I am still a little bit concerned. In October I wrote the following:

I am concerned that lots of people I talk to think that there are no jobs in the Chemical Sector. Now I am not saying it’s easy or that you will be able to move without a compromise somewhere. I especially understand that you might be disillusioned with the sector at the moment, particularly if your area is making lots of redundancies; but no jobs? I think I need to look into this on your behalf and find out either way……
 
So today, thanks to a question we got through the Careers Forum I have updated my findings, leaving last year's results in brackets. http://www.teacherhit.com/ more...

A colleague has told me about this event tomorrow which some of you might be interested in attending.

Held at the Royal Institution of Great Britian the title of the lecture states:

'It's the scientists and the engineers who will ultimately develop and build the supply of clean energy we will need, the artificial organisms key to future biotech, and the robotics crucial to our growing strength in the space sector. But, young scientists are fed up with short term contracts, poor salaries and uncertain career progression. Do the 'great and the good' have their interests at heart?'

The Lecuture will be chaired by Dr Evan Harris – Director of Campaign for Evidence-based Policy and the Rt Hon David Willetts – Minster of State Minister for Universities and Science, and Dr Jenny Rohn, founder of Science is Vital, the Grassroots science campaigning group will also be on the panel.

This would be really interesting for those of you intersted in understanding what careers will look like in these fields going forward and what support is out there.


 

As I've spent the first half of the month travelling (albeit only in the UK) it got me wondering how valuable travelling and gap years now are, particularly for those thinking of going to university and now faced with large annual fees.  Is it still a valuable thing to do, and is it ever too late to take time out? more...

I'm not suggesting that you do your CV's like the ones on this website here, but I thought they were a bit of fun for a Friday afternoon!

Following from the last post.....something for you to watch.

Yes, today I am going to be talking about personalities, of the online variety. I was sent a link to an article a few weeks ago which I thought I might keep for a future blog. This week I have been to an external meeting where I represented our Benevolent Fund. In the meeting the topic of social media cropped up, bringing with it horrified faces, much shuffling of papers and murmuring to each other. Clearly it is still a concern. But does it need to be?
more...

Even on my holidays I think about careers and I am personally a big advocate of vocational learning and so when I heard that BBC Radio 4 were running a series on The Real Apprentice I couldn't help but listen. Many people want to go to university and do a degree, but what if you don't want to? Then an apprenticeship could be for you; it's not all menial work either so if you are interested in doing something where you learn on the job...read on.
 

more...

Once again I have been inspired by a blog from Salford University who wrote this week on surviving a bad interview. It's a great topic and it's one that needs to be dealt with in a considerate manner, which I feel this one does.



more...

You don't need to be Poirot or Sherlock Holmes to find out about potential employees. Fortunately for employers we do most of the work for them by putting our own information out into the ether. more...

When we speak to postgraduates and postdoctoral researchers we often find that they are unsupported. Falling into 'no-man's land' where they are no longer technically students and are not quite staff either. If that is you, read on....
more...