Lack of graduate jobs in the chimical/pharmaceutical ector

Paddle Time

Hi
I have been searching job boards in Ireland for the past 2 weeks and have noticed that there is a significant lack of graduate jobs if any in the chemical and pharmaceutical sector. People say we are the leading country for science yet Irish graduates cannot find jobs here unless they come top of their class.

Many of the jobs require 1-2 yrs experience and since most are put through a recruitment agency your CV probably never gets seen by the actual employer.

Am I just looking in the wrong places or are others noticing this problem. I am strongly considering emigrating which is another topic where people say that people are coming back to the country. To me this seems false as many of many old classmates are considering the same thing.

Thoughts or advice anyone? Apart from keep at it and something will turn up.

Paddle Time

Just noticed my spelling errors in the title sorry for that my keyboard plays up some times.

2011

I don't know what type of graduates you are referring to but I am working with a number of graduate engineers. A large portion of the work that I have been involved with is in the pharmaceutical sector.

cml387

Crying out for them in Cork.
We can't hang on to them.
PM me if interested.

allibastor

J+J in limerick were looking for Fresh Grads, as were many companies in Galway/Sligo region.

Paddle Time

The jobs I am refering to are scientist jobs not engineering etc. This would stuff like analytical work or research work in a laboratory.

ibstar

2 weeks is too early to start panicking m8

mistress_gi

Well i looked for close to a year for PhD positions in the pharma sector and had zero luck! Ended up leaving in the end but still considering going back for the right position!

professore

2 weeks is very short. When I finished college it back in the early 90s it took me nearly a year to land a "proper" job.

road_high

Why not apply anyhow for the more junior roles especially? You've nothing to loose. Often at entry level, employers over emphasise the experience thing to their detriment. For me, enthusiasm, willingness to learn are far more important virtues for graduate entry. What good is someone with a few years experience with no drive?
Did you perhaps have a work exp module at all which you could sell as experience?

road_high

Im speaking from experience btw, having recruited one or two experienced turkeys, so set in their ways and unwilling to work well in a team or do what's expected.

2011

mistress_gi wrote: »

Well i looked for close to a year for PhD positions in the pharma sector and had zero luck! Ended up leaving in the end but still considering going back for the right position!

Not exactly a typical graduate position.

Paddle Time

Yeah I am applying to junior jobs anyway and even had one company ring me saying I was too inexperienced. I just said there's no graduate jobs and if I don't apply to stuff I will never get a job. I wont name and shame the company here.

Thing is with recruitment agencies ( and I know a friend who works in one) if you don't have experience your CV never sees the employer at all. I'm not panicking by any means I was just saying it's very annoying people say there's loads of jobs for your degree when there is not as a graduate.

sparkle109

Hi paddle time! I'm working in the pharmaceutical sector in Dublin and we are constantly recruiting! If you want any info just pm me

ibstar

Paddle Time wrote: »

Yeah I am applying to junior jobs anyway and even had one company ring me saying I was too inexperienced. I just said there's no graduate jobs and if I don't apply to stuff I will never get a job. I wont name and shame the company here.

Thing is with recruitment agencies ( and I know a friend who works in one) if you don't have experience your CV never sees the employer at all. I'm not panicking by any means I was just saying it's very annoying people say there's loads of jobs for your degree when there is not as a graduate.

when I was switching fields, I was applying to entry/graduate jobs. Considering that I had more exposure to the field via my old roles, I covered 90% of the requirements and minus the degree in mathematical field I was still getting amusing generic emails about how they found a graduate more qualified than me

So don't hang your hat yet

road_high

Paddle Time wrote: »

Yeah I am applying to junior jobs anyway and even had one company ring me saying I was too inexperienced. I just said there's no graduate jobs and if I don't apply to stuff I will never get a job. I wont name and shame the company here.

Thing is with recruitment agencies ( and I know a friend who works in one) if you don't have experience your CV never sees the employer at all. I'm not panicking by any means I was just saying it's very annoying people say there's loads of jobs for your degree when there is not as a graduate.

Why would you say this? Cringe!
In that case, you should have immediately pointed out your positives and what skills make you suitable- even without vast experience. That just sounds like applying for the sake of it. They don't owe you a job (name and shame??), you need to illustrate why you would fit in and how much value you will add to their team.

Mrs OBumble

Paddle Time wrote: »

Yeah I am applying to junior jobs anyway and even had one company ring me saying I was too inexperienced.

Of course you should be applying for junior jobs - that is the type of job you will get! What experience do you actually have?

Austria!

cml387 wrote: »

Crying out for them in Cork.
We can't hang on to them.
PM me if interested.

What type of jobs? Microbiology?

Paddle Time

The title of the thread says clearly I am looking for stuff in the Chemical Pharmaceutical sector. Mainly lab analyst/QC etc roles.

Microbiology is biology.....

I have a 6 month placement as part of my course working as a clinical analyst on in-vitro medical devices. Primarily on a diagnostics kit. I can't say much more as parts of it were in R&D. As part of this however I performed a large amount of QC and also stability testing. Qualitative and quantitative testing for efficiency of the method was also researched in order to improve the speed of the QC with the same results.

I was also part of developing a master validation plan for the clinical lab which I believe is still in use after I left.

GalwayGrrrrrl

Would you consider working in the UK for a year or two? I worked in pharma in the UK- the Irish office of that company has 4 people doing the job of 40 in our UK office so there are loads more opportunities there.

Paddle Time

I have actually been looking in Manchester for jobs also as I have personal reasons for going over there.

bambi93

Hi paddletime, as a recent science graduate i am also looking at entry level jobs in the biopharma industry and have had no luck as of yet.i would be interested in relocating to the UK if needs be.Just wondering what job websites are you looking at or are you contacting any recruitment agencies over there.

Paddle Time

For the UK the only sites that seem even halfway active are reed.co.uk or monster. But for me not much goes up as I am only looking for Manchester over there at the moment.

Irish wise I'm using irishjobs.ie which seems to be very active.