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There are many industries where a scientific background combined with legal skills would be an extremely valuable combination. The growing field of biotechnology is an example of this. Working in intellectual property within these fields is a common route for scientists to take. There is also the field of environmental law, if your background is in environmental science or ecology. If these examples of legal careers has sparked your interest, have a look at the following resources for more infor…

When I applied for business roles in science industries, I had to figure out how to position my scientific skills most effectively. I wanted to put the skills gained from my degree to good use, but it’s not always easy when applied to non-scientific roles. However, there are many ways to demonstrate your suitability for one of these roles using your scientific skills. Here are some ways you can position your scientific skills whilst job searching:

1. Demonstrating understanding of scientific c…

Whenever I am searching for jobs outside the lab, I do specific research at each stage of the process. This is in addition to preparing to actually write my application or answer interview questions. The amount and depth of research increases at each stage. It means I am well equipped with enough knowledge to be prepared, but not overwhelmed with too much information. Here is the type of research I recommend you do at each stage of the job application process:

1. Before deciding whether to app…

If you are wondering what science graduate jobs are out there, you may be pinning your hopes on getting onto a graduate scheme. These programmes can be very popular and there are many options out there for science graduates.

I joined a graduate programme at a pharmaceutical company right after finishing university. It helped me develop at an accelerated pace and gain a breadth of knowledge about the industry. However, I also know many people who didn’t start their career through a graduate sche…

In this blog post I’m going to talk about specific aspects of my career journey so far. In my last post about my story, I spoke about why I decided to study Biology and then pivot to a non-academic career. Here I’ll delve deeper into my decision to do more business-focused roles in science industries. I’ll also tell you about challenges I’ve faced along my career journey and how I’ve overcome these.

Deciding to do business roles

My decision to do business-roles in science industries was based …

When applying for science jobs outside the lab, writing cover letters can feel like the most taxing part of the process. Even though it’s tempting to write one version and just change the company and position name for multiple roles, you do have to spend time tailoring each one. Cover letters are probably the part of the job application process I spend the most time and thought on. They are a chance to showcase your skills, experience and motivation for the position and company. You can expand o…

When I wrote my first CV, I wasn’t sure whether to emphasise my experience or education. So I followed the standard formatting I saw on other people’s CVs. This always meant putting a section with my education first, then my experience, followed by skills and other interests.

Since then, I realised how much you need to tailor each CV to the job you’re applying for. As I have applied for a range of jobs, I’ve realised they can look quite different to each other. Not only will the content look di…

When I decided to apply for jobs outside academia after graduating, I felt a sense of discomfort. I realised I was experiencing what many term imposter syndrome. It’s something a lot of us have when taking a path that we feel fearful of. If we feel we are not fully qualified for a job, or are doing something outside of our comfort zone, imposter syndrome can manifest itself.

Imposter syndrome can be felt in a lot of different ways. For science graduates, it can come up when taking ‘alternative …

Hi everyone! I wanted to share my story and why I started Outside The Lab. All my experience, academically, professionally, and personally, led me to creating this website. My aim is to provide advice for science graduates on getting the right job for you outside of academia. I have had many experiences so far that have contributed to my career development. These form the basis of the content that I can share with you to help you progress in your career.

I’ll start with telling you about me fro…

If you want to develop a non-academic career, you need to develop business skills alongside your scientific knowledge. After my Biology degree, I was able to spend an intensive year studying Management to go alongside my science qualification. This was a great option as I knew I wanted a more business-focused role. If you don’t have this option, don’t worry! There are plenty of ways you can develop business skills during and after your science degree.

1. Optional business modules as part of yo…