Many Faces of Natural Sciences

Studying at Manchester Met allowed me to enhance my career prospects by taking placements in my chosen field. These experiences gave me the upper hand when applying for jobs. Stay motivated and keep going. It may be a long process, but it will all be worth it in the end! 

There are so many ways to use your degree outside the typical opportunities in Natural Sciences. You can apply your knowledge and skills to lots of roles out there.

Think outside the box. Working in science is so much more than 'being a scientist'. We need enthusiastic communicators, passionate administrators, engaging fundraisers and so much more to be able to support science. I wish I'd known that earlier! 

Make sure you use all the resources available to you, from study skills advice to learning difficulty support. I only approached the Disability Support team in my final year where I found out I was dyslexic. My final year for easier after that.

I took part in two field trips. I went to the USA as part of my research dissertation and I was invited to Ireland to assist a PhD student with their sampling. These opportunities came up purely because I got to know others in the Department and made myself known.

I undertook a laboratory research placement in between my second and third year. This really helped me to develop my research skills that I would take forward in my career.

Follow what you love and what you are passionate about, but also think about what kind of tasks you enjoy doing on a daily basis – do you enjoy fieldwork, coding, managing people or outreach? Sometimes, you just need to try something and see if it works for you.

Sometimes the most off-piste events lead to entirely new avenues of opportunity for you. Learn to find the value in all things, no matter whether they sound scary or boring.

Had I given up after the first or second attempt to reach my goals, I would not be where I am today. However, I was pragmatic and did not put all my eggs in one basket, which meant that plenty of opportunities were open to me until I achieved them.

Find something that you are passionate about. Life is simply too short and you are going to spend most of it working, so you better find something that you enjoy. Having said that, in your journey to get there, be flexible.

I love many things about my job, but probably one of the things I value most is the variety. A ‘typical day’ doesn’t really exist in my role!

Get involved with as much as you can. Volunteer and seek out your own opportunities. It’s the skills you gain on placements and voluntary work that really make you stand out when applying for jobs.

Get some real life laboratory experience where possible. A few weeks of work experience can advance your lab skills to a whole new level!

The opportunities available out there are endless and you can adapt your level of specialisation as your career plans develop. There are plenty of resources and help available at University, ensure you are taking full advantage of it!

When it comes to working in Natural Sciences, experience is key. Get involved with any volunteer or placement opportunities that you can. The experience and skills you have are just as important as the degree you hold.

Be more than a student, do interesting things, like volunteering or an internship. It will develop you as a person and give you useful skills for your future.

At the end of my third year at University, I got an internship position for three months in a public health laboratory. After this experience, I went back better equipped to complete the fourth year of my course.