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