Well, there are lots of different types of science jobs. When I was at school I thought I;d end up working in a microbiology lab, growing bacteria. When I was at university though, I realised I didn’t really like lab work, so I did worry about what I would do. But as I learnt more I saw how many options there are even in a field like infectious diseases. Multiple different types of lab work, research or working in a hospital or a drug company, disease control, health education, statistics and epidemiology plus lots and lots more!
If you have one thing that interests you a lot, then try to find out more about the different types of job in that field. My degree at university was what introduced me to epidemiology as I hadn’t even heard of it at school and never would have thought of it as a possible job for me.
What’s really great about jobs in science is that there are so many to choose from. I think the most important thing to do if you think you might want a science job is just to keep studying and learning about the areas of science that you find most interesting. For me this was how the Earth works (geology) and also evolution of animals, and that’s how I ended up with the science job that I have now. If you keep studying the subjects you find interesting then you find out all the opportunities that are available as jobs in that area as you progress with your studies. Then you always know that you will enjoy the job that you end up doing, and I think it’s really important to enjoy the job you’re in.
There’s loads you could do, have a think about what you like. Do you like health care? Disease? Working with your hands? Teeny tiny micro-organism? Cells? Body parts? Blood?
There are some great websites that explain what the different disciplines in my area do.
Comments