The fact that 47% of UK workers would like to change career, according to the London School of Business and Finance (LSBF), should serve as a powerful reminder to employers using science recruitment agencies that many of those applying for their latest advertised entry-level vacancies will be older career switchers, rather than necessarily fresh-out-of-university 20-somethings.
Indeed, you may be one of them. So, whether you are established in one science field and would like to switch to another one, or you have never been employed in a science role before, what steps will you require to make your dream career change work?
Assess your present situation
People approach the idea of changing to a new scientific career from many different angles, so you need to carefully consider your exact motivations. Why are you looking to switch career at all? What makes you unhappy in your current role? What do you dream of doing instead?
By asking yourself these questions, you may quickly realise that it is your co-workers or company culture, rather than your actual job duties, that leave you discontent. Such a drastic change in your life as a whole new career should be very carefully considered before you take the plunge.
Research the science jobs that interest you
If it becomes clear that your job itself is the problem, take the time to identify your passions, strengths, skills and abilities, and then start looking at career sites and job descriptions to get a sense of whether that long yearned-for science role really would suit you.
You may possess certain qualifications already that enable you to take a certain step, or you may find that there are much greater obstacles to switching to a certain science field like pharmacology, immunology or energy.
Also, what do the science jobs that most interest you actually involve on a daily basis? The last thing that you will want to do is invest significant time and money into changing to a career that dissatisfies you just as much as your last one, as can happen if you don't do the necessary research at this still relatively early stage.
Get networking!
Once you have come up with a more specific idea of what your dream science job would look like, it's time to start talking to professionals in that industry about their own job and its day-to-day responsibilities. They will be able to give you a sense of whether this new science career really could be the right one for you.
Another benefit of networking is that if the job does sound like the right one, the contacts that you gain could be instrumental in landing you an interview or that first entry-level role.
Investigate training opportunities
This is when things start getting truly serious - investigating the training opportunities for the kind of science jobs that you would like to pursue.
Remember that the entry requirements, qualifications and certifications relevant to different science sectors can be hugely varied, and that while some of them will merely give you one more advantage when you come to apply for jobs, others may be mandatory if you wish to have any career in that field at all. The right qualifications can also help to make adjusting to the demands of a new and unfamiliar role much quicker and easier.
Start job hunting!
This is the stage at which we can be of greatest assistance here at Hyper Recruitment Solutions, thanks to our extensive services for candidates including - but not limited to - CV tips, interview advice and of course, advertisements of job vacancies.
As one of the most renowned science recruitment agencies active today, we appreciate that it may have been a while since you last looked for work, and that the task of seeking your dream initial science role can be overwhelming.
So, allow us to be your guide when you are looking to make that big career change to the rewarding science job that you may have always craved. Good luck!
