Science Career - would you recommend ?

210

I was just reflecting on the old myth which has come back up recently about how we need more science graduates to stimulate our knowledge economy. I'm looking around and roles for scientists are very scarce. Are there still opportunities out there and hand on heart would you recommend science as a credible & secure career path to others ?

Regrettably as someone in a relatively safe science job I dont think I could.

Gaspode

Hard to recommend any career path these days!

Shiny

The problem is, if we don't have graduates then the companies wont set up to provide positions anyway. If you built it (graduates), they will come (companies) ? :pac:

If I had to find a secure career path, it would be something that addresses the issue of our potentially ageing population in 20 years time. i.e. if you
were an "old folks home" specialist or something.

avalon68

Shiny wrote: »

If I had to find a secure career path, it would be something that addresses the issue of our potentially ageing population in 20 years time. i.e. if you
were an "old folks home" specialist or something.

Better figure out how to run them cheaply cos most of the tax payers will have emigrated to find employment!

On the original question, I dont think science is a secure job choice - we have far more science graduates than there are jobs to sustain them, and most of the "Science" jobs in Ireland are in quality control etc., not in research. I find that many people dont realise this until the graduate and then they find that they do not enjoy the repetitive nature of this work.

Frei

Saying a "science" career is a bit too broad, that covers so much, from medicine to bio-engineering to agriculture. Research will always be needed by Pharma, medicine, bio- engineering, agri/environmental..the list is endless. Then there are the associated careers where a scientific background is handy such as quality control or a rep for a company that makes diagnostic machinery. Teaching, lecturing...

Admittedly the situation is Ireland is pretty crap. We are too dependent on multinationals to hire us. Universities and research funding has been badly hit. Then again what did they expect, piling in so many people in to college to get degrees. There will always be more graduates than jobs.

The thing with science, whatever particular discipline someone is involved in, it really is something you have to love, or like a lot. I think doing it just for the sake of a secure job is pointless, you have to have some kind of interest in it or it will drive you mad. Those that love it will do it anyway, regardless of the opportunities or not.

blue5000

Gaspode wrote: »

Hard to recommend any career path these days!

with an ageing population undertaking would be a good career to be in!! Perhaps we could get a research grant to investigate bio-degradable coffins?

tatabubbly

Defo not!! Half of my graduate class are on the dole.. I've a Bsc in chem and bio

djpbarry

tatabubbly wrote: »

Defo not!! Half of my graduate class are on the dole..

When did you graduate?

tatabubbly

I graduated last year, october 2009... terrible time to come out into the work place. I'm stuck doing a mediocure job away from science at the mo to make ends meet. From the feedback i've got off many labs, they aren't willing to take on any new graduates at the mo.