The University of Kent Careers and Employability Service Physics Careers

1. You can download a copy of this presentation at www.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm The University of KentCareers and Employability ServicePhysics Careers

2. Location of the Careers Service www.kent.ac.uk/careers Telephone: 01227 823299 Email: careerhelp@kent.ac.uk Drop-in times (no appointment needed): 10.30 to 12.30 & 2 to 4 pm

5. Physics Employers • IndustryBAe Systems, Thales, Rolls Royce, Roke Manor Research • Nuclear Power - AEA Technology, BNFL, British Energy, Powergen, National Radiological Protection Board • Hospitals – Medical physics • Defence - Qinetiq, DESG, GCHQ, AWE • Space - Astrium, European Space Agency • Computing - Logica, IBM, Tessella, Aligent • Geophysics - Western Geophysical, Gardline Surveys • Other - British Antarctic Survey, CERN, Met. Office TRY TO GET A GOOD DEGREE. Many employers require an Upper Second degree (2:1 / 60%)

6. Physics Jobs • Research & Development • Engineering! • Medical Physics • Science Teaching • Information Scientist • Patent Examiner • Patent Agent • Scientific Administrator • Technical Author, Science Journalist & Medical Writer

7. You may be called an engineer, not a physicist! • Many physicists jobs don’t have the job title “physicist”. • You may be called a development engineer, systems engineer, materials scientist, support analyst, clinical scientist, meteorologist etc.

8. What can I do with my degree in Physics? www.kent.ac.uk/careers/physics.htm

9. Jobs outside Science Science graduates are attractive to many employers outside science because of their: • Ability to analyse information in a logical way • Investigative and problem solving skills. • Numeracy • IT skills FINANCE COMPUTING

10. CHOOSING A CAREER • Choosing a Career Booklet - available in Careers Service. • Prospects Planner - powerful career choice program in Careers Service. Also cut down web version at www.prospects.ac.uk/links/PPlanner

11. Physics Job Sources • www.gradcracker.com Lots of physics jobs and placements • Kent University vacancy and internships database www.kent.ac.uk/ces/vacancies.html • Science Recruitment Agencieswww.kent.ac.uk/careers/sitephar.htm#agencies Vacation Work • www.kent.ac.uk/careers/ScienceJobs.htm Placements • www.kent.ac.uk/careers/placements.htm • SEPNET www.sepnet.ac.uk

12. VACANCIES • Kent Jobs Databasewww.kent.ac.uk/careers/jobsI will email summaries of these to you in final year. Campus Talks www.kent.ac.uk/careers/casevents.htm

13. EXAMPLE PHYSICS CV www.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv/physics-cv.htm Prepare a high quality CV. Get it checked by the Duty Careers Adviser: A careers adviser is on duty for short (15 minute) consultations in the Careers and Employability Service any weekday morning 10.30-12.30 or afternoon from 2 pm to 4 pm. You don't need an appointment to see the duty adviser at these times. Just ask at Careers Reception to see them. Science practice interview www.kent.ac.uk/careers/interviews/ivscience.htm

14. Postgraduate Study • Over 30% of Kent Physics graduates continue to postgraduate study • MSc/M.Res – 1 year • PhD - 3 years – research council funding from STFC and EPSRC • Teacher training – 1 year • Medicine/radiography/audiology etc.

15. Other points • Check you campus emails regularly as I will send you careers emails every Monday • Get actively involved in university life so you have evidence of teamwork, organising, leadership etc. skills for your CV. • Apply early in your final year – closing dates are often in the first term.

16. Moodle Careers Employability Award www.kent.ac.uk/careers/moodle.htm New Science Careers Award

17. The amount of time put into this is astounding! I actually spoke to friends from other universities who said they wished they had something like this. I enjoyed the depth of the module. It went far beyond some general tips on how to write a good CV and prepare for an interview. Rather it went in to detail about the whole process of graduate job search from the beginning to the end. It was very instructive . The module is very, very useful! I really love how it makes you to think about your personality and helps you to identify your strengths and weaknesses. Comments from students who have completed the award It really blew my mind with some ideas I’ve never known before, such as portfolio working and working from home. I never thought about obtaining happiness from my work before. It was so easy, quick and I learned a lot. I found the module to be highly thought-provoking as it really encouraged me to consider how my degree will benefit my future and what I can be doing now to improve my graduate employment prospects. You get a really nice certificate! Without realising, you have finished the course and have already put together a very good CV and covering letter. It has made me feel a lot more confident when it comes to applications and interviews and has also made me think about skills that I didn't think I had before. It would be mad to apply for a job or attend an interview without doing it! Before the course I had only a vague idea of my career path and opportunities. Now I am applying for summer internships and know how to effectively sell my skills to a prospective employer and have a much more focused plan for my future. I recently had a very successful interview largely because I put the advice on the module into practice.

18. Bruce Woodcock • Email:bw@kent.ac.uk - for enquires that I can answer BRIEFLY! • You can download a copy of this presentation at www.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm

19. You can download a copy of this presentation at www.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm The University of KentCareers and Employability ServicePhysics Careers

20. If you can’t get a science placement ……… • Do something outside science that develops your teamworking/organising/ problem-solving skills • BUNACwww.bunac.org.uk Summer work in the USA, Canada, Australia, Jamaica and Ghana • Camp Americawww.campamerica.co.uk • Camp Counsellors USA and Work Experience USAwww.ccusa.com • CIEEwww.ciee.org work experience in the USA, Canada, Australia and NZ