Chemistry

Over the course of your degree you develop a wide mix of subject-specific and technical skills, you should consider these skills developed on your course as well as through your other activities, such as paid work, volunteering, family responsibilities, sport, membership of societies, leadership roles, etc. Think about how these can be used as evidence of your skills and personal attributes. Then you can start to market and sell who you really are, identify what you may be lacking and consider how to improve your profile.

Working as an Aseptic Manufacturer

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Prospects

Research shows that in 2010, six months after graduation, around 41% of chemistry graduates were in employment. A further 44% were in full-time further study or combining further study with work.

A degree in chemistry provides you with the skills to pursue a career in a wide range of sectors. For example, around a quarter of those in full-time work chose to pursue careers in scientific research-related roles. Other popular areas of work included other technical occupations, business and finance, commercial, industrial and public sector management and education.

Although scientific, technical and numerical-based roles were the most popular areas of work for chemistry graduates, a small proportion chose to enter very different areas, including marketing, sales and advertising; arts, design and sport; and social and welfare professions.

Where are the jobs?

Main employers are those in the chemical and related industries such as pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, petrochemicals, toiletries, plastics and polymers.

Other key employment sectors include: the food and drink industry; utilities and energy research; health and medical; research organisations and agencies.

For an insight into employment areas investigate:

• Manufacturing: covers a variety of relevant sub-sectors including: the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, plastics and polymers, and textiles, which offers a wide range of career options.
• Science: a broad sector which includes industry, government organisations, charities and research companies and offers numerous fast-paced, challenging and stimulating roles.
• Education: explores teaching at secondary, further and higher education levels. With a shortage of chemistry teachers, there are plenty of job opportunities and the sector offers favourable working conditions.

Jobs directly related to your degree

• Analytical chemist
• Clinical biochemist
• Forensic scientist
• Research scientist (physical sciences)
• Chemical development engineer
• Scientific journalist
• Toxicologist
• Process engineer

Jobs where your degree would be useful

• Patent attorney organisations. Chemists may tend to specialise in pharmaceutical patent law.
• Environmental consultant
• Secondary school teacher, Further education lecturer or Higher education lecturer
• Chartered certified accountant

Although some of the jobs listed here might not be first jobs for many graduates, they are among the many realistic possibilities with your degree, provided you can demonstrate you have the attributes employers are looking for. Bear in mind that it's not just your degree discipline that determines your options. Remember that many graduate vacancies don't specify particular degree disciplines, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here.

You can find more about the skills you develop during your course, the jobs listed above, plus case studies and where to find these jobs at Prospects.

Included with the permission of AGCAS. For the latest version of this publication, see www.prospects.ac.uk. For permission to reproduce, contact copyright@agcas.org.uk