Michael DeSafey | Executive Recruiter and HR Professional
Career Advice and Pathways for People Pursing a Biology Degree
Biology is the study of living things — how they evolve, grow, adapt, and interact with the environment. Careers in biology are worth pursuing and many biologists work in lucrative fields like microbiology, environmental, life sciences, and research labs. They may need to travel to remote and exotic locations in pursuit of their work. If academia is your passion, you can also pursue higher education in the view of becoming a teacher or become a researcher.
However, a degree in biology does not restrict you to a limited career path. It equips you with essential skills that are transferable across many professions:
- Problem solving
- Decision-making
- Communication and collaboration
- Creativity
- Interpersonal skills
With these tools in your toolkit, you are now equipped to work in a variety of industries.
Healthcare
Healthcare is ever growing and always in need of specialized personnel. With a degree in biology, you are well set to pursue a graduate program in a variety of healthcare fields, including becoming a doctor, nursing, pharmacy, and occupational therapy. Occupational therapists work with people with physical and intellectual disabilities, using various activities in a therapeutic way to improve their daily lives. They may work in hospitals, outpatient clinics, schools, and in private practices.
Technology
If you like technology as much as you do biology, consider the field of biotechnology or chemical engineering. Biotechnology is a broad term involving studying at the molecular and genetic level. It finds applications in fields like environmental sciences, the food industry, and medicine. Genetic engineering is one such application of biotechnology. Here, scientists are involved in specialized research at the molecular level, in pursuit of solving the mysteries of our environment, improving the potency of vaccines, and finding cures to disease. Chemical engineering is the study of raw materials and how they can be improved for human use, be it in the food industry, pharmaceutical plants, or environmental agencies. To pursue an education or a career in those fields, students should have strong mathematical analytical skills.
Environment
In the race against time to save our planet from the effects of global warming, environmental jobs are in high demand. Environmental engineers focus on ways to reduce pollution to protect the environment. They work primarily in manufacturing companies, where they manage processes to reduce waste and improve the safety of the water we drink and the air we breathe. With a degree in biology, you can follow up by studying the earth’s composition and other physical aspects to become a geoscientist. Geoscientists can further specialize in hydrology —the study of underground and surface water quality. Alternatively, become a landscape architect and specialize in designing outdoor areas for residential and commercial development. Their focus is to harness natural resources to create a sustainable design.
With amazing options available, deciding which field to engage in can be confusing and daunting. Follow your instincts by asking yourself these questions:
- What kind of work do I enjoy the most?
- What areas and industries I am more drawn to?
- Will I be happier in the private or public sector?
- Do I enjoy research or exciting fieldwork?
If you are in the field of biology, you have chosen a lucrative career with a variety of options.
Michael DeSafey is a leading executive recruiter for professionals in the construction, engineering and environmental industries. He is currently the President of Webuild Staffing www.webuildstaffing.com . To learn more about Michael or to follow his blog please visit www.michaeldesafey.com