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Finding your next job

Journeymen ScientistsSuzy Rigby

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Journeymen Scientists run bank of experienced locum scientists providing short term placements for local life science companies

We also run LABREADY courses aimed at bridging the gap between academia and industry and upskilling/refreshing basic lab skills after a career break.

Who we are

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• Reasons for looking• What to consider • Resources• Preparation• Career change• Summary

Finding your next job

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• Redundancy• New graduate/post graduate• Looking to change direction• Your next career move• Your current employer is not providing

opportunities• Need a better work-life balance

Reasons for looking for your next job

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• Your skills• Geographic considerations• Money• Part-time/full time• Home working• Ask your current employer for opportunities

• Take time to work through the list and create a picture of the job you want what is non-negotiable and what is nice to have

Considerations

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• Finding your new job starts with working out what YOU want

• Look for the companies that fit the criteria in terms of geography, size and culture

Considerations

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• Internet• Register on relevant job sites and make your profile public e.g.

Access Science• Use company websites to search for opportunities

• Your network• Do you know anyone who is or has worked for that company?• Ask about any opportunities that may not yet be advertised

• Local network organisations will provide lists of local relevant companies • e.g. Medilink, Bionow, LATi, British Chambers of Commerce• Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) websites can provide

information • D2N2 Growth Hub posts local jobs – look for your local one

Resources

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• Create a professional profile• Use LinkedIn• Use your network to make connections• Key skills and recent achievements • Change your status to seeking if possible• Follow and like companies that interest you

• If possible contact the recruiting manager or HR to ask about the position

Preparation

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• Get you CV up to scratch• Keep it concise and relevant• Review it and get an independent eye• Spell check, spell check, spell check• Use key words found in the job advert• Make sure your skills are prominent and provide examples of

how you have applied these in a professional environment • How have these examples given results

• E.g. I developed a new method for cell culture which speeded up assay times resulting in higher throughput for the project

Preparation CV

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• Practice your interview technique• Get some answers for key questions

• Why are you interested in this role?• What skills do you have that make you a fit for this job?• Practice the STAR technique for interview questions• Find sample interview questions or assessment centre questions

• Research the company and the interviewer• Look at company websites and think how your skills will advance

the company’s aims and vision• Use LinkedIn to check profiles • Prepare your own questions about the company/role

• Never forget the basics• Appearance, Be on time, Eye contact, Body language, Be

engaged and interested

Preparation Interview

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• Identify your transferrable skills• What experience do you have which is relevant to the new position.

• Taking courses is a good way to demonstrate that you are serious about your new career.

• Look for opportunities to gain work experience• Use your network- do you know someone who you could work

shadow.• Websites like career shifters offer courses to help in

looking for that new career.• Be prepared to start at the bottom.

Career change

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• Identify the type of job you want and why• Research companies and opportunities• Prepare your CV • Prepare for interview• For career changes look for opportunities to gain

experience and identify your transferrable skills• USE YOUR NETWORK and CONTACTS

Summary