physics final year careers session phil clarke senior careers adviser careers, employability and...
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Physics Final Year Careers session
Phil Clarke Senior Careers Adviser
Careers, Employability and Skills
Careers, Employabilityand Skills is based at the Student Guidance CentreTel: 9097 2727Email: careers@qub.ac.ukWeb: www.qub.ac.uk/careers
Careers Adviser for Maths and Physics - Phil Clarke
Careers, Employability and Skills (Careers Service): how we can help
Graduate vacancies 1-1 guidance - drop in/booked appointments E-guidance (via web) Careers Fairs, employer presentations Careers programmes – School/central based
Faculty of Eng/Phys Sciences Careers Programme 2009Information on talks/workshops, graduate vacancy sources, employer presentations and events for faculty students
Check out Pdf at www.qub.ac.uk/careers and sign up for events at online Events Diary
Applications/CVs/Interviews – Autumn Workshops 1-2pm SGC from w/c 5 Oct – w/c 23 Nov
• CVs – Develop a Winning CV (Mondays)
• Applications – Read Between the Lines (Tuesdays)
• Interviews – A Conversation With a Purpose (Thursdays)
Book your place at www.qub.ac.uk/careers
The Recession...your thoughts?…
• Are graduate employers still recruiting?
• Should I look outside my degree area?
• Should I do a Masters or other further study?
• Should I try a ‘safer’ option eg teaching, public sector?
• Should I be more strategic about who I’m targeting?
Impact of recession on Physics (as far as we can tell):• Need to bear in mind NI grad market is always competitive• Graduate recruitment generally badly hit• Industry generally hit harder than academia, but not across
the board• Financial services sector still recruiting - not all bad news • Major companies often not stating number of graduate
vacancies for 2010• Flexibility (including location) is key – some recruiters have
opportunities across UK/Ireland• Also consider temporary and other types of contracts
1. Employment
2. Further Study
3. Training
4. Time Out
Some potential career options with Physics
• Research scientist• Medical physicist• Lab technician• Teacher • Teach First prog• Software developtRemember that 40-50% of graduatejobs open to any degree
Other options –
• Meteorologist• Finance-related• Geosciences-related• Patent Attorney• Scientific Adviser
Physics 2008 Grad/PG Destinations
• 29% employment (of which 60% graduate jobs)
• 48% F/t further study
• 17% Other
• 6% Unemployed
Examples:• Trainee actuary – Spence &
Partners• Graduate Developer – Fidessa• Auditor – Deloitte• Physics Teacher – Grammar school• Asst Administrator - QUB• PGCE - various• MSc Plasma Physics - QUB• Atmospheric Physics – n/k
Current vacancies -1
Scientific ServicesIndustryE.ON UK, 3M UK, GSK, Cadbury, Sainsburys
Computing/IT – Asidua
Govt/defence
AWE, Dstl (“MSc Info Assurance Industrial Placement”)
Industry/defence
Thales, Bae Systems
Current vacancies - 2
Other ideas• Mercer Belfast – Retirement Analysts (session 3-
5.30pm Wed 11 November Mercer offices in Belfast)• Asst Trader - SIG Ltd (ROI)• Axa - Actuarial Student programme (GB)• FSA (London)• Watson Wyatt – Actuarial Consulting (GB, ROI)• Civil Service Fast Stream• Teach First
Recruitment Timetable and Systems
Major employers mostly recruit to the ”Milkround” timetable i.e. applications by December of final year,interviews in January/February and assessment Centresin March/April
They use some/all of the following methods to select– On-Line Applications – Aptitude Tests– On-Campus Interviews– Telephone Interviews– Assessment Centres
Careers Fairs–Whitla Hall
• 20 October 2009 Admin, Finance and Management
• 21 October 2009 Engineering, Science, IT
• 4 November 2009 Law• 10 February 2010 Work
Experience Check Faculty of Eng/Phys Sci Programme, What’s On weekly update and Events Diary atww.qub.ac.uk/careers
Vacancy sources
Queen’s Careers• Careers website • Queen’s Careers Fairs• Financial Services Recruitment
Opportunities Prog (available now at SGC or at www.qub.ac.uk/careers)
• Queen’s Careers Guide 2010 (available as above)
Employers• Employer presentations at
Queen’s • Prof bodies
Graduate Directories• Available from SGC
Websites • Prospects, Gradireland, Careers
Local/national pressRecruitment agencies • can help get a foot in the door
See ‘Jobsearching’ section of Queen’s Careers Guide 2010 for further ideas
Are you the ideal candidate?
