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. 

So you've got a biochemistry degree - what's next?

You will have acquired / developed a wide range of specialised skills and invaluable experience as part of your degree, including the ability to understand complex biological processes. Your course will also have sharpened many of your more general skills, like numeracy and communication. But what happens once you've graduated and it's time to head into the wider science jobs market?

In truth, you may not feel ready to apply for science roles straight away. Indeed, many of those wishing to pursue bioscience careers undertake further studies first (a PhD, for example, is essential for academic research). Alternatively, you may decide to enter the general graduate jobs market or look to gain professional qualifications in a non-science field like teaching, law or finance.

However, for the purposes of this guide, we're going to assume that you want to turn your biochemistry degree into a scientific career right away.

Becoming a biochemist

As with other science jobs, work experience can play a big role in helping you to secure your dream biochem job. Having successfully completed a biochemistry degree, you will have already developed practical and technical skills through laboratory-based work and your final year research project, but you may further boost your marketability to employers by acquiring relevant work experience, such as in a research lab as part of a summer internship.

As one of the most respected science recruitment agencies in the UK, Hyper Recruitment Solutions is here to provide you with all the assistance that you require to secure a rewarding role in biochemistry after you graduate. When you're ready to start applying for jobs, we can provide CV and interview advice in addition to helping you find attractive biochemistry vacancies.

Developing your biochemistry career

Once you have secured a biochemistry role, you will develop your skills on the job, possibly as part of a structured graduate training programme provided by your employer. You may also seek to reinforce your professional scientist status and keep your biochemistry knowledge up to date through membership of a professional body, such as the Society of Biology or the Biochemical Society.

Your work as a biochemist will mainly take place in a laboratory, working from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Some jobs may require you to work shifts, as well as for longer hours during busy periods. Many biochemists also work on a part-time basis.

How much do biochemists earn?

As detailed by the National Careers Service, trainee clinical biochemists on the NHS Scientist Training Programme can expect to earn a salary of around £25,000 a year, from which point the NHS's Agenda for Change (AfC) pay structure applies. Qualified clinical biochemists in the NHS, for example, start in Band 6, earning between £26,302 and £35,225. With experience, you will have the option of applying for Band 7 jobs commanding salaries of up to £41,373.

Postdoctoral researchers and research fellows, meanwhile, can command salaries of £29,000 to £36,000 a year, and for research scientists in industry, the guideline wage is between £23,000 and £42,000 a year.

With biochemistry graduates employed by a wide range of public sector organisations (such as the Environment Agency and various government departments), as well as across a wide range of companies in such industries as biotechnology, agriculture, food and water, there's no question that a biochemistry degree will stand you in extremely good stead as you look to climb the career ladder.

Talk to the experts here at Hyper Recruitment Solutions about the best next steps to take after graduation.

The fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry concerns goods that make a quick transition from the production lines to supermarket shelves, including food and drink, home cleaning, personal hygiene and similar items.

The sector certainly offers plentiful opportunities to those seeking rewarding science jobs, having been worth more than $570.1 billion as of 2015, according to The Telegraph. But what are five of the best reasons to pursue a career in FMCG?

1.                   It's the home of the leading brand names

 Companies recognised the world over – such as Unilever, L'Oreal, Dove, Dettol and Walkers – are all involved in the FMCG sector, whether focused on multiple or single product areas, so securing a job in this industry enables you to be at the forefront of the latest developments instigated by the leading brands.

2.                   It's a highly innovative industry

 The pressure to continue attracting consumers and fulfilling their requirements amid intense industry competition has long made FMCG a key frontier for innovation. There is always the need for fresh and exciting ideas relating to product packaging, advertising, marketing and communications, and you could be at the centre of this ever-evolving process.

3.                   It offers plentiful employment opportunities

 Employment prospects in FMCG have long been strong – even during periods of recession. The sector is, after all, closely connected to retail, a sector in which 2.8 million people were employed in the UK in 2015, according to Retail Economics. However, graduates in chemical, civil/structural, control and electrical engineering disciplines are also continually sought-after by the industry's employers.

4.                  It's a diverse sector

 As a matter of fact, such is the diversity and dynamism of the FMCG industry that graduates from any degree background are welcomed, which marks it out from many of the other sectors that we serve as a science recruitment agency here at Hyper Recruitment Solutions. Whatever degree you studied, there are opportunities for you to gain employment and make an impact in this exciting industry.

5.                  It serves consumer needs

 If you like the idea of a career that makes a difference to ordinary people's lives, an FMCG role could be a good match to your values and ambitions. There will always be a need for affordable and available consumer goods ranging from toiletries and other consumables to stationery and over-the-counter medicines, and with every person in the world being a consumer, your work will be essential to satisfying this demand.

Secure that dream FMCG role with Hyper Recruitment Solutions

The FMCG sector may be just one of the many that we serve here at Hyper Recruitment Solutions, also including the likes of pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and telecommunications, but we can nonetheless make a big difference to your ability to land a rewarding job in this important sector.

Our science recruitment agency was founded by Ricky Martin in partnership with Lord Alan Sugar and provides the services – including CV writing tips, interview advice and advertisements of the latest FMCG job vacancies – that will help you to begin or further your FMCG career. Contact us below today to learn more about our widely acclaimed recruitment services and expertise, or browse our latest jobs in FMCG.

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