other specialist (utilities)• Many graduates are also employed by universities,

schools and colleges, and specialist

What….

• Surgeon• Lab Technician• Psychologist• Nutritionist• Nurse• Research officer• Inspector

• Research Assistant• Vet Assistant• Animal Technician• Animal Care

Assistant• Zoo Assistant• Graduate

Researcher

• Biomedical Scientist• Clinical Biochemists• Clinical Cytogeneticist• Clinical Research Associate (CRA)• Forensic Scientist• Life Science Research Scientist• Medical Sales Representatives • Others

Other science options

Growing Trend• Growing opportunities in specialist supporting

organisations offering clinical and scientific services: – toxicological analysis– analytical and testing laboratories – clinical trials– statistical and consultancy services

Private Sector• Healthcare Industry• Pharmaceutical companies

– Development & Manufacture • animal care product• healthcare products • prescription medicines (ethical drugs) • over the counter (OTC) medicines• biotechnology• diagnostic products

Shortages

• Bioinformatics

• Demand for chemists, in particular for HPLC analysts and organic synthesis chemists, in industry.

• NHS Bioengineers.

• Maths and science Teachers (£4,000 'golden hello‘ and £6,000 training bursary,)

Skills sought by employers• General intelligence, academic achievement and

potential e.g capacity for original thought.

• Practicality e.g ability to get things done, nature of deadlines, conscientiousness, attention to detail.

• Judgment and decision making.

• Analytical skills e.g logical reasoning ability, handling complex data.

• Communication skills - oral and written, ability to be cogent, persuasive and investigative, use of English

Skills sought by employers• Commerciality - understanding of the business

world, commercial aims and objectives• Loyalty - give as good as you get.

• Resilience e.g persistence

• Team work i.e playing your part

• Organisational skills

• fun!

Skills sought by employers (% finding short supply of each skill, source AGR, Association of Graduate Recruiters)

• business awareness (67%)• communication skills )(64%)• leadership (33%)• ability to work in a team (33%)• problem- solving (32%)• conceptual ability (21%)• knowledge and competence in discipline (19%)• foreign languages (19%)• numeracy (19%)• good general education (15%)• computer literacy (6%)

Assessing your current situation

What have you got to offer?

SWOT Analyses

Internalfactors

StrengthsWhat are thepositive aspectsof what I/we aredoing?

WeaknessesWhat are thenegative aspectsof what I/we aredoing

Externalfactors

OpportunitiesWhat are thepositive aspectsof my/oursituation?

ThreatsWhat are thenegative aspectsof my/oursituation?

Career management skills

1. Self assessment skills, interests

values & motivation work style/personality

2. Opportunities

4. Action exploring andJob hunting creatingand applications interviews

3. Matching choosing opportunities setting goals

Once learned, these are skills for life

Skills of Veterinary practitioners

• Animal handling• Communication skills• Capacity for self direction• Analytical skills• Dealing with information• Ability to accept supervision• Supervisory / teaching skills• Team work skills• Cross-cultural skills• Perseverance• Subject-specific skills e.g.. languages, computing• Business awareness

Value of work experience

“All work experience is of value and, if those going into it are sufficiently well advised, much can be gained from even apparently mundane jobs”.

(ASSOCIATION OF GRADUATE RECRUITERS)

Why• Money• Experience (including voluntary)• Insight into careers, employers and industries• May be directly relevant to future jobs• Could make useful contacts• References for future applications• Show and develop transferable skills (competencies)

required by all future employers.

– team work, flexibility, organising, confidence, social, liaising, communicating, pressure, customer contact, responsibilities etc.

Types of work experience

• Formal work placements/internships

• Subject-related research schemes

• Advertised positions

• Non-advertised positions

• Voluntary positions

Where to find work experience?• Farms • Stables • Kennels • Vacation opportunities booklets• Work window/employment file• National/Local Press• Agencies • Speculative applications

Occupational Information• Prospects.ac.uk

• Sector information• job description and activities • salary and conditions • entry requirements • training • career development • typical employers/vacancy sources • related jobs • case study • contacts and resources

• Hobsons.ac.uk• Doctorjob.com

Specialist• Veterinary Record - http://www.bva.co.uk/• Vetweb - http://www.vetweb.com/

• Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) -www.rspca.org.uk

• Defence Animal Centre – Royal Army Veterinary Corpswww.army.mod.uk/medical/royal_army_veterinary_corps/

• The Blue Cross - www.bluecross.org.uk

• Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons - www.spvs.org.uk

• Veterinary Laboratories Agency - www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/vla

• Veterinary Field Service (VFS) - www.defra.gov.uk

• Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) - www.vmd.gov.uk

• Meat Hygiene Service (MHS)www.foodstandards.gov.uk/enforcement/meathyg/mhservice

• Peoples Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA)www.pdsa.org.uk

• Online Directory of postgraduate courses in the UK www.prospects.ac.uk/links/Pgdbase

•  UK Government information service www.direct.gov.uk

Others• www.wspa-international.org • VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas) www.vso.org.uk • International scene - Oneworld.net

www.oneworld.net • National Centre for work experience

www.work-experience.org.uk• Civil Service Jobs www.civil-service.gov.uk/jobs/• http://www.rigvets.co.uk/• http://www.vetclick.com/recruitment/Work

Window http://www.careers.lon.ac.uk

Careers Service• Generating career ideas

– Prospects Planner, help-sheets, information on what other Vet.. graduates have done, talk to a careers adviser

• Researching occupations and employers

- files, reference books, take-away information, employer talks and events

• Investigating postgraduate study and funding – Directories, prospectuses and funding guides

Careers Service• Finding work (full & part-time and vacation)

– Vacancy files, newspapers and graduate careers directories (Alert; Jobonline; JobShop)

• Helping with CVs, covering letters and application forms (Personal statements)

– take-away information, lunchtime workshops and quick queries

• Preparing for interviews and psychometric tests – take-away information, lunchtime workshops and

practice interviews, reference books, sample papers and practice tests

GradClub - continue to use services after graduation

The specialist Institutions Careers Centre

Address: 4th Floor, ULU Building, Malet Street, London, WC1E 7HY

Quick Queries Monday – Thursday 2:00pm - 4:30pm

AppointmentsMonday – Thursday 10:00 - 5:00 (Friday 1:30pm - 5:00pm)

Information Resources and IT FacilitiesMonday – Friday 9:30 – 5:00

www.careers.lon.ac.uk/careers@careers.lon.ac.uk