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OxfordGuideToCareers2017
OxfordGuideToCareers2017
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SCIENCE<br />
SCIENCE<br />
Rebecca Holttum<br />
Future Leader Programme<br />
(R&D), Unilever<br />
St Hugh’s College,<br />
Biochemistry, 2013<br />
WHAT: I have now worked for Unilever<br />
for 2 years, and the world of fast moving<br />
consumer goods (FMCG) is quite unique.<br />
I get to work on truly global projects for<br />
some well-known and well-loved brands,<br />
and I am already getting to see the impact<br />
that my work has on the evolution of our<br />
products and consumers. If you want an<br />
experience like mine, and still want the<br />
opportunity to learn, and gain real breadth<br />
from the world of business, then you<br />
should seriously consider FMCG.<br />
CHOOSING A DIRECTION: Are you a<br />
scientist and want to get out of the lab?<br />
Are you not sure what you want to do or<br />
whether or not you want to specialise, or<br />
narrow down your career?<br />
I considered exactly the same questions<br />
when I was in my final year at St Hugh’s.<br />
If you were to look at the type of jobs<br />
or graduate schemes that I applied for,<br />
you would probably conclude that I was<br />
directionless, and open to anything and<br />
everything. To a degree, I still am open to<br />
anything; I’m on my 6th role since leaving<br />
Oxford, and have had experience in<br />
Research Formulation, Marketing,<br />
Packaging, as well as Legislation<br />
and Policy from my short time in the<br />
civil service fast stream. I am starting<br />
to realise that being a generalist<br />
is OK, and that having a scientific<br />
background, gives you a great<br />
perspective in the world of business,<br />
and even better in fast moving<br />
consumer goods.<br />
GETTING IN: During my assessment<br />
centre for the Unilever Future<br />
Leader’s Programme I wasn’t asked<br />
a single scientific question. What<br />
Unilever’s recruiters look for are the<br />
soft skills, the leadership experience,<br />
the fact that I had a scientific degree<br />
from Oxford was the only scientific<br />
credentials I needed. My advice,<br />
therefore, is to remember that any<br />
and all experience is worth pursuing<br />
and will be valuable to you not only<br />
during recruitment, but when you<br />
land in your first roles too.<br />
Marion Crawford<br />
Research Scientist,<br />
Oxford Nanopore<br />
Oriel College,<br />
Physics, 2007<br />
WHAT: The great benefit of a career<br />
in science is that you have the<br />
chance to work on some really cool<br />
projects - there are so many wacky<br />
and amazing new technologies. I work<br />
as a research scientist developing a<br />
cutting-edge new DNA sequencing<br />
technology; our technique reads an<br />
individual strand of DNA by feeding<br />
it through a nanometre-scale hole.<br />
Our instrument aims to bring fast,<br />
cheap, high-quality DNA sequencing to<br />
geneticists and clinicians, and the whole<br />
thing is only the size of a USB stick!<br />
WHY: I’d really recommend working in<br />
science, as you get to use your brain<br />
creatively, tackle interesting problems,<br />
and work with enthusiastic people.<br />
There are many difference roles out<br />
there - you don’t have to be stuck<br />
at a lab bench! Nor do you have to<br />
go down the academic route - I love<br />
working in industry as I get to see my<br />
experiments applied to real world issues<br />
and developed into a product to drive a<br />
business.<br />
I came into nano-biology somewhat by<br />
accident after doing my Physics degree;<br />
it’s a bit of a change of field but I think<br />
it shows that a science degree gives<br />
you a fantastic grounding for many<br />
careers. I wanted to improve my<br />
practical skills but I have now also<br />
gained experience in both science<br />
and business. I’ve even been involved<br />
in recruiting new graduate staff, so I<br />
know what it’s like to be on the other<br />
side of the interview room!<br />
ADVICE: Don’t be afraid to apply for<br />
jobs in different areas as lots of the<br />
skills are transferable or learnt on<br />
the job.<br />
Try to get some relevant experience<br />
eg, a lab project or a summer<br />
placement, and read up on the<br />
company/institution you are<br />
applying for.<br />
TOP TIP: Be enthusiastic and<br />
communicate well - the next<br />
mind-boggling discovery or worldchanging<br />
technology springs from<br />
curiosity and innovation.<br />
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