Food Science

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 a Development Technologist (Food)

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Prospects

Destination figures show that in 2010, over 40% of food science graduates were in full-time paid work, including self-employment. Of these, the majority (23%) entered the engineering sector, most as food and drink technologists, with a small number going into quality control and food production. Just over 15% of all food science graduates in employment entered careers as commercial or public sector management, 15% entered catering and retail occupations and 7% went into clerical and secretarial occupations.

Where are the jobs?

Food scientists usually work for major food manufacturers, or within a government department developing food policy. Food scientists are also employed by retailers and food producers.

For more detailed information about the range of options check out the following employment areas:

• Environment and agriculture - land based economies still play a large part in the UK and indeed the world's social and economic development. Food scientists work in a range of areas within this sector, which looks at agriculture and animal related areas as well as fresh produce and retail;
• Health - working in the health sector can offer a range of opportunities to food scientists, especially if you want to work as a dietician;
• Manufacturing - the food and beverage manufacturing industry (which includes bakery, meat and poultry) offers a range of work. There are also opportunities for biotechnological research with food manufacturers.

Jobs directly related to your degree

• Dietitian
• Food technologist or Product/process development scientist

Jobs where your degree would be useful

• Industrial buyer or Retail buyer
• Production manager
• Quality manager

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