• Good degree• Technical knowledge (if reqd)• Structured work placement/
other work experience• Extra-curricular activities at QUB
or outside • Transferable skills/aptitudes• Career management skills eg
business skills/awareness, I.T. • Flexible/adaptable/motivated/
willing to learn
Beat the Recession:• Review your CV/what you have to offer• Be flexible – have a ‘Plan B’• Commit to personal development eg work
experience• Do the research• Use your networks• Get the right help eg Careers, Employability and
Skills, academic staff etc
Employment
Further Study
Training
Time Out
Reasons for considering postgraduate study:
• Interest in the subject • Academic ambition• Long term job prospects• More time to consider
career options• Avoid recession
Further Study Options
Taught coursesSpecialised degreeUsually 1 (sometimes 2) yearsTaught in similar way to u/g degrees•Diploma eg PGCE – normally 9 months•Masters – normally 12 months
Another undergrad degree – change of direction?
Why a taught course?
• Can be stepping stone to further study eg PhD• Can be requirement or advantage in entering
employment, esp. Competitive job areas where a further qualification can give you an edge
• However, won’t guarantee any advantage in graduate job market
• Can be useful for career development
Further Study options
Research• PhD – normally 3 years• Original research under supervision• Not normally taught as with Masters• More like a job – regular hours etc• Need motivation for long-term study• Need to be able to work largely on your own
(with support from tutor)
Why a PhD?
• Essential for academic careers and postdoc research• Can aid career development within scientific
organisations/companies• Some specialised finance areas may require PhD eg
quantitative finance , computational modelling• Transferable skills• Again though, a PhD doesn’t guarantee a higher level
job
Closing dates
• PGCE (Post-Primary) QUB – 1st November 2009• PGCE (Primary) UUC – 10 December 2009• GTTR (Primary) GB – 1 December 2009• GTTR (Post-Primary) GB – up to 30 June 2010 and
beyond • Financial Services Recruitment – varies but closing
dates for some opportunities start from 22 Oct through Nov (and beyond in some cases)
Funding
PG diplomas – limited except eg Teaching, Social WorkMasters – very limited, many students self-fund
PhD – more options available eg DEL Research Studentships and some scholarshipsGet more info from: Admissions www.qub.ac.uk/adoPostgraduate Office www.qub.ac.uk/pao Graduate Prospects www.prospects.ac.uk
Questions to ask yourself?
• Am I genuinely interested in PG (or other further) study?
• Do I have a realistic idea of where it will take me afterwards in terms of my career?
• Have I chosen the right course/field of study?• Have I chosen the best university for what I
want to do (may not always be QUB)? • Can I afford it?
Employment
Further Study
Training
Time Out
Graduate TrainingInvolves on and off-job experience/training • Intro (business training)• www.introprogramme.com • E2 (export development)• www.e2programme.com • Knowledge Transfer Partnerships• www.ktponline.org.uk • Others at www.qub.ac.uk >
Students > Job Vacancies > Graduate Training Schemes
Employment
Further Study
Training
Time Out
What can I do?
Work experience eg
BUNAC, Camp America, JETProgramme www.qub.ac.uk/careers> Useful WebsitesVoluntary work eg
Belfast Computer Clubhousewww.belfastclubhouse.org Volunteer Now NI www.volunteernow.co.uk
Short courses eg
Learn a language? IT skills?Travel eg Australia WorkingHoliday Visa ww.immi.gov.au/ visitors/working-holiday/417/
Further 1-1 help
Duty Adviser (drop-in)9.00 to 5.00, Monday to Friday (Phil Clarke generally available Wednesdays 1-5pm)
Guidance interviews (by appointment) (Phil Clarke available Wednesday and Thursday mornings)
E-mail guidanceRegister at www.qub.ac.uk/careers
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