Psst! We'll let you in on a secret: science is fun and it makes you feel good! Students choose science because they enjoy it, because they have a natural curiosity about how the world works.

Remember when you were a kid and you wanted to know all sorts of things, big and small? Why doesn't a spider get stuck in its own web? What makes the moon wax and wane? How does a pop-up toaster know when the toast is cooked?

As they grow older, many people lose or forget that sense of wonder and open-minded inquiry into the world and what makes it tick.

Well, that's what science is all about: keeping your brain alive and active, satisfying the natural human desire to know and understand. It stands to reason that you're more likely to be a better, happier, healthier person as a result.

But science is much more than that: it teaches you how to learn, how to be both creative and logical in finding answers to problems - or, more to the point, how to ask the right questions.

As well as opening up a whole world of new knowledge and experience, graduates and employers both agree that a good science degree is a ticket to an extraordinarily varied and exciting range career options.

Being a science graduate doesn't mean you go on to become a scientist, although we produce many brilliant researchers. No, our graduates can be found working in just about any field you care to mention - business, marketing, sales, industry, policy, communications and administration. To see what we mean, take a look at our graduate profiles and find out what some of our graduates are doing with their careers.

To learn more about careers in science and why we are proud to say that the UNSW Faculty of Science is the best place to start you on your way, check out our own lively guide:


So NOT just a white coat.

For other helpful tips and links to important careers information from UNSW, please visit the UNSW Careers Website.

Simply looking for casual or part-time work? Visit UNSW Jobs Online.

Follow the link to My Future for detailed information about the science sector. Simply type in “scientist” in the search engine, and choose the field of science that interests you. The information in this link covers details under headings such as Duties and Tasks, Labour Market, Earnings, and Related Jobs.

Whether you're starting or finishing your tertiary education, you need to make sure you have all the attributes necessary for engaging multiple careers throughout your life.

Remember, you may be working for the next 40 years until you retire, so you need to think a long way ahead and be sure you have the foundation stones of core skills and knowledge to let your career path shift and turn in these fast-moving times.

In 2002, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry surveyed employers to identify what skills and personal attributes contribute to employability.

Here's what they said:

You'll notice that they didn't emphasise the ability to master computer software ot having a specific piece of paper. What counts most are those human qualities that come with being a well-rounded individual.

The key skills identified in conjunction with the personal attributes to make up the Employability Skills Framework are:

Communication skills that contribute to productive and harmonious relations between employees and customers;
team work skills that contribute to productive working relationships and outcomes
problem-solving skills that contribute to productive outcomes;
initiative and enterprise skills that contribute to innovative outcomes;
planning and organising skills that contribute to long-term and short-term strategic planning;
self-management skills that contribute to employee satisfaction and growth;
learning skills that contribute to ongoing improvement and expansion in employee and company operations and outcomes;
technology skills that contribute to effective execution of tasks.

ACCI (June 2002)

A more detailed account of the Employability Skills Framework is available at http://www.acci.asn.au

We firmly believe that studying science is an ideal way to develop many of those skills.

We certainly don't teach you how to dress or wear your hair, but we do offer what employers are looking for most of all - the valuable person inside.

They want people who can think creatively, who find their work enjoyable and satisfying, who behave ethically and who know how to team up with others and apply their abilities to solve problems and make a real difference.

Some of you may have an idea as to what you want to do with your career, or you may not be sure what you want to do. Either way, you may find it useful to sit down and do some career planning.
My Guide can help you create a career plan. You will need to create an account, but the advantage is it will save any work you do, so referring to it later is easy.

Professional Bodies
Many [http://www.careers.unsw.edu.au/student/Usefullinks/profAssoc.aspx||professional organisations and societies]] offer membership that can add a degree of professionalism to your resume and help you stay in touch with what is going on in your field.

Many have websites with useful and interesting career-related information. They usually have employment opportunities listed, or a facility where you can post your CV. Here are just a few - who klnows, one of them might lead you to the job of your dreams?:
Science Recruitment Agencies
Science recruitment agencies are useful, as a one-stop shop for science-related jobs.

Other careers
Science-based jobs are not the only careers science graduates can qualify for. Try http://www.gradlink.com.au and http://www.mycareer.com.au for other careers that you can qualify for.
Graduate Recruitment Program
Science graduates are eligible for the Graduate Recruitment Program (GRP). For more details concerning graduate recruitment, look at the Graduate Recruitment Program.
Information overload and HELP!!!
The Careers and Employment not only offers heaps of information about finding a career, but they also offer one on one career advice. Contact them for more information about this service.

An excellent resume can do wonders in getting your foot in the door.
Our Careers and Employment team can help you prepare your resumes.

Have a look at the samples section of the page to see what a sample science resume can look like.

But you'll need more than a great resume to get a great job. Now that you have your foot in the door, you will need to impress your future employer in the interview.

Once again careers and employment offers help in this area.

For the latest information on what other graduates in your position are earning have a look at gradlink.

To help you negotiate a salary package that you deserve, check out some of the tips that careers and employment suggest.

Once you leave UNSW, of course, we want to stay in touch with you. Education is a lifelong thing and we may be able to help you later on with further edcuation or to keep you in touch with networks of uni friends and fellow students.

And don't forget: have fun.