New online tool helps students' job prospects
Monday, 04 March 2013
'a third of jobs will be filled by graduates who have already spent time at a company'
A new online tool dedicated to helping students seeking work placements and graduate employment within the life sciences industry was launched recently.
Thanks to the University of Reading and the Biopharma Skills Consortium (BSC), students can readily access advice on how to make stronger applications for work placements and employment. The BSC website will also improve students' understanding of the industrial environment and highlight how to make an excellent impact when starting a new job.
The new resource is timely as a High Fliers report released in January 2013 found that a third of jobs will be filled by graduates who have already spent time at a company, through work experience or industrial placements during their degree.
Dr Orla Kennedy, Associate Dean of Science (Teaching and Learning), from the University of Reading, which leads the BSC, said: "The recent High Fliers report shows just how important work placements are for securing graduate employment. The BSC website allows students access to audio clips that provide insights in to working in the bioscience sector and contains guided web links to useful web sites and training materials."
The online tool is the concept of the Biopharma Skills Consortium which comprises seven universities from across the south-east. The resources form part of the BSC's on-going commitment to addressing the skills needs of the biotech and pharmaceutical sectors; the BSC encourages STEM students and staff across the UK to use these resources in their placement and employment preparation.