For both the leading science recruitment
agencies and the employers that they serve, relevant work experience isn't a
mere 'nice-to-have' on a candidate's CV - it could be the key factor that triggers
offers for the most desirable vacancies.
Numerous surveys have served to confirm
this down the years, with one such study last year finding that 58%
of polled employers rated work experience as "the most popular
qualification among those presented." Ranked second was a student's
personality, cited by 48% of those quizzed.
But why, for science jobs in fields as
wide-ranging as energy, clinical, telecommunications and more, is work
experience - and in particular, relevant work
experience - so highly valued by employers?
The
right experience shows readiness for work
The most compelling reasons to ensure you
get plenty of work experience on your CV before sending out your CV for all of
those mouth-watering science jobs may also be the most mundane.
The truth is that your studies, as relevant
for your specialised intended career as they undoubtedly are, do not - in and
of themselves - indicate that you are prepared to walk into an organisation and
start making a difference in that prestigious and rewarding role straight away.
You may possess a high level of knowledge
in chemistry, immunology or pharmacology, but are you able to be punctual,
present yourself well, organise your workday duties and take on a high level of
responsibility, including making independent decisions if the circumstances
demand it?
You may feel that you can respond with a
"yes" to all of these questions, but only a record of past work
experience - whether gained on a placement or more informally - will convince
many employers that you can do so truthfully.
But work
experience isn't just for pleasing an employer...
There's no question that relevant work
experience can help to convince an employer that you will be a reliable and
productive employee if they do hire you. Candidates with work experience are
more likely to be able to work effectively as part of a team, gain a quick
grasp of how an employer operates and commit to an employer for a certain period of time - among many other things.
However, you shouldn't merely think of
relevant work experience as a way to attract more interviews for science jobs. That's
because you should also use such experience to fine-tune your own understanding of the career path that you
would like to pursue, as there are certain insights into the day-to-day
realities of work in a given science field that only direct experience can
bring.
Remember, too, that working in an
organisation like that in which you aspire to gain salaried employment in
future can be invaluable for building those early contacts that could -
directly or indirectly - lead to a job offer. However, such contacts can also
be crucial in simply giving you important insights into what truly awaits you
if you decide to pursue a given science career path.
For the sake of ensuring that you apply for
the right science jobs, as well as better stand out from the competition when
you do so, acquiring work experience - the more relevant, the better - will
always be strongly recommended by the leading
science recruitment agencies like Hyper Recruitment Solutions